Katy TX Real Estate & Neighborhood Guide
Covering a 181-square mile area, Greater Katy has grown from its humble roots as “Cane Island.”
Guide To Katy Neighborhood, Real Estate & Homes For Sale
Katy is one of Houston’s top ranked suburbs. Katy homes are popular thanks to:
- TOP RANKED SCHOOLS: According to Houston’s Best Public Schools, many of Katy’s public schools are ranked amongst the top in the state of Texas.
- AFFORDABILITY: Katy is ranked as one of Houston’s Best Suburbs based upon community ratings for public schools, affordability, commute time, livability and amenities.
- STRONG REAL ESTATE MARKET: Katy’s real estate market has been one of the best performing Houston neighborhoods over the past one, five and ten-year periods.
- MANY ACTIVITIES: Katy is ranked as one of the top communities in the state for “Fun Family Activities” with shopping and entertainment venues like Katy Mills Mall, LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch, and Typhoon Texas Water Park.
- QUALITY MASTER-PLANNED COMMUNITIES: Katy is home to some of the top ranked master-planned communities in the Houston area, including Cinco Ranch, Falls at Green Meadows, Firethorne, Grand Lakes, Seven Meadows and over a dozen more.
- GREAT GOLF COURSES: Katy has some of Houston’s Best Golf Courses & Golf Communities, including: Cinco Ranch (public course), Meadowbrook Farm (public), Falcon Point (private), and Willow Fork (private).
Due to the Greater Katy area’s size and number of communities, its real estate market can be tricky to navigate. Consulting with the best Katy realtor can greatly benefit homebuyers.
POPULAR KATY RESOURCES
Where To Live For the Best Schools
Finding the best schools in Houston can be a daunting task. The City of Houston has approximately 280 public schools and over 85 private schools. When you include the Best Houston…
15 Best Houston Suburbs
Living in Houston has perks: short commutes, great accessibility, world-class retail, bustling business centers, divine dining, and great culture…
16 Best Gated Communities
Houston’s close in neighborhoods offer more than 100 gated communities. Many of these are small and only have less than a dozen homes each. Each of the following 16 luxury neighborhoods…
Best Land Value Appreciation
These neighborhoods have created the most wealth for their owners. We’re starting to see more deals emerge in the Houston real estate market…
- Katy homes are centrally located near schools, parks, restaurants, retail centers, and business and employment hubs.
- Thanks to its location, residents have great access to major roads and freeways including Grand Parkway, Interstate 10, and Westpark Tollway.
- Katy real estate has posted good appreciation rates over the past decade. This can be attributed to the number of new construction in the area, along with other factors.
- Residential development in Katy led to commercial growth as well. Several companies have headquarters in and around Katy, notably around the intersection of Grand Parkway and Interstate 10.
- There are several master-planned communities in the area, including Cinco Ranch, Grand Lakes, and Seven Meadows. Due to these, there are a number of home types and styles available in Katy.
- Incorporated in 1945, the city of Katy covers a 10.7-square-mile area.
- Growth in the area is largely attributed to the MKT Railroad (now part of Union Pacific) and the completion of Interstate 10.
- Katy homes are zoned to the Katy Independent School District (KISD). Several notable schools serve the area, with a number of them named National Blue Ribbon School.
- There is a wide range of homes available in Greater Katy, from townhomes to large estates.
- Homes in the area typically feature 3- to 4-bedroom floor plans. The most expensive Katy real estate can feature sprawling half-acre to 4-acre lot areas, with 5- to 6-bedroom homes.
“Paige Martin is the best realtor in Houston. She will tell you the ‘bad’ and ‘ugly’ of a property and help you make a good purchase.”
“As first time buyers in the US, we are delighted to have worked with Paige. She is a delight to work with, and I would recommend anyone to enlist her help if you’re looking to either buy or sell a property.”
- New construction custom-built homes are common within Katy’s many planned communities, though older traditional homes are still available.
- Prices for Katy homes for sale typically start at around $150,000. Bigger and newer properties can sell for more than $2,000,000.
Located about 29 miles west of Downtown Houston, the city of Katy covers a 10.7-square mile area.
Known as Old Katy or “Katy – Old Towne”, the city is west of Grand Parkway, bisected by Interstate 10 (Katy Freeway).
Greater Katy spans a much larger 181-square mile area, covering unincorporated neighborhoods and communities within Harris, Waller, and Fort Bend counties. The area’s boundaries are based from the KISD’s, with the city of Katy serving as its anchor.
There have been several residential and commercial developments within the larger Greater Katy area over the past few years. New construction master-planned communities and gated neighborhoods have continued to grow in the area, including Cinco Ranch, Grand Lakes, and Seven Meadows.
Katy homes have excellent access to major freeways and roads, including I-10 (Katy Freeway), TX 99 (Grand Parkway), and Westpark Tollway.
Several business and employment centers are located within Katy, while the Energy Corridor, a major Houston employment hub, is just a few miles east. Thanks to residential growth in Greater Katy, several new retail, dining, and entertainment hotspots have also taken root in the area.
Katy real estate are under several zip codes, including 77449, 77450, 77491, 77492, 77493, and 77494. (View Houston zip code map.)
Katy Master Planned Communities
Paige Martin’s Recent Awards:
– “One of America’s Best Real Estate Agents,” Real Trends
– Five Star Realtor Award, Multi-Year Winner
– “One of Houston’s Top 50 Realtors,” Houston Chronicle
– “One of America’s Best Real Estate Agents,” Real Trends
– Five Star Realtor Award, Multi-Year Winner
– “One of Houston’s Top 50 Realtors,” Houston Chronicle
West of Katy
- Brookshire
- Fulshear
- Fort Bend County
North of Katy
- Bridgeland
- Bear Creek South
- Eldridge North
- Fairfield
- Towne Lake
- Cypress
South of Katy
Katy homes are zoned to Katy Independent School District (KISD), a district rated by the Texas Education Agency as “Recognized”.
Serving a 181-square mile area, the KISD features several National Blue Ribbon and multi-award winning schools. More campuses are planned to open to relieve its existing schools. Once the district is built out, it will have a total of 17 junior high schools and 44 elementary schools.
*Note: Due to the number of schools serving Katy homes, we opted to list them and highlight those that have been named National Blue Ribbon School.
Elementary Schools
- Bear Creek Elementary School at 4815 Hickory Downs Dr. (1987-88 National Blue Ribbon School)
- Edna Mae Fielder Elementary School at 2100 Greenway Dr. (1998-99 National Blue Ribbon School)
- Katy Elementary School at 5726 George Bush Dr. (2006 National Blue Ribbon School)
- Mayde Creek Elementary School at 2698 Greenhouse Rd. (National Blue Ribbon School in 1989-90 and 2000-01)
- Memorial Parkway Elementary School at 21603 Park Tree Ln. (1998-99 National Blue Ribbon School)
- Hazel S. Pattison Elementary School at 19910 Stonelodge St. (1993-94 National Blue Ribbon School)
- Maurice L. Wolfe Elementary School at 502 Addicks-Howell Rd. (1998-99 National Blue Ribbon School)
- Zelma Hutsell Elementary School at 5360 Franz Rd. (2000-01 National Blue Ribbon School)
- Roosevelt Alexander Elementary School at 6161 S Fry Rd.
- Cimarron Elementary School at 1100 S Peek Rd.
- Sue Creech Elementary School at 5905 S Mason Rd.
- Robert E. King Elementary School at 1901 Charlton House Ln.
- Jo Ella Exley Elementary School at 21800 Westheimer Pkwy.
- Franz Elementary School at 2751 N Westgreen Blvd.
- Polly Ann McRoberts Elementary School at 3535 N Fry Rd.
- Morton Ranch Elementary School at 2502 N Mason Rd.
- Jack & Sharon Rhoads Elementary School at 19711 Clay Rd.
- Stan Stanley Elementary School at 26633 Cinco Terrace Dr.
- Michael Griffin Elementary School at 7800 S Fry Rd.
- Loraine T. Golbow Elementary School at 3535 Lakes of Bridgewater Dr.
- Keiko Davidson Elementary School at 26906 Pine Mill Ranch Dr.
- Roosevelt Alexander Elementary School at 6161 S Fry Rd.
- Bonnie Holland Elementary School at 23720 Seven Meadows Pkwy.
- Jeanette Hayes Elementary School at 21203 Park Timbers Ln.
- Odessa Kilpatrick Elementary School at 26100 Cinco Ranch Blvd.
- Nottingham Country Elementary School at 20500 Kingsland Blvd.
- James E. Randolph Elementary School at 5303 Flewellen Oaks Ln.
- Roberta Wright Rylander Elementary School at 24831 Westheimer Pkwy.
- Betty and Jean Schmalz Elementary School at 18605 Green Land Way.
- Fred and Patti Shafer Elementary School at 5150 Ranch Point Dr.
- Stephens Elementary School at 2715 N Fry Rd.
- Sundown Elementary School at 20100 Saums Rd.
- West Memorial Elementary School at 22605 Provincial Blvd.
- James E. Williams Elementary School at 3900 S Peek Rd.
- Tom Wilson Elementary School at 5200 Falcon Landing Blvd.
- Diane Winborn Elementary School at 22555 Prince George St.
- Ray and Jamie Wolman Elementary School at 28727 N Firethorne Rd.
- WoodCreek Elementary School at 1155 Woodcreek Bend Ln.
- Memorial Parkway Junior High School at 21203 Highland Knolls Dr. (1999-2000 National Blue Ribbon School)
- Rodger and Ellen Beck Junior High School at 5200 S Fry Rd. (2001-02 National Blue Ribbon School)
- Mayde Creek Junior High School at 2700 Greenhouse Rd. (1999-2000 National Blue Ribbon School)
- Beckendorff Junior High School at 8200 S Fry Rd.
- Cardiff Junior High School at 3900 Dayflower Dr.
- Cinco Ranch Junior High School at 23420 Cinco Ranch Blvd.
- Katy Junior High School at 5350 Franz Rd.
- T. H. McDonald Junior High School at 3635 Lakes of Bridgewater Dr.
- Garland McMeans Junior High School at 21000 Westheimer Pkwy.
- Morton Ranch Junior High School at 2498 North Mason Rd.
- Seven Lakes Junior High School at 6026 Katy-Gaston Rd.
- West Memorial Junior High School at 22311 Provincial Blvd.
- Woodcreek Junior High School at 1801 Woodcreek Bend Ln.
- Katy High School at 6331 Highway Blvd. (1997-1998 National Blue Ribbon School) Katy High School was first established in 1898, first catering to local farmers’ children. It moved to its present campus along Highway Boulevard in 1947. Today, the school caters to almost 3,000 students.
- James E. Taylor High School at 20700 Kingsland Blvd. (1994-1996 National Blue Ribbon School) James E. Taylor High School opened its doors in 1979. Like Katy HS, Taylor is also a Blue Ribbon School, and has been listed one of Newsweek’s “Best High Schools in the Nation” several times.
- Mayde Creek High School at 19202 Groeschke Rd. (1994-1996 National Blue Ribbon School) Founded in 1984, Mayde Creek High School is one of the KISD’s National Blue Ribbon Schools. Its excellent programs have culminated to several awards and playoff appearances.
- Cinco Ranch High School at 23440 Cinco Ranch Blvd. (2008 National Blue Ribbon School) Located within the master-planned community it was named for, Cinco Ranch High School is also a National Blue Ribbon School. The school was also ranked third in the Houston Chronicle’s list of Best Houston High Schools and has appeared several times on Newsweek’s best schools rankings.
- Morton Ranch High School at 21000 Franz Rd. Morton Ranch High School was established in 2004. The school offers a wide range of athletic programs, including basketball, tennis, football, golf, swimming, volleyball, and baseball, among others.
- Seven Lakes High School at 9251 S Fry Rd. Seven Lakes High School is one of the KISD’s highly rated schools. It was given a TEA “Exemplary rating” in 2008. It offers a wide range of Advanced Placement courses and features an excellent athletics program.
- Obra D. Tompkins High School at 4400 Falcon Landing Blvd. One of the KISD’s newer schools, Obra D. Tompkins HS was named for a long-time educator. It was opened in 2013 and served as a relief school for Seven Lakes High School.
Katy Houston Private Schools
The following are some of the more notable private schools near Katy.
- Katy Adventist Christian School at 1913 East Ave.
- Mirus Academy at 5561 3rd St.
- The British Private Prep School at 4025 S Mason Rd.
- Primrose School of Cinco Ranch at 1540 Peek Rd.
- The Goddard School at 24025 Cinco Village Center Blvd.
- Cinco Ranch Montessori School at 2530 Peek Rd.
To find an updated listing of all Katy real estate zoned to any specific public school, please send an email to Paige Martin at Paige@HoustonProperties.com with the property preference and budget that you’re working with.
*Note: School zoning tends to change from year to year, information provided above are accurate but not guaranteed. Please double check by visiting the school’s website.
Katy real estate has steadily appreciated over the last 10 years, posting a median sales price of over $250,000.
Compared to nearby areas like Memorial, Katy real estate is certainly more affordable. Thanks to continuing development in the area, however, property values are on the rise.
Note: Given the large Greater Katy real estate area, it may be best to take a closer look at each neighborhood and community with a reliable realtor for more accurate trends.
(Data sourced from the Houston Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)
For updated information regarding Katy real estate pricing and trend analysis, please contact Paige Martin at Paige@HoustonProperties.com.
Homes in the Greater Katy area are mostly detached single-family homes.
Traditional bungalows with 3 to 4 bedrooms are common, though new construction custom-built homes are also a popular option in the area.
Typically, Katy homes sit on lots ranging from 5,000 to more than 21,000 square feet. Living spaces can be between 1,500 to more than 5,000 square feet.
Some of the most expensive Katy real estate properties are within private enclaves and feature sprawling grounds, private pools, and grand estate-style homes. These properties can feature half-acre (21,780 square feet) to more than 4-acre (174,420 square feet) lots.
Architectural styles vary, though traditional aesthetics are common.
There are several master-planned communities in the area, among which the most notables ones include Cinco Ranch. Communities in the area have great amenities, including golf courses, hike-and-bike trails, and lakes. Lakefront homes and estates overlooking golf courses are available at some master-planned communities.
Real estate is hyper local. Due to the large number of neighborhoods, subdivisions, and communities located within the Greater Katy area, it’s best to check into each to see home styles and trends. Some areas are also deed-restricted.
Katy homes for sale typically start at around $150,000. The most expensive real estate in the area can sell for more than $2,000,000.
Thanks to the large number of new development in the city and surrounding areas, there are a lot of Katy townhomes for sale. Most are located within master-planned and gated communities.
Communities and subdivisions, like The Towns At Seville, Cinco Ranch, and Mason Creek Village, feature new construction townhomes. These patio homes and townhomes typically offer lot sizes ranging from 1,800 to 4,900 square feet. Three-bedroom floor plans are common, spread over 2 stories.
Home sizes are between 1,400 to more than 2,800 square feet.
Townhomes in the area start at around $150,000. Bigger and newer Katy townhomes can sell for more than $300,000.
Katy Condo Sale Trends
Despite rapid development, there are few multi-family residential buildings in the Greater Katy area. Nearby areas like Houston’s Energy Corridor and Memorial have a few more options.
Here are a few condo buildings within the Memorial area:
- Bayou Woods Condos
- Pines Condominiums
- The Memorial
To see other condos within the Inner Loop, see Inner Loop Houston Condos. To see condos within the Galleria area, see Galleria Houston Condos.
Katy TX History
During the mid-1800s, the area now known as Katy was called Cane Island. James J. Crawford received a land grant that included Cane Island during this period.
Three decades later, the area was still sparsely populated and only had four residents.
Growth in the area started in earnest near the turn of the century, when the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad laid rails through Cane Island. In 1895, the MKT started going through the area, and James Oliver Thomas laid out plans for the town.
The name Katy came from the railroad itself: railroad officials fondly called the line, “the Katy” (KT) and the name stuck onto the planned town.
In the 1900s, families moved into the town, establishing farms and ranches around the area. Katy’s growth is generally to the MKT (now part of Union Pacific), and later, the completion of Interstate 10.
By 1945, Katy was incorporated as a municipality with a city council and a mayor. Today, the city of Katy is considered as the anchor point of the Greater Katy area.
The Greater Katy area is home to plenty of retail, dining, and entertainment options.
Located just off Interstate 10, Katy Mills features more than 1.3 million square feet of retail space. The retail center has several anchor stores, including Bed Bath & Beyond, Marshalls, Old Nave, and Books-A-Million, among others.
Master-planned communities like Cinco Ranch offer several amenities like parks, greenbelts, golf courses, pools, and retail centers. The LaCentrerra, a mixed-use development, features several dining and retail options.
Here are some of Katy Houston must-visit places:
Dining
- Palma de Cera
- Oishii Sushi and Chinese Bistro
- Ephesus Mediterranean Grill
- Orleans Seafood Kitchen
- 5th Street Italian Kitchen
- Seafood on the Geaux
- Sushi 9
- MidPoint bar + eatery
- Kabob Korner
- The Cellar Door
Parks
- Mary Jo Peckham Park
- Katy Park
- Malcolm E. Beckendorff Family Park
- Exploration Park
- Katy Dog Park
- Grand Lakes Dog Park
- Mason Road Park
- Cullen Park
- George Bush Park
“Paige is simply the best. She has worked with my husband and I for the last couple years in our quest to find the perfect first home. She was patient with us throughout the process and took time to answer all of our questions! She knows so much about the housing market so we felt very confident that we were in great hands!”
Nightlife
- Zen Hookah Lounge
- Einstein’s Pub
- Midnight Rodeo
- Mo’s Place
- Dish Society
- Bourbon Street Sports Bar
- Little Woodrow’s Katy
Groceries
- Whole Foods Market
- Trader Joe’s
- H-E-B
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Kroger
Golf
- Meadow Brook Farms Golf Club
- The Golf Club at Cinco Ranch
- Bear Creek Golf World
Katy Houston Realtor – Paige Martin
As featured on Fox News in the Morning, Houston Business Journal and Houston Magazine, Paige Martin, a consistent Top Producing Broker-Associate and head of the Houston Properties Team, is ranked as one of the top residential real estate agents in the world.
Paige Martin’s Recent Awards:
– #1 Agent, Keller Williams, Memorial
– #1 Agent, Keller Williams, Texas
– #9 Agent, Keller Williams, United States
– #1 Agent, Keller Williams, Memorial
– #1 Agent, Keller Williams, Texas
– #9 Agent, Keller Williams, United States
