Trying to figure out where your budget goes further around North and West Houston? With prices, taxes, and HOA or MUD fees varying by neighborhood, choosing between Spring, The Woodlands, and Katy can feel confusing. In this quick snapshot, you’ll see how list prices, monthly costs, and commute tradeoffs stack up, plus who each area tends to fit today. Let’s dive in.
Price snapshot at a glance
Pricing moves monthly, so think in ranges. Early 2025 snapshots show:
- Spring: typically mid 300s for many single-family homes, with pockets higher near new development. You can track local trends on the Houston Association of REALTORS® affordability pages and market reports like the HAR Housing & Rental Affordability hub. Explore HAR’s affordability insights.
- Katy: generally similar to or a touch below Spring, often in the low to mid 300s depending on the neighborhood and age of the home.
- The Woodlands: materially higher, commonly mid 400s to 600s and above in many villages, with luxury listings pulling medians up. Recent reporting also shows a smaller share of county households can afford the median Woodlands home. See Community Impact’s summary of Woodlands affordability.
Price per square foot often reflects the same pattern. Spring and Katy commonly show lower median list price per square foot than The Woodlands, which sits higher due to product mix and amenities.
Neighborhood note: “Spring” can mean the Spring CDP or a larger zip-code area. Use the same boundary and data source when you compare medians so you get apples-to-apples results.
Market pace and competition
- Spring: active market with pendings often in a few weeks depending on neighborhood and season.
- Katy: competitive in many master-planned communities, especially where new construction adds options at approachable prices.
- The Woodlands: desirable pockets move quickly at higher price points. Affordability is lower for many county households, which shapes demand by price tier.
What monthly affordability really means
Sticker price is only part of the story. Your monthly payment in any of these suburbs will reflect four big buckets.
1) Property taxes
Texas property taxes combine county, school district, city if applicable, and special districts like MUDs. Two similar homes a mile apart can have different total rates based on their taxing entities. You can review rate components on the Harris County Tax Office’s page. Check tax rate components.
- Harris County approved recent rate changes that affect many Spring addresses. Budget carefully if you are looking in unincorporated areas with MUDs.
- The Woodlands includes a Township tax that is added to county and school district lines. Review The Woodlands Township tax info.
- In Katy, the school district line item is often the largest part of the bill. Katy ISD’s adopted rate and bond obligations influence that share year to year.
Quick formula: annual taxes are roughly assessed value multiplied by the total tax rate, divided by 100. Always confirm the exact entities for the property you are considering.
2) HOA and MUD fees
Most master-planned neighborhoods in Spring and Katy sit inside a MUD. MUD debt service is a line on your tax bill. HOAs typically range from about 70 to 250 dollars per month depending on amenities. Coverage varies, so note what your fee includes.
3) Insurance, including flood
Flood exposure matters across the Houston region, even outside mapped high-risk zones. Lenders require flood insurance for homes in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas. Before you make an offer, check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and request insurance quotes for the exact address. Search FEMA flood maps.
Wind and hail risks, roof age, and insurer underwriting trends also affect premiums, so factor insurance into monthly planning.
4) Utilities and services
Some communities bundle trash or landscaping into HOA or MUD billing. Newer neighborhoods may have irrigation or amenity charges. Review the HOA documents and MUD service pages for details before you finalize your budget.
Who each area tends to fit today
Income patterns and product mix shape affordability. Census QuickFacts show median household income of about 86,888 dollars in Spring CDP, 114,917 dollars in Katy city, and 141,353 dollars in The Woodlands CDP. That helps explain price pressure across the three markets. See Spring’s QuickFacts. See The Woodlands QuickFacts. See Katy city QuickFacts.
- Spring: a mix of established neighborhoods and newer master-planned options near the Grand Parkway, I‑45, and Hardy Toll Road. You will find many homes around the mid 300s, with higher pricing near new amenities and job centers.
- Katy: broad selection of new builds and move-up homes across large master-planned communities. Many buyers target Katy for attainable pricing and community amenities.
- The Woodlands: mature, amenity-rich villages with higher lot values and a significant luxury segment. Prices are higher, and the Township tax is an added line item.
Commute and job access
Your time is part of your budget. Typical drives to Downtown Houston are roughly 24 to 25 miles from Spring, around 31 miles from The Woodlands, and about 30 to 33 miles from Katy. Traffic varies by time and route.
Spring has a growing job hub around Springwoods Village and CityPlace near the ExxonMobil campus, which reduces commute time for many residents and supports housing demand nearby. Learn about the Springwoods Village employment node.
How to run your numbers in 10 minutes
- Pick your target area and price range based on current medians and recent sales.
- Identify the property’s exact taxing entities and estimate the total rate. Use the Harris County tax rate overview.
- Check HOA and MUD obligations in the listing or HOA documents.
- Pull homeowners, wind, and flood insurance quotes. Verify flood status on FEMA maps.
- Estimate your mortgage payment at today’s rates. The Freddie Mac weekly survey is a good reference point for 30-year fixed averages. See Freddie Mac’s latest PMMS update.
- Compare total monthly cost across Spring, The Woodlands, and Katy. Use the same assumptions each time.
The bottom line for Spring buyers and sellers
If you want proximity to North Houston jobs and a wide mix of home options, Spring often balances price and convenience well. Katy tends to offer more new-build choice at approachable price points. The Woodlands delivers top-tier amenities and mature neighborhoods at higher price tiers and with a Township tax line.
When you are ready for property-specific numbers and neighborhood insight, connect with Logan Poorman for a clear, caring plan tailored to your goals.
FAQs
What are typical home prices in Spring vs The Woodlands vs Katy in early 2025?
- Spring often sits in the mid 300s, Katy is generally low to mid 300s, and The Woodlands is commonly mid 400s to 600s and higher, with luxury inventory pulling medians up.
How do property taxes compare across these suburbs?
- All three combine county, school district, and special districts; The Woodlands adds a Township tax, and many Spring and Katy neighborhoods include MUD taxes, so confirm the exact taxing entities before you buy.
Are HOA and MUD fees common and how much should I expect?
- Yes in many master-planned areas; HOAs often run roughly 70 to 250 dollars per month depending on amenities, and MUD obligations appear on your tax bill.
Do I need flood insurance in Spring, Katy, or The Woodlands?
- Lenders require it in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas, but many buyers outside high-risk zones still choose a policy, so check the address on FEMA maps and get quotes before you make an offer.
How do mortgage rates affect what I can afford right now?
- A small rate change can move your monthly principal and interest by hundreds of dollars, so use the latest Freddie Mac PMMS average to test your budget and compare neighborhoods using the same assumptions.
