[JManc]

Galveston has the misfortune of having ugly silty beaches coupled with propensity for hurricanes which dampens prospects. Unlike Savannah or Charleston, most commercial activity move up to Houston while those two cities never ceded their economies to a nearby rival so abruptly. It still has a lot of untapped potential though, lots of great Victorian bones and close to Houston which is prosperous. The historic Strand area is more of an asset than the beaches.

Yeah, the Woodlands is a bedroom community surrounding a small shopping/ commercial area with a nice waterway.