Northwest Houston
Northwest Houston, block by block.
What is the Northwest Houston market doing in 2026?
City listing prices and metro sale prices describe different groups of homes. The metro single-family median sale price was $330,000 with 5.3 months of supply in August 2026 (HAR); inside the region, HAR single-family active-listing medians span $120,075 from Waller to Cypress in September 2026, and active inventory is up year over year in all six cities.
HAR's September 2026 single-family data shows active inventory up year over year in all six cities. Compare homes within your target community; we use recent comparable sales to assess your offer.
HAR's August 2026 single-family sold-home median days on market were 28 in Katy, 30 in Tomball and 31 in Cypress. These sold-home figures differ from the active-listing ages in the September comparison below. The communities with the most new construction compete hardest on price and condition.
School ratings, amenity scale and housing age explain most of the spread. We price your move against the specific community, not the corridor average.
Northwest Houston at a Glance
The six city rows use HAR.com September 2026 single-family active-listing medians, counts and median days on market. The right row for you depends on schools, commute and how much house your budget buys in each.
| Area | Median list | For sale | Days on market | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cypress | $450,000 | 1,669 | 42 | Master-planned scale, Cy-Fair ISD |
| Magnolia | $370,690 | 1,206 | 49 | Country acreage and new communities |
| Tomball | $400,000 | 906 | 42 | Small-town Main Street, top-ranked ISD |
| Katy | $370,000 | 3,198 | 41 | Established west side, Katy ISD |
| Waller | $329,925 | 493 | 50 | Acreage value, newest construction |
| Hockley | $334,995 | 894 | 56 | Entry pricing, room to build |
HAR.com September 2026 city sources: Cypress , Tomball , Katy , Magnolia , Waller , Hockley . City prices and counts cover active single-family listings; days are median active-listing age, not time to contract or a completed sale. Your subdivision's comparable sales are what we measure in a pricing analysis.
Which Northwest Houston community fits you?
Start with the lifestyle line, then check the price line. Price lines are HAR September 2026 city single-family listing medians. Every card links to the community guide or its live listings.
Cypress Master-planned communities and Cy-Fair schools $450,000 single-family median · guide 
Tomball Historic Main Street and top-ranked schools $400,000 single-family median · listings 
Katy Established west side near the Energy Corridor $370,000 single-family median · listings 
Magnolia Acreage, pines and new construction $370,690 single-family median · listings 
Waller Value pricing with new communities rising $329,925 single-family median · listings 
Hockley Entry prices and room to breathe $334,995 single-family median · listings Each community has its own school district, tax structure and housing stock. We compare all three for your shortlist before you commit.
Why buyers choose the northwest side.
Three reasons come up in nearly every relocation consultation we run. All three are documented, not marketing.
- Katy ISD, A+ #1 in the Houston area (Niche, 2026)
- Tomball ISD #1 in Harris County, seven straight years
- Cy-Fair ISD, A #2 in Harris County
- US-290 and SH-99 put downtown 25 to 45 minutes out
- IAH airport about 32 miles from Cypress
- Energy Corridor direct via I-10 or US-290
- Bridgeland and Dunham Pointe still building out
- Corporate campuses landing along the corridors
- Record inventory means choice now, demand intact
Getting around, and what it costs to own here.
Four corridors do the daily work. Pick your community by where you drive most, not by the map.
Serves Cypress, Waller and Hockley southeast to the Energy Corridor, Memorial City and downtown
The outer belt linking all six communities , with IAH about 32 miles east of Cypress
Serves Tomball and Magnolia , with Beltway 8 connections into the metro
Serves Katy straight into the Energy Corridor and downtown
Texas has no state income tax, so property taxes do the funding, including the schools most buyers move here for. Rates vary by district and MUD, and newer communities often carry a MUD rate on top; master-planned HOAs fund the amenity packages. Before you offer, we model the exact tax rate, MUD and HOA for every address on your shortlist, so the monthly number you compare is the real one.
The record
The team Northwest Houston keeps choosing.
"Working with Amy and her team was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. No wonder they are #1 in Cypress."
Northwest Houston, answered.
Is Northwest Houston a buyer's market in 2026?
HAR's September 2026 single-family data shows active inventory up year over year in all six cities, with median active-listing ages of 41 to 56 days. These figures describe homes still listed for sale; your negotiating position depends on the property and its recent comparable sales.
Which Northwest Houston community is most affordable?
Waller at a $329,925 median single-family active list price and Hockley at $334,995 (HAR.com, September 2026). Both are below the other four cities in this comparison.
Which community has the best schools?
Katy ISD is Niche's #1 Houston-area district (A+, 2026) and Tomball ISD is #1 in Harris County; Cy-Fair ISD is #2. The right campus matters more than the district label.
Cypress or Tomball: which should I choose?
Cypress for master-planned scale and amenities ($450,000 single-family listing median, HAR September 2026); Tomball for a smaller-town feel and the county's #1 district ($400,000, HAR September 2026). Your commute usually decides.
How bad are property taxes in Northwest Houston?
Rates vary by district and MUD and are the main carrying cost to model. We compute the exact rate and HOA for every address before you offer.
How far is Northwest Houston from downtown?
About 25 to 45 minutes depending on the community and corridor. Cypress sits 25 to 30 miles out via US-290; Katy runs straight down I-10.
Keep researching.
See Northwest Houston with the team that sells it.
1,463+ homes sold across these six communities. A consultation costs nothing and commits you to nothing.