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City · 25,184 residents · Waller County, Texas

Katy , Texas

In Katy, a typical home is worth $401,700 and typical rent is $1,602 a month. Compared with all of Waller County, typical household income is 43% higher, typical rent is 37% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 9 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $401,700

    26% above the county

    42% above Texas

    • Katy
    • Waller
    • Texas

  • Typical rent

    $1,602a month

    37% above the county

    14% above Texas

    • Katy
    • Waller
    • Texas

  • Typical household income

    $114,912a year

    43% above the county

    46% above Texas

    • Katy
    • Waller
    • Texas

  • Households that own their home

    81%

    9 points above the county

    18 points above Texas

    • Katy
    • Waller
    • Texas

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$330,372
3.2% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,939 a month
1.3% less than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Katy is in Waller County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Waller County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Katy apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Mission Bend, the typical home value is $233,800: 42% less than in Katy ($401,700).

  2. The typical household income in Katy is $114,912, 43% more than in Waller County as a whole ($80,397).

  3. The typical rent in Katy is $1,602 a month, 37% more than in Waller County as a whole ($1,169).

  4. Nearby, in Brookshire, the typical rent is $1,264: 21% less than in Katy ($1,602).

  5. The typical home in Katy is worth $401,700, 26% more than in Waller County as a whole ($318,700).

  6. 81% of households in Katy own their home, against 72% in Waller County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Katy

What homes there are in Katy, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 85% of homes here, against 64% in Waller County.

Year built

Homes in Katy are newer: the typical year built is 2003; in Waller County, 1998.

Homes in Katy are bigger: 84% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Waller County, 70%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,953 a month

Waller County: $2,203 a month

Without a mortgage

$947 a month

Waller County: $740 a month

Owners with a mortgage

62%

Waller County: 50%

In Katy, 62% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $2,953 a month, against $2,203 in Waller County. Without one it drops to $947.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Katy gained value faster than in Waller County: 104% against 61%.

The typical rent in Katy rose 56% over the same time; in Waller County, it rose 25%.

Housing prices ran ahead of income in Katy: typical income rose 38%, against +104% for home values and +56% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureKatyWaller CountyTexasUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate7.9%7.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate4.9%4.8%3.4%
People per household 3.153.092.692.53
Drive alone 69%78%71%69%
Carpool 10%9%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Work from home 18%11%14%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in Katy has 3.15 people on average, about the same as in Waller County (3.09).

Many people here do not commute at all: 18% work from home; in Waller County, 11%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Katy?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Katy, worth $401,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 38% of the typical household income in Katy, which is $114,912 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $154,981 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Waller County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Katy. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $14,060 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,616

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$394,424
Total interest
$567,483
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,784 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,681 a month

  • Tight

    $2,681 to $3,447 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,447 a month

    Your payment · 38%

Compared with the typical household income in Katy ($114,912 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,616
Principal & interest$2,672
Property tax$599
Home insurance$167
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$178

You need at least $14,060 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Katy and Waller County

Katy is in Waller County, Texas. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Katy's own numbers

Typical home value
$401,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,602
Typical yearly household income
$114,912
Households that own their home
81%
Effective property tax rate
1.79%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Waller County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,497
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+53%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
8.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Waller County.

Everything about Waller County

Buying

Buying a home in Katy

A typical home in Katy is worth $401,700: 26% above the county and 42% above Texas. With the typical household income in Katy ($114,912 a year), a typical home costs 3.5 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Katy 3.5 years
  • Waller 4.0 years
  • Texas 3.6 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Waller County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Waller County rose 97% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Waller County.

Period County Texas U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.3% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +53% +44% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +97% +88% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Katy next to Waller County, Texas and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Katy $401,700
  • Waller $318,700
  • Texas $283,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Katy $1,602
  • Waller $1,169
  • Texas $1,403
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Katy $114,912
  • Waller $80,397
  • Texas $78,476
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Katy next to Waller County and Texas
Measure Katy Waller County Texas U.S.
Typical home value $401,700 $318,700 $283,800 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,602 $1,169 $1,403 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $114,912 $80,397 $78,476 $80,734
Households that own their home 81% 72% 63% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $7,207 $4,046 $4,232 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.79% 1.27% 1.49% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 64% 47% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Waller County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Katy

For a typical $401,700 home in Katy, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Katy's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,616a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $14,060
    Cash to close
    $26,111
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $178

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,543a month

    Down payment
    $20,085
    Cash to close
    $32,136
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $191

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,944a month

    Down payment
    $80,340
    Cash to close
    $92,391
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,315a month

    Down payment
    $60,255
    Cash to close
    $72,306
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Katy and for Waller County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Katy

1.79%of the home’s value each year

$7,207 a year for the typical owner in Katy.

  • Katy 1.79%
  • Waller 1.27%
  • Texas 1.49%

What Texas publishes School-district homestead exemption (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts)

Exemptions and deadlines in Texas

Flood risk in Waller County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Waller County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
8.4%
1,481
Of those, with NFIP insurance
31%
County Texas U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 8.4% 4.1% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 31% 48% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Katy

Typical rent in Katy is $1,602 a month: 37% above the county. In Katy, 64% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Waller County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,497 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $28.79 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Waller County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,233 $23.71 $49,320
1 bedroom $1,261 $24.25 $50,440
2 bedrooms $1,497 $28.79 $59,880
3 bedrooms $2,017 $38.79 $80,680
4 bedrooms $2,502 $48.12 $100,080

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Katy

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Katy has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,920 in 77493 to $2,250 in 77494.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Waller County ($1,497).

  • 77493 $1,920$2,590
  • 77494 $2,250$3,030

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Katy when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Katy

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Waller County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Katy

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Katy or Waller County. The ones below are statewide in Texas: they work in Katy the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Texas

  • My First Texas Home

    Statewide in Texas

    Texas state program for first-time buyers: a 30-year mortgage with down payment assistance. Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).

    DeferredForgivable

    See the program Official page

  • My Choice Texas Home

    Statewide in Texas

    Texas state program with down payment assistance for any buyer, not only first-time buyers. Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).

    DeferredForgivable

    See the program Official page

  • Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

    Statewide in Texas

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    Texas state certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return. Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Katy

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Katy, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Operation Hope - Houston TX

    10100 Katy Fwy, Houston · 18 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 2 more
    (832) 237-6747

  • Chinese Community Center

    9800 Town Park Dr, Houston · 18 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, and Vietnamese.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 10 more
    (713) 271-6100

  • Money Management International - Houston Call Center

    12603 Southwest Fwy Ste 450, Stafford · 19 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (866) 232-9080

All counseling agencies in Texas

Help in Spanish near Katy

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Katy

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Waller County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in Texas Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Waller County

These cities are also in Waller County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Waller County Housing in Texas

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Katy, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Waller County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Katy.

All guides
Three women of one family lean in together to stir the pan.

Questions

Housing questions about Katy

Short answers with the numbers for Katy and all of Waller County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Katy?

The typical home value in Katy is $401,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Waller County it is $318,700.

How much does it cost to rent in Katy?

Typical rent in Katy is $1,602 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Waller County is $1,497.

What is the FHA loan limit in Katy?

Katy uses the FHA limit for all of Waller County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Katy?

The typical homeowner in Katy pays $7,207 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.79% of the home’s value; in Waller County, the rate is 1.27%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Katy?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Waller County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).