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Melissa vs Katy

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

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Melissa, TXKnown for its schoolsTexas · 20,136 people
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Katy, TXKnown for its schoolsTexas · 25,184 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.

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 →
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 →
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
AMelissaSafer than 92% of U.S. towns C−KatySafer than 17% of U.S. towns
Schools
AMelissaBetter than 94% of districts in the state AKatyBetter than 88% of districts in the state
Health
A−MelissaHealthier than 80% of U.S. towns AKatyHealthier than 89% of U.S. towns
11Melissa
9Katy

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

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

Left end = #1 in Texas. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Melissa’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.

Melissa$2,750/mo
Typical home $422K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.51% · or rent about $2,532/mo · Housing →
Katy$2,240/mo
Typical home $332K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.79% · or rent about $1,602/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
MelissaKaty
Snow a year0″0″
January low34°F—
July high92°F—
Growing season (days)254d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)58th57th
Outdoors & history
MelissaKaty
Trails1 mi7 mi
Conserved land0.1%1%
Settled18531945
National Register places—2
Archive photos1—
Famous people born here1—
Community
MelissaKaty
Library hours a week40 hrs47 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.

MelissaTXKatyTX
Melissa ↔ Katy245 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.

MelissaKaty
People
Population 20,136Lowest 25,184Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +196.1%Highest TX: +15.9% +55.3%Lowest TX: +15.9%
Median age 36.3±1.5Lowest about the TX average 37.6±2Highest 6% above TX
Katy and Melissa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 30.7%±4.5Highest TX: 25% 28.4%±3.5Lowest TX: 25%
Melissa and Katy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 6.7%±1.8Lowest TX: 13.4% 11.1%±1.8Highest TX: 13.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 52.6%Highest TX: 33.8% 48.8%Lowest TX: 33.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6%±2.1Highest TX: 6.2% 5.9%±1.6Lowest 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 $138,763±$8kHighest 77% above TX $114,912±$16kLowest 46% 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 $454,000±$22kHighest 60% above TX $401,700±$23kLowest 42% above TX
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,532±$197Highest 80% above TX $1,602±$210Lowest 14% above TX
Property taxmedian, yearly $6,860Lowest 62% above TX $7,207Highest 70% above TX
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 53.9%±19.9Lowest TX: 51.7% 63.6%±11.9Highest 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 1.9%Lowest TX: 13.8% 8.1%Highest TX: 13.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 88.7%Highest TX: 62.6% 80.7%Lowest TX: 62.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 2015Highest 23 yrs newer than TX 2003Lowest 11 yrs newer than TX
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 34 minHighest 26% above TX 31 minLowest 17% above TX
Work from home 29.4%±6Highest TX: 14.4% 18%±3.7Lowest TX: 14.4%
Work in townworking residents 2.7%Lowest 13.1%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 24.8 miHighest 18.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.29Lowest 2.77Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Dallas (16%)Houston (49%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in KatyFew work in Melissa
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.1%Lowest 1%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.5 miLowest 6.5 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.4 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Lowest 7Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 70.3Lowest 75.9Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #29 of 583 in TX#53 of 583 in TX
School district MELISSA ISDARISTOI CLASSICAL ACADEMY · KATY ISD
High school in town Melissa H SKaty H S
Students per teacherat that high school 14.5Lowest 15.4Highest
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.

Melissa neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Melissa’s Town Square.

Katy neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Katy’s Town Square.

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Set another town beside Melissa and Katy

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Bordering Melissa

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McKinney210,600 people · $472K homes
A
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Anna24,330 people · $352K homes

Towns like Melissa

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Sachse30,491 people · $406K homes
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Iowa Colony12,891 people · $406K homes
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Buda15,859 people · $447K homes
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Cibolo35,109 people · $352K 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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