Houston Master PlannedCommunity Discovery
2026 MUD Rates Audited
♡Head-to-Head Comparison · Houston Master-Planned Communities
Balmoral vs Firethorne
Independent side-by-side comparison: schools, tax rates, true monthly costs, amenities, builders, and water quality.
Balmoral 1—4 Firethorne
🏆
Firethorne wins on 4 of 5 metrics
Based on tax rate, starting price, school rating, HOA, and water quality. Individual priorities vary — use the calculator to run your specific numbers.
💰 Financial Comparison
3.25%
Total Tax Rate
2.48%✓ Lower
$200,000✓ Lower
Starting Price
$360,000
$1,894/mo
True Monthly Cost
$3,098/mo
$1,298/yr
Annual HOA
$950/yr✓ Lower
🎓 Schools
6/10
School Rating
9/10✓ Higher
Humble ISD
School District
Katy ISD / Lamar CISD
Summer Creek High School
High School
Katy High School
🏊 Amenities
✓ BalmoralLagoonFirethorne ✗
✓ BalmoralLakeFirethorne ✓
✓ BalmoralTrailsFirethorne ✓
✓ BalmoralFitnessFirethorne ✓
💧 MUD Water Quality
17 GPG
Hardness
16 GPG✓ Softer
Harris County MUD 400
MUD District
Fort Bend County MUD 151
🏗 Active Builders
Balmoral
Brightland HomesChesmar HomesCastleRock CommunitiesColina HomesLennarWestin Homes
Firethorne
Perry HomesHighland HomesCoventry HomesAshton WoodsRavenna Homes
❓ Frequently Asked Questions: Balmoral vs. Firethorne
Which has a lower property tax rate, Balmoral or Firethorne?
Firethorne offers a lower total property tax rate (2.48%) than Balmoral (3.25%), saving approximately 0.77% in property taxes annually.
How do school ratings compare between Balmoral and Firethorne?
Balmoral is zoned to Humble ISD (GreatSchools rating: 6/10), while Firethorne is zoned to Katy ISD / Lamar CISD (GreatSchools rating: 9/10).
How do starting home prices compare between Balmoral and Firethorne?
Homes in Balmoral start from approximately $240K, while homes in Firethorne start from approximately $360K. Actual monthly costs also depend on MUD taxes and annual HOA dues.
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