Sugar Land vs Katy - is it just a matter of personal preference? (Houston: appointed, house)

[Lbjen]

For every thread debating the two, it seems there are just as many people who think Katy is better than Sugar Land and vice versa. But nobody seems to have any concrete reasoning - is it really just a matter of what you perceive as better?

I'm leaning towards Sugar Land myself, I don't like the spread out feel of Katy, but then someone tells me Katy schools are better, yet every time I look up the zoned school for somewhere in Katy I end up being disappointed.

I read on some threads that the commute on 59 is better than the 10, but others swear the 10 is better. Others say Westpark Tollway is either good or a disaster.

Who am I supposed to believe!

[Failed Engineer]

The Katy schools are not better. Those are just Katy residents (or those unfamiliar with FBISD) looking at aggregate district rankings. The bad schools in FBISD (which are nearly all located in Missouri City) are much worse than anything south of I-10 in Katy, but the Sugar Land schools are always ranked higher than their Katy counterparts in any reputable ranking you can find.

59 is a better commute going into the city right now, but I believe that it will gradually worsen to what 10 is as the areas along 59 between Sugar Land and 610 gentrify and start to house more professionals.

But really, the school difference is marginal. Katy and Sugar Land have some of the best public schools around in the Houston area. Sugar Land's retail and restaurants are better IMO. And for what it's worth, Sugar Land is generally a bit more expensive than Katy for the same house. I think there is a reason for that.

[AK123]

^I would agree with everything the above poster said.

For what it's worth as well, for our three schools (elementary/middle/high, all FBISD) we're zoned to one with a Richmond address and the other two are Sugar Land. Very pleased with all three.

[Topaz]

I think they are more alike than different.

[Westerntraveler]

I like Katy better and here in Texas your making your self stand out by saying the 10 instead of I-10 or 10 or interstate 10.

[EasilyAmused]

More alike than different. One is is just more diverse than the other.
Katy is easier to get to oil-centric companies. Both commutes are a nightmare.

[bloodwings19]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

One is is just more diverse than the other.
Both commutes are a nightmare.

There are at least 100,000 asians living in Ft. Bend County is the major difference, a lot more diverse. I believe Katy is a little on the safe side because Sugarland is within distance to Willowridge HS (Ft Bend ISD), Hwy6/Bellaire and Bissonnett. On the plus side living in Sugarland is their overly active officers.

[swopoe]

To the previous poster, I would say Sugar Land is pretty safe.

I used to live in Richmond, but north Richmond, so a stone's throw from Katy (Cinco Ranch area). We spent most of our time in the Katy area because of our proximity. A few months ago we moved to Sugar Land, and we prefer it here. Just another anecdote. Everyone has their own opinion though!

[War Beagle]

I've spent a lot of time in both, and to me, it really only comes down to where you work. If you work on the energy corridor then Katy is the obvious choice. If you work in one of the business clusters along 59 (i.e. The Galleria) then you'll live in Sugar Land. If you work downtown, then I suspect either one is fine since you'll be miserable in your commute either way.

[usc619]

I live in Katy and have no problem admitting that Sugarland is better.