Cy-Fair vs Spring/The Woodlands vs Katy? (Houston, Tomball: homes, neighborhoods)

[triathan]

Hi Everyone,

I'm relocating to Houston, TX from Indianapolis (exciting place that it is ) and will be working along the US290 corridor just a few miles inside the Sam Houston Tollway. I'm looking for a 5 bedroom home in the $200-250K range and there seem to be lots of choices. Good schools and a decent commute time (<30 min would be nice) are my primary considerations, but it's kind of hard from way up here to judge what's a "nice" neighborhood. So, I'd like to hear your thoughts/impressions on what Cy Fair is like (the people, appearance, shopping, restaurants, etc.) vs Spring /The Woodlands and Katy. I've heard that Cy-Fair is a little more diverse than Spring/The Woodlands but am not sure whether this is true. Also, in Indy, the beltway is completely free! Please give me some idea of what your annual bill is like for tolls. Thanks to all for your time!

[Guerilla]

Well, since you will be working along 290, you should stay in that area. Many good homes and schools (especially) in the Cy-Far district. You hould try some neighborhoods out around Fry Road that are in your price range. Bridgelands would be the best choice.

[charris911]

Inside the city of Jersey Village would be nice. Its at 290 and the Beltway. Nice little community within the area, with its own police/fire/ems, mature trees and neighborhoods. The schools are in CY-Fair ISD and Jersey Village HS is within the boundaries.

[Guerilla]

Jersey Village isn't the best high school though. I would try and get into Cypress-Woods zone.

[charris911]

Jersey Village is a fine school, and a great community. But if you took Guerilla recomendation, you might want to go look out on Fry road, I just drove thru there and Bridgeland and Cypress Creek Lakes look nice. Good area, but no mature trees like north of 290 area or JV area...either are great. Anything in Cy-Fair is nice.

[Mr. Football]

If you're working in the area, you'll find that there are literally hundreds of great neighborhoods to choose from. There's a reason why this has been the fastest-growing part of Houston over the past decade. Cy-Fair is a large district (3rd largest in the state) with some 750,000 people living there. Some parts of the district are more diverse than others.

The area where I live is "Cypress" specifically "North Cypress" which is about 84% White, 8% Hispanic, 4% Black and 4% Asian. Very similar demographics but with a larger population and slightly higher Avg HH Income than The Woodlands.


Longwood

North Cypress is a heavily wooded enclave with lots of beautiful neighborhoods like: Longwood, Coles Crossing, Rock Creek, Lakewood Oaks Estates, Lakewood Glen, Lakewood Forest, Northlake Forest, Secret Forest, Park Forest, Stable Gate, Lakes of Rosehill and many others. I recommend using HAR.com to search MLS listings in Houston.


Coles Crossing

The schools in this area are solid and highly-ranked. Some of the best in the District. Nice Golf Courses like Longwood, Blackhorse, Houston National, Cypress Lakes and others. World famous Champions Golf Club is nearby (BTW, the Champions Area is also a really nice area of CFISD, deserves its own thread)

You can't go wrong here.

Other great areas to check out that are going to be really nice are the neighborhoods off Fry Rd. and 290. Specifically, Blackhorse Ranch, Cypress Creek Lakes, Bridgeland and Towne Lake. All very nice.


Bridgeland

Of course I'm leaving out dozens of other great choices you should check out in Cypress, Champions, Jersey Village, Copperfield and Lakes of Eldridge, etc. Plus lots of older, established communities that have lots of trees and well-kept homes. These are just some of my favorites in Cypress.

Feel free to look at my Cypress Photos

[Guerilla]

I always thought the Katy area was the fastest growing. Must have been Katy I.S.D. West Houston is said to be Houston's fastest growing section.

[Mr. Football]

They're including Cy-Fair as "West Houston" when they make those claims. While Katy is right up there, and certainly growing fast, Cy-Fair ISD and the entire Northwest Houston quadrant (Cy-Fair, Tomball, Klein) has grown faster than any other single part of town. Cy-Fair has been one of the fastest growing communities in the country over the past decade.

[janIam2be]

If you have elementary age children you should consider that Cy-Fair Schools have "open concept" schools with no walls...or some classes have l wall...only separations might be a bookcase or bulletin board half-wall. Parents have been complaining for years and trying to convince them to install walls...but they won't budge. Cy-Fair is a huge school district...I've heard the fastest growing in Texas...adding new schools every year. Check out the school district ratings...diversity, scores, numbers who attend college, etc. on the web.

[charris911]

Regarding Cy-Fair ISD and open-concept. "They" wont budge because if you look at scores and students, Cy-Fair ISD does better than most if not all districts with closed-concept. From my work with open-concept, the only ones that do not like the concept are parents, that were not raised in that type of classroom setting. The district is excellent at the elementary level.