[TheGrimReaper]

Simple advice in either case -- stay outside the city limits.
Houston: Katy, Woodlands, Tomball, Magnolia
Dallas: Irving, Richardson, Plano, McKinney, Arlington

[Dog Gone]

For the Houston area, a good rule of thumb is to look at the Congressional Districts.

You don't want to live in Sheila Jackson-Lee's, if you can help it. With some notable exceptions, it's the seedy side of town. Congressmen Brady's, Culberson's, and DeLay's are the desirable areas.

Democrat Gene Green's and Chris Bell's are more mixed.

Funny how that works.