Katy

Katy is a huge residential suburb about 25 miles west of downtown Houston. It has grown rapidly in the last decade (83% since 2000). It attracts families who want to be in the celebrated Katy ISD school district, enjoy pleasant master-planned communities, live in affordable housing and have access to every amenity.

 

Katy is too big to search by any one zip code nor does it fit neatly into zip codes. Unless you have a specific school in mind, try searching by the following means.

 

Subdivisions North of I10:

• Cane Island (new community)
• Ventana Lakes (new community)
• Falls at Green Meadows (new community)
  
  

Subdivisions South of West Park Tollway and West of 99

Are actually in the Richmond Area, not Katy, but many still consider these to be "Katy".

These include:

Lakes on Bella Terra, Lakemont, Westheimer Lakes, Creekside Ranch

Subdivisions West of 99 and North of Westpark Tollway

As you head west, whilst still considered Katy, the school district changes from Katy ISD to Lamar ISD.

Subdivisions include:
Cross Creek Ranch. Tamarron, Firethorne, Young Ranch

Search Zip Code:

Note: zip codes extend beyond Katy area.

Searching by "Katy" only will pull up the city of Katy, not the entire Katy area.

• North of I10/East of 99: Zip 77449
• North of I10/West of 99: Zip 77493
• South of I10/East of 99: 77450
• South of I10/West of 99: 77494

 

Search by School District:

Katy area subdivisions zone into both Katy ISD and Lamar ISD.

Those communities are being built to the west of Katy and south of Westpark, zone into Lamar.

History

In the mid-1800s Katy was known as Cane Island but the actual town of Katy was named in 1896.

From the early 1900's more families moved to the area to work in farming. In 1945 the City of Katy was incorporated as a municipality. The greater Katy area is now defined by the boundaries of the 181 sq mi (470 km²) Katy Independent School District. The opening of IH-10 in 1966/8 allowed for rapid development of the area, as Houston expanded westward.

Katy continues to grow to this day with new master-planned communities including Cane Island, Tamarron, and Young Ranch.

Population, Location, and Commute

The greater Katy area is home to almost 310,000 people. This number is expected to grow. Interstate 10, Westheimer Parkway, and the Westpark Toll road form major east-west arteries.
99 (Grand Parkway) runs north/south and through the middle of the Katy area and is now connected to Spring, The Woodlands, and Sugarland.

Commute to the Energy Corridor in peak traffic can be 30-40 mins (more returning in the evening), to Sugarland around 20-30 mins, and to Downtown Houston easily an hour.
The time of day you leave makes all the difference.

Home Styles

Katy is dominated by large single-family homes. Homes East of 99 are typically older with home ages in the 1990s and early 2000s. Many areas are "closed out" meaning no more new construction. But building continues unabated and new construction is easy to find in the newer communities west of 99 with new communities opening up closer to Fulshear.

Each new development will see a selection of builders offering a selection of designs so homes in Katy and the overall look can be comfortingly similar. Katy is not an area known for unique homes and custom builds. Smaller one story 3 bed homes are available as are townhomes. Townhomes are not the norm.

Apartments line major thoroughfares and edges of subdivisions and offer excellent value compared to those closer to Houston.

There are at least 26 apartment complexes in Katy.

Amenities

Katy has everything. All the grocery stores chains and major stores are here. La Centerra and Katy Mills Mall offer a huge selection of retail shopping. Water parks, play parks, and bike trails pepper all neighborhoods. Typhoon Texas Water Park opened summer of 2016.

There continues to be a growing number of diverse restaurants opening up alongside better-known chains.

As the communities are master planned, amenities line major roads and are not located within residential neighborhoods so it's highly likely you'll need to drive to go anywhere.

Schools

Katy ISD is a big draw for families moving into the area as there is an abundance of excellent schools. Newer communities being built further west will zone into Lamar ISD.

The British International School opened a brand new campus in Katy in September 2016 making the area a magnet for international families.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Katy is so big that nearby neighborhoods are quite far away!

But head West and you will quickly reach Fulshear with communities including Weston Lakes and Fullbrook on Fulshear. South of Westpark Tollway and hugging 99 are many communities including Aliana, Long Meadow Farms, and Waterside Estates. Sugarland is relatively close.

 

 

Home Prices

Home prices have increased significantly in Katy in the last two years with more people working from home and not having to commute anymore.   Many people have given up city living for bigger homes and yards in the suburbs.   Home prices do vary across Katy with the biggest difference being seen between those homes East of 99 versus West of 99.

In the new communities, it's possible to buy new construction from $350,000 for a 1 story 3/4 bed home to $450,000 upwards for a 2 story 4 bed home.

Average Home price is $450,000.

Average size is 4 beds and 2170 sf.

Average rental price is $2951.

However, prices do vary by subdivision and it's not hard to spent 500-700k for a newer, bigger home.