It’s nice to be able to work and play in the city of Houston without actually having to live there. And while there are a handful of nice areas around Houston, Cypress has rapidly become one of the most popular suburban communities of its kind. Whether you’re moving to Houston for a job or are simply looking to relocate to a safe community with access to robust amenities, Cypress, Texas should be near the top of your list.
Technically an unincorporated community of Harris County, Cypress is located roughly half an hour northwest of downtown Houston. Nothing more than a rural area with farmers and other blue-collar workers, Cypress enjoyed a revolution in the mid-1980s with a number of million-dollar residential and commercial developments. It’s now ranked 50th on a list of the top 100 highest-income urban areas in the entire U.S.
While Cypress may be relatively new in terms of being a suburban community, the area has deep ties to history. It’s believed that the land was once populated by Atakapa and Akokisa Indian tribes up until German settlers appeared in the middle of the 19th century. Today, you can still see some of the German influence on the area in the form of street names.
Today, Cypress is seen as a very affluent community. According to Movoto, 61 percent of the working population has either a bachelor’s or associate’s degree, while 11 percent have graduate degrees. Roughly 60 percent of the population has a household income of $75,000 or greater, while 20 percent earn more than $150,000.
When you study where Cypress has been and where it currently stands, it’s clear that this community is becoming more than just a “suburb of Houston” – it’s becoming a highly sought after place to live for those looking to provide their families with safe and comfortable living.
Because Cypress is an unincorporated community, there are no official land boundaries or city limits. Generally speaking, though, people consider FM 529 road to be the southern border, HWY 249 the northern border, and HWY 6 and FM 1960 the western and eastern borders.
Perhaps most interesting about Cypress is that – for its small size – it really has two very distinct geographical areas. The landscape northeast of US 290 is thickly wooded, while the land southwest of US 290 is very much ranch land with grassy prairies.
Weather-wise, you’re going to experience classic Texas weather with mild winters and very hot, humid summers. The time from late-fall to early-spring is generally considered pleasant.
While many people spend the weekends traveling into downtown Houston because of its close proximity and many amenities and activities, there’s still plenty to experience right here in Cypress. Let’s take a look at some local favorites:
Because Cypress is still a relatively new community in terms of residential and commercial development, there’s ample room for growth and expansion. But whether you like to spend your time shopping with friends, immersing yourself in nature, or enjoying a little athletic competition, Cypress has everything you could ever want.
Much like the state as a whole, Cypress has a very pro-business climate that continues to attract a variety of companies. From startups that are just getting off the ground to established Fortune 500 corporations, you’ll find an eclectic mix of businesses in the area.
From a business perspective, the attraction to Cypress is clear. Taxes and regulations are low, the workforce is highly educated and diversified, and there’s easy access to a number of populated urban areas – Houston obviously being the closest.
Some of the major industries in the area include manufacturing, construction, education, energy, and healthcare. But it’s not just locals who think Cypress is great. Over the last few years, everyone from Daily Beast to Bloomberg Businessweek has recognized it as a top place to start or operate a business.
It should come as no surprise that Cypress schools are among the best in the state. The GreatSchool rating is 9 out of 10, which puts it well above national and state averages.
Cypress residents are served by the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD), which currently serves more than 113,000 students across 86 different campuses. As of the last count, there were 53 elementary schools, 18 middle schools, and 11 high schools. Impressively, 35 of these campuses have been built since 2000, meaning many of the facilities are top-notch.
While the CFISD is the third-largest district in the state, it’s the largest school district in Texas to have 100 percent of its campuses earn Met Standard honors. And being near Houston, high school graduates have a number of local choices for community and state college.
If homeownership is the goal, Cypress is the place for you. The homeownership rate in the area is 82.9 percent, while 85.9 percent of all residences are single-family. Furthermore, 62.9 percent of all homes have been built since 2000. The median home value is right around $276,000.
If you’re looking to purchase a high-end home with lots of amenities and master-planned community features, The Grand Series at Cypress Creek Lakes is worth taking a look at. If you’re a first-time buyer looking for a starter home in proximity to good schools, Cypress Mill is always a great choice.
If you’re looking for some of the top communities independent of price, Coles Crossing, Black Horse Ranch, Bridgeland, Towne Lake, and Lakes of Fairhaven are all pretty popular. But at the end of the day, most real estate in Cypress is appreciating. That’s a testament to good schools, low crime rates, and the family feel of the area.
There are plenty of thriving communities around Houston, but if you’re looking for rich history, enticing amenities, a healthy business climate, leading schools, and affordable real estate, consider Cypress, Texas. Whether you’re a homebuyer or investor, our robust home search tool is an intuitive resource that will help you find the perfect piece of real estate. Give it a try today!