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Katy vs Melissa

245 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+140.8 pts in Melissa) and trails (13× in Katy).

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Katy, TXKnown for its schoolsTexas · 25,184 people
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Melissa, TXKnown for its schoolsTexas · 20,136 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 →
MelissaKnown for its schools
Schools#29 for schools in TXof 583 towns Housing$422K typical home41% above the TX typical home HealthHealthier than 80%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Melissa →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

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

Growth since 2010+140.8 pts
Melissa has grown faster since 2010
Melissa +196.1%Katy +55.3%
Trails13×
Katy has more miles of trail
Katy 6.5 miMelissa 0.5 mi
Jobs per worker9.6×
Katy is more of a job hub
Katy 2.77Melissa 0.29
Rent+58%
Rent runs higher in Melissa
Melissa $2,532Katy $1,602
Work from home+11.4 pts
More people work from home in Melissa
Melissa 29.4%Katy 18%
Work in town+10.4 pts
More of Katy’s workers stay in town
Katy 13.1%Melissa 2.7%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Melissa places higher on 11 of 21 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 AMelissaSafer than 92% of U.S. towns
Schools
AKatyBetter than 88% of districts in the state AMelissaBetter than 94% of districts in the state
Health
AKatyHealthier than 89% of U.S. towns A−MelissaHealthier than 80% of U.S. towns
9Katy
11Melissa

Lists won, of 21 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

SafestSafety · 470 towns #398#13 Lowest depressionHealth · 652 towns #69#476 Highest graduation rateSchools · 584 towns #271#1 Lowest obesityHealth · 652 towns #83#252 Most conserved landOutdoors · 572 towns #408#552 Cheapest rentCost of living · 624 towns #472#604 Most new homesHousing · 535 towns #104#23 Fewest smokersHealth · 652 towns #83#171

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 $510 more a month in Melissa

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 →
Melissa$2,750/mo
Typical home $422K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.51% · or rent about $2,532/mo · Housing →

The difference: $510 a month, about $6,100 a year, between Melissa 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
KatyMelissa
Snow a year0″0″
January low—34°F
July high—92°F
Growing season (days)—254d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)57th58th
Outdoors & history
KatyMelissa
Trails7 mi1 mi
Conserved land1%0.1%
Settled19451853
National Register places2—
Archive photos—1
Famous people born here—1
Community
KatyMelissa
Library hours a week47 hrs40 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

245 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

KatyTXMelissaTX
Katy ↔ Melissa245 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.

KatyMelissa
People
Population 25,184Highest 20,136Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +55.3%Lowest TX: +15.9% +196.1%Highest TX: +15.9%
Median age 37.6±2Highest 6% above TX 36.3±1.5Lowest about the TX average
Katy and Melissa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 28.4%±3.5Lowest TX: 25% 30.7%±4.5Highest TX: 25%
Melissa and Katy 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% 6.7%±1.8Lowest TX: 13.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 48.8%Lowest TX: 33.8% 52.6%Highest TX: 33.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.9%±1.6Lowest TX: 6.2% 6%±2.1Highest TX: 6.2%
Melissa and Katy 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 $138,763±$8kHighest 77% above TX
Melissa 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 $454,000±$22kHighest 60% above TX
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,602±$210Lowest 14% above TX $2,532±$197Highest 80% above TX
Property taxmedian, yearly $7,207Highest 70% above TX $6,860Lowest 62% above TX
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 63.6%±11.9Highest TX: 51.7% 53.9%±19.9Lowest TX: 51.7%
Katy and Melissa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 8.1%Highest TX: 13.8% 1.9%Lowest TX: 13.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 80.7%Lowest TX: 62.6% 88.7%Highest TX: 62.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 2003Lowest 11 yrs newer than TX 2015Highest 23 yrs newer than TX
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 31 minLowest 17% above TX 34 minHighest 26% above TX
Work from home 18%±3.7Lowest TX: 14.4% 29.4%±6Highest TX: 14.4%
Work in townworking residents 13.1%Highest 2.7%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 18.8 miLowest 24.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 2.77Highest 0.29Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Houston (49%)Dallas (16%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in MelissaFew work in Katy
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1%Highest 0.1%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 6.5 miHighest 0.5 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 7Highest 4Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 75.9Highest 70.3Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #53 of 583 in TX#29 of 583 in TX
School district ARISTOI CLASSICAL ACADEMY · KATY ISDMELISSA ISD
High school in town Katy H SMelissa H S
Students per teacherat that high school 15.4Highest 14.5Lowest
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.

Melissa neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Melissa’s Town Square.

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Bordering Katy

+ Compare
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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Buda15,859 people · $447K 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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