Cane Island

Cane Island sits on the northwest edge of the City of Katy, in Waller County, just north of Interstate 10. The community takes its name from a piece of local history, the original Cane Island settlement that sprouted here in the 1800s along a prairie creek, long before the town of Katy even had a name. That sense of place runs deep here, and it gives the neighborhood a character that a lot of newer developments just don’t have.

Rise Communities, the developer behind Cane Island, broke ground around 2010 and opened the first homes and model villages in 2015. Rise is no small operation – their team brought experience from over 14,000 acres of prior development across the greater Houston area, and it shows in how thoughtfully this community was laid out. The full buildout spans roughly 1,000 acres across 45 sections, with plans accommodating approximately 1,400 single-family homes in total.

Students who live in Cane Island are zoned to the Katy Independent School District, which consistently ranks among the top school districts in all of Texas. Families will appreciate that Robertson Elementary sits right inside the community, which makes those morning school runs a whole lot easier. Older kids feed into Katy Junior High and the legendary Katy High School, home of the Tigers – a Friday night tradition that the whole community gets behind.

One of the biggest draws to this part of Katy is how connected everything feels. Cane Island Parkway runs straight to I-10, and on a good day you can be on the freeway in just a few minutes. That makes the drive toward the Energy Corridor, Downtown Houston, or even the Texas Medical Center a lot more manageable than people expect. The Grand Parkway is also close by, as is the Westpark Tollroad – both of which opens up even more of the Houston area.

Daily errands are easy too, and residents have plenty of options close to home. Katy Mills Mall anchors the retail scene with more than 165 stores, plus entertainment spots like AMC Theatres and Tilt Studio. About eight miles away, LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch offers a different pace with outdoor shopping, restaurant patios, and live music on the Central Green most weekends. Grocery runs are simple as well, with several H-E-B, Kroger, and Brookshire Brothers stores all within a short drive.

The surrounding area also has a little personality to it. Historic Downtown Katy is only a couple of miles away, where you can browse antique shops, grab lunch at Midway Bar-B-Que, or walk through Katy Market Days on the third Saturday each month. Typhoon Texas Waterpark sits right next to Katy Mills and stays busy through the summer. If you want something quieter, Mary Jo Peckham Park offers a stocked fishing lake, walking paths, and plenty of open space to slow down.

Pull through the signature Living Arches at the main entrance and it becomes clear pretty quickly that this is not your typical subdivision. Those steel arches actually earned the community a Texas Star Award for Best Special Feature, and they set the tone for everything that follows inside Cane Quarter, the neighborhood’s central amenity hub. From the moment you arrive, it feels like a place that was designed with intention rather than simply built to fill space.

The centerpiece of Cane Quarter is the lagoon style family pool with a nearby splash pad and cabana area. It is the kind of spot that fills up quickly on a warm summer Saturday. Residents who want a quieter swim tend to head for the dedicated lap pool, while others make regular use of the two story fitness center that stays open around the clock. There is also a yoga studio with spin bikes, mats, and on demand classes that makes it easy to fit a workout into the day.

Beyond the pools and fitness areas, the community spaces are just as appealing. The Conservatory is a glass filled gathering room that works well for events or even a quiet afternoon. The Lawn hosts movie nights, concerts, and neighborhood events throughout the year. Walking trails wind past pocket parks and small lakes, giving residents a place to slow down for a bit. And the on site restaurant gives the neighborhood a casual place for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch.

Homes in Cane Island receive their annual property tax assessments from the Waller County Appraisal District. The total tax rate consists of several different taxing entities, which can vary depending on the part of the community where you live.

These rates typically apply to the school district, MUD district, and county or city services, but they can vary based on the specific section.

As of the time of this writing (January 2026), the average property tax rate for homes in the neighborhood is 3.28%. Just as with every home in the Katy and Fulshear areas, and Texas for that matter, these rates apply to every $100 of a home’s valuation. The current average sales price is $630,000, which we’ll use to map out how property taxes work. To understand how that plays out, that $630,000 home could expect to pay $20,664 / year in property taxes:

$630,000 / $100 = $6,300 x 3.28 = $20,664.

This of course does not take into account homestead, over 65, and other tax exemptions that offer significant tax savings. Read more about how property taxes work in our area. As of the time of this writing, the annual HOA Dues here are $1,300. Homeowners in the Katy area typically consider these dues very reasonable, especially given the community’s size and amazing amenities.

Homes in Cane Island cover a pretty wide range, which is part of why the neighborhood appeals to so many different buyers. Lot widths start around 50 feet and stretch to 80 feet and beyond. Buyers will find standard interior lots, corner homesites, cul-de-sac locations, and even waterfront properties along several of the community lakes. Home sizes usually fall between about 1,800 and a little over 6,000 square feet, with the typical resale landing close to 3,200 square feet. Pricing has generally ranged from the mid 400s into the upper 700s, with larger luxury homes and custom builds pushing past the 1 million mark.

New construction is still active in parts of the neighborhood, and several builders continue to offer inventory and spec homes. Production builders with a strong presence include Coventry Homes, David Weekley Homes, Perry Homes, Highland Homes, Chesmar Homes, and Shea Homes. Each builder brings its own floor plans and finish options, which gives buyers quite a bit of flexibility. For buyers looking for something more customized, builders like Cason Graye Custom Homes offer a more tailored build experience with pricing that can climb well beyond 1.75 million.

The builder lineup here is one of the reasons the community has stayed popular over the years. David Weekley, Perry, and Highland Homes all have long track records in the Houston area and strong reputations with homeowners. Coventry has earned attention for its more design focused floor plans, and Toll Brothers was one of the early luxury builders that helped put Cane Island on the map. Whether someone buys a brand new home or a resale, the overall quality tends to hold up well, which is a big reason buyers continue to gravitate toward Cane Island.