Harris, Fort Bend & Waller Counties

Katy

West along I-10, across three counties, almost all of it Katy ISD.

Katy, Cinco Ranch, Cross Creek Ranch, ElysonZIP 77449, 77450, 77493, 77494

About the area

Living in Katy

Katy is west of Houston along I-10, and it spans three counties — Harris, Fort Bend and Waller. The ZIP codes on this page are 77449, 77450, 77493 and 77494. Which county a house sits in changes its tax rate and its appraisal district, so it is one of the first things to establish rather than one of the last.

Nearly all of it is zoned to Katy ISD, which is the single biggest reason people search here, and the district runs well beyond the city limits. It also redraws attendance zones regularly as new campuses open. A Katy mailing address does not guarantee Katy ISD, and a Katy ISD address does not guarantee a particular campus. Check the current zone for the exact property.

The housing stock runs from 1980s subdivisions near the old town center to master-planned development still under construction out west. Newer sections almost always sit inside a Municipal Utility District, which levies its own rate on top of the county and school rates — often the difference between two homes that list for the same price.

Flooding is the other thing to get right here. Parts of Katy flood and parts do not. The Addicks and Barker reservoir pools affected specific neighborhoods in 2017, and the flood maps have been revised since Harvey, so a house’s flood risk depends on exactly where it sits.

Questions

About buying and selling in Katy

Is a Katy address always Katy ISD?

No. Katy spans Harris, Fort Bend and Waller counties, and a Katy mailing address does not guarantee Katy ISD any more than a Katy ISD address guarantees a particular campus. Zoning is set by the address, not by the ZIP code or the subdivision name, and districts here redraw attendance zones as new campuses open. Two houses on the same street can be zoned differently. Check the current zone for the exact property before you decide anything on the basis of schools.

Which county is the house in, and why does it matter?

Harris, Fort Bend or Waller, depending on where in Katy you are. The county sets the tax rate, the exemptions and the appraisal district, so two similar houses on either side of a line can carry noticeably different monthly costs.

Are Katy homes in a MUD district?

Newer sections almost always are. A Municipal Utility District funds water, sewer and drainage outside city utility service, and charges its own rate on top of the county and school rates. The rate usually falls as the district pays down its bonds. Ask for the current MUD rate on any specific home and work with the all-in monthly figure.

Does Katy flood?

Some parts do, so check the specific house rather than the neighborhood. Look up the address on the current FEMA flood map, read the flood questions on the seller’s disclosure, and ask for the property’s claims history and an insurance quote during the option period, while you can still walk away.

Thinking about Katy?

Tell us what you are trying to do and we will tell you honestly whether this is the right area for it.

(281) 435-1068 Contact the Team