There are many things people look for when they move. You could be relocating for career progression, more action, safety, education, or solely for entertainment purposes. Regardless of your impetus for moving, it’s likely you’re looking to improve your quality of life.

And if you’re one of those planning to relocate, then Cypress, Texas should be at the top of your list. Ranked 50th in the top 100 highest-income urban areas in America, this Houston suburb is easily one of Texas’s most sought out communities. Before moving here, it’s helpful to arm yourself with information about the community and the associated living costs.

A Farmland Turned Gold

Atakapa Indians were some of the original inhabitants of this area, but they were pushed out by settlers who cultivated the land and built farms and ranches until the great industrial revolution of the 1980s. Since then, several million-dollar projects were proposed, realized, and implemented to pave the way for commercial and residential development. It wasn’t an overnight success, but everything ultimately led to the lucrative Cypress that everyone knows of today.

Located twenty miles northwest of Downtown Houston, Cypress is an unincorporated community with roughly 180,000 residents. It’s interesting how large the population is, yet it’s not an official city. As an unincorporated area, it doesn’t have a municipal government or definite boundaries. However, locals like to consider that Cypress starts at FM 529 Rd all the way up to Highway 249, then runs across from FM1960 to Hwy 6 horizontally.

Although most of the action happens in Downtown Houston, there are still plenty of fun things to do in Cypress. You can ride your bike along thirteen different trails, explore three nature parks, or get a good deal at Houston Premium Outlet. All in all, it’s not hard to fall in love with the community’s diversified culture, affluent neighborhoods, top-performing school district, friendly residents, high salary, and thriving business environment.

Now that you know Cypress a little better, it’s time to break down the area’s expenses.

Cost of Living in Cypress

Overall Cost of Living

Getting straight to the point, the cost of living in Cypress is somewhat affordable by national standards. According to bestplaces.net, the area has an overall index of 106.4 compared to the US average of 100. 

Note that a number below 100 means that a city or town is cheaper than the rest of the country while an amount higher than 100 means it’s more expensive. And in this case, Cypress costs only 6.4% more than the nationwide cost of living.

Here’s more data from the reference site:

  • The average rent in Cypress costs $812 for a studio, $907 for a single-bedroom flat, and $1104 for a two-bedroom apartment.
  • The median home cost is $247,000, which is somewhat higher than the US average of $231,200 and way higher than the $195,000 Texas average.
  • Transportation and housing attribute to the higher expense range in Cypress, while other living costs (healthcare, utilities, and groceries) all sit within or below the US average.

Cypress, TX vs. Houston, TX

Despite being a suburb of Houston, Cypress is surprisingly way more expensive. Houston’s overall cost of living index is only 96.5 compared to the latter that has a score of 106.4. Fortunately, it’s quite easy to track where this gap comes from. While there are only minor differences in daily necessities, Houston’s median home price is $185,500, which is approximately $62,000 cheaper than in Cypress!

Cypress vs. Major Cities in Texas

Kindly refer to this table to get a better idea of how indexes of Cypress compare with other cities in the state:


Cypress
Austin
Dallas
US Average

Overall Index		 106.4 119.3 101.6 100

Housing		 106.8 159.6 92.9 100

Median Home Cost		 $247,000 $369,000 $214,700 $231,200

Food and Groceries		 99.8 96.7 99.1 100

Transportation		 127.2 109.9 117.1 100

Healthcare		 92.4 94.4 94 100

Utilities 		96.7 99.1 100 100

 

If you observe closely, median home cost and housing are the primary factors that hugely impact an area’s overall living cost. Cypress’s real estate may lean a bit towards the expensive side, but its well-planned and inviting neighborhoods support it.

Economy and Job Market

You’re mistaken if you think that the source of Cypress’s prosperous economy is mainstream industries such as business, tech, or finance. Unlike titans like NYC or San Francisco, the community’s major sectors include construction, education, manufacturing, energy, and healthcare.

  • Statistics show that only 8.7% of the population lives below the poverty line.
  • The median household income is $98,171 a year compared to the US average of $53,482.
  • The majority of Cypress’s workforce enjoys annual incomes of $100-150K (24.1%), more than $200K (15%), and $75-100K (14.5%). All of these figures are higher than the Texas average.
  • The unemployment rate is 3.9%. Only .2% higher than the US average.
  • Cypress’s job market shows promise with a 2% increase per year. However, the estimated growth is predicted to be 30.9%, which is lower than the US average of 33.5%

Tax Rates

Another vital aspect to take into account when discussing living costs are taxes.

  • Property Tax: The property tax rate in Harris County varies a lot, depending on location. But according to data from SmartAsset, the average county rate is 2.030%. This is a better deal compared to the 4.6% US average. Additionally, you can expect to pay more or less $5,000 per year in property taxes based on the median home price.
  • Sales Tax: Unfortunately, you’re going to take a hit when it comes to sales tax. As reported by Avalara, the minimum combined sales tax rate for Cypress is 8.25% compared to the US average of 7.3%. How did they calculate this? Simple. The Texas sales tax rate is currently 6.25%. Harris County’s sales tax rate is 0%, as well as Cypress. The remaining 2% comes from the Harris Co Emergency Services District No 9 Sp and Houston MTA Transit tax rates.
  • Income Tax: If the sales tax has you stressed, don’t worry. You can rest easy because Texas doesn’t collect income tax. That’s why they say everything is bigger in Texas – including your income! No state income tax is definitely one of the pros of moving here, especially if you’re coming from a high-income tax state like California or New York.

Wrapping Things Up

Looking at the breakdown alone, there’s no doubt Cypress is indeed a good place to move to. The high-income opportunities, diverse job markets, relatively decent expenses, and low tax rates are too good to pass. Not to mention you still have access to different amenities offered just a short distance away in Houston.

However, a move can be complicated and expensive to execute on your own. Make sure you hire affordable but exceptional Cypress movers. Also, remember to do more research since living costs aren’t the only factors determining the quality of life in an area.

Find out how much your move costs!