Houston Master PlannedCommunity Discovery
2026 MUD Rates Audited
♡Head-to-Head Comparison · Houston Master-Planned Communities
Sunterra vs Valley Ranch
Independent side-by-side comparison: schools, tax rates, true monthly costs, amenities, builders, and water quality.
Sunterra 1—4 Valley
🏆
Valley Ranch 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
3.42%
Total Tax Rate
2.79%✓ Lower
$200,000
Starting Price
$180,000✓ Lower
$1,908/mo
True Monthly Cost
$1,617/mo
$1,160/yr
Annual HOA
$800/yr✓ Lower
🎓 Schools
8/10✓ Higher
School Rating
6/10
Katy ISD
School District
New Caney ISD
Katy / Paetow High School
High School
West Fork High School
🏊 Amenities
✓ SunterraLagoonValley ✗
✓ SunterraLakeValley ✓
✓ SunterraTrailsValley ✓
✓ SunterraFitnessValley ✓
💧 MUD Water Quality
21 GPG
Hardness
14 GPG✓ Softer
Harris-Waller Counties MUD 5
MUD District
Valley Ranch MUD 1
🏗 Active Builders
Sunterra
Starlight HomesGehan HomesEmpire CommunitiesBrightland HomesColina HomesD.R. Horton
Valley Ranch
Signorelli HomesLegend HomesFirst America Homes
❓ Frequently Asked Questions: Sunterra vs. Valley Ranch
Which has a lower property tax rate, Sunterra or Valley Ranch?
Valley Ranch offers a lower total property tax rate (2.79%) than Sunterra (3.42%), saving approximately 0.63% in property taxes annually.
How do school ratings compare between Sunterra and Valley Ranch?
Sunterra is zoned to Katy ISD (GreatSchools rating: 8/10), while Valley Ranch is zoned to New Caney ISD (GreatSchools rating: 6/10).
How do starting home prices compare between Sunterra and Valley Ranch?
Homes in Sunterra start from approximately $250K, while homes in Valley Ranch start from approximately $180K. Actual monthly costs also depend on MUD taxes and annual HOA dues.
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