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Katy vs Buda

122 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+51.8 pts in Buda) and jobs per worker (2.1× in Katy).

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Katy, TXKnown for its schoolsTexas · 25,184 people
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Buda, TXKnown for its schoolsTexas · 15,859 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

KatyKnown for its schools
Schools#53 for schools in TXof 583 towns Work28,202 jobsbased in Katy, a regional job hub HealthHealthier than 89%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Katy →
BudaKnown for its schools
Schools#111 for schools in TXof 583 towns HealthHealthier than 84%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Outdoors#142 most conserved land in TX3.9 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves All about Buda →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Growth since 2010+51.8 pts
Buda has grown faster since 2010
Buda +107.1%Katy +55.3%
Jobs per worker2.1×
Katy is more of a job hub
Katy 2.77Buda 1.34
Trails+67%
Katy has more miles of trail
Katy 6.5 miBuda 3.9 mi
Street grid+49%
Katy has the more walkable street grid
Katy 75.9Buda 51.0
Work in town+8.2 pts
More of Katy’s workers stay in town
Katy 13.1%Buda 4.9%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Katy places higher on 14 of 22 TX lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Texas ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
C−KatySafer than 17% of U.S. towns C+BudaSafer than 43% of U.S. towns
Schools
AKatyBetter than 88% of districts in the state C+BudaBetter than 40% of districts in the state
Health
AKatyHealthier than 89% of U.S. towns A−BudaHealthier than 84% of U.S. towns
14Katy
7Buda

Lists won, of 22 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Most conserved landOutdoors · 572 towns #408#142 Highest graduation rateSchools · 584 towns #271#484 SafestSafety · 470 towns #398#238 Most walkableOutdoors · 653 towns #222#415 Lowest depressionHealth · 652 towns #69#256 Most new homesHousing · 535 towns #104#235 Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 632 towns #231#382 Lowest obesityHealth · 652 towns #83#157

Left end = #1 in Texas. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Katy’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Katy$2,240/mo
Typical home $332K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.79% · or rent about $1,602/mo · Housing →
Buda$2,360/mo
Typical home $351K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.77% · or rent about $1,852/mo · Housing →

The difference: $120 a month, about $1,400 a year, between Buda and Katy.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
KatyBuda
Snow a year0″0″
January low—39°F
July high—96°F
Growing season (days)—273d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)57th45th
Outdoors & history
KatyBuda
Trails7 mi4 mi
Conserved land1%5.2%
Settled19451881
National Register places23
Community
KatyBuda
Library hours a week47 hrs51 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

122 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

KatyTXBudaTX
Katy ↔ Buda122 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

KatyBuda
People
Population 25,184Highest 15,859Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +55.3%Lowest TX: +15.9% +107.1%Highest TX: +15.9%
Median age 37.6±2Highest 6% above TX 37.2±1.7Lowest 4% above TX
Katy and Buda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 28.4%±3.5Highest TX: 25% 27.9%±5.3Lowest TX: 25%
Katy and Buda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 11.1%±1.8Highest TX: 13.4% 6.8%±1.9Lowest TX: 13.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 48.8%Lowest TX: 33.8% 50.1%Highest TX: 33.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.9%±1.6Highest TX: 6.2% 4.3%±2.2Lowest TX: 6.2%
Katy and Buda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $114,912±$16kLowest 46% above TX $123,766±$8kHighest 58% above TX
Buda and Katy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $401,700±$23kLowest 42% above TX $446,600±$35kHighest 57% above TX
Buda and Katy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,602±$210Lowest 14% above TX $1,852±$139Highest 32% above TX
Buda and Katy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $7,207Lowest 70% above TX $7,911Highest 87% above TX
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 63.6%±11.9Highest TX: 51.7% 27.4%±14.1Lowest TX: 51.7%
Below poverty line 8.1%Highest TX: 13.8% 6%Lowest TX: 13.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 80.7%Highest TX: 62.6% 76.6%Lowest TX: 62.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 2003Lowest 11 yrs newer than TX 2012Highest 20 yrs newer than TX
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 31 minHighest 17% above TX 29 minLowest 9% above TX
Work from home 18%±3.7Lowest TX: 14.4% 21.3%±4.6Highest TX: 14.4%
Buda and Katy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 13.1%Highest 4.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 18.8 miHighest 15.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 2.77Highest 1.34Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Houston (49%)Austin (50%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BudaFew work in Katy
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1%Lowest 5.2%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 6.5 miHighest 3.9 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 mi 0.4 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 7Highest 3Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 75.9Highest 51.0Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #53 of 583 in TX#111 of 583 in TX
School district ARISTOI CLASSICAL ACADEMY · KATY ISDHAYS CISD
High school in town Katy H SMoe and Gene Johnson H S
Students per teacherat that high school 15.4Lowest 19.7Highest
Texas average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Katy neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Katy’s Town Square.

Buda neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Buda’s Town Square.

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Bordering Katy

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Houston2,328,253 people · $278K homes

Towns like Katy

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Corinth23,385 people · $376K homes
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Cibolo35,109 people · $352K homes
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Melissa20,136 people · $454K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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