Houston Master PlannedCommunity Discovery
2026 MUD Rates Audited
♡Head-to-Head Comparison · Houston Master-Planned Communities
Sunterra vs The Woodlands
Independent side-by-side comparison: schools, tax rates, true monthly costs, amenities, builders, and water quality.
Sunterra 1—3 The
🏆
The Woodlands wins on 3 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
3.42%
Total Tax Rate
1.79%✓ Lower
$200,000✓ Lower
Starting Price
$800,000
$1,908/mo
True Monthly Cost
$6,318/mo
$1,160/yr
Annual HOA
$0/yr✓ Lower
🎓 Schools
8/10
School Rating
8/10
Katy ISD
School District
Conroe ISD / Tomball ISD
Katy / Paetow High School
High School
The Woodlands High School
🏊 Amenities
✓ SunterraLagoonThe ✗
✓ SunterraLakeThe ✓
✓ SunterraTrailsThe ✓
✓ SunterraFitnessThe ✓
💧 MUD Water Quality
21 GPG
Hardness
8 GPG✓ Softer
Harris-Waller Counties MUD 5
MUD District
The Woodlands Township
🏗 Active Builders
Sunterra
Starlight HomesGehan HomesEmpire CommunitiesBrightland HomesColina HomesD.R. Horton
The Woodlands
Frankel Building GroupPartners in Building
❓ Frequently Asked Questions: Sunterra vs. The Woodlands
Which has a lower property tax rate, Sunterra or The Woodlands?
The Woodlands offers a lower total property tax rate (1.79%) than Sunterra (3.42%), saving approximately 1.63% in property taxes annually.
How do school ratings compare between Sunterra and The Woodlands?
Sunterra is zoned to Katy ISD (GreatSchools rating: 8/10), while The Woodlands is zoned to Conroe ISD / Tomball ISD (GreatSchools rating: 8/10).
How do starting home prices compare between Sunterra and The Woodlands?
Homes in Sunterra start from approximately $250K, while homes in The Woodlands start from approximately $550K. Actual monthly costs also depend on MUD taxes and annual HOA dues.
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