Woodlands Talk

Nearby communities

Magnolia

A fast-growing community west of The Woodlands along FM 1488 and SH 249.

Magnolia at a glance

TypeIncorporated general law city in Montgomery County
Population8,095 (July 2025 Census estimate), up from 2,359 in 2020
SchoolsMagnolia ISD
Key roadsFM 1488 and SH 249
Known forRapid growth, Audubon and other master-planned communities, small-town feel

Overview

Magnolia is a small city west of The Woodlands that is growing at one of the fastest rates in Texas. The city itself covers less than three square miles, but the broader Magnolia area is home to more than 220,000 people, according to the local chamber.

Growth

The Census estimates Magnolia grew almost 170% between 2020 and 2025. Large master-planned communities are driving much of it. Audubon, a 3,000-acre community near SH 249 and FM 1488, is planned for about 5,000 homes, and its Heron Run district alone adds more than 1,400. Lone Star College opened a new Magnolia Center in January 2026.

Schools

Magnolia ISD is growing fast. It beat its 2025-26 enrollment projection by nearly 200 students, expects about 4% growth a year going forward, and has roughly 30,870 future homes planned within its boundaries, which has made school overcrowding a major local topic.

What residents talk about

FM 1488 congestion, new subdivisions, Magnolia ISD bonds and new schools, and keeping the small-town character as the area fills in.

On the map

Open map

Magnolia discussions