Market Overview for Paige
There are 27 active listings in Paige with a median list price of $865K and a median sold price of $435K.
Homes average 106 days on market.
Over the past 30 days, 3 homes have sold, with 28 sales in the past 12 months.
The average price per square foot is $509.
About Paige
Paige is an unincorporated community of 278 residents (2020 census — its first appearance as a Census Designated Place) in northeastern Bastrop County, at the junction of U.S. Highway 290 and State Highway 21, approximately 45 miles east of Austin. The community covers 2.16 square miles at an elevation of 554 feet along the U.S. 290 corridor that connects Austin to Houston through the post-oak savannas and sandy-soil prairies east of the Lost Pines.
Paige was founded in 1872 near a water tower built for the Houston and Texas Central Railway and was named for Norman Paige, a civil engineer who laid out the railway route. A post office was established in 1874. In 1876, the railway station relocated three miles east and the community followed. German immigrant Fedor Soder arrived in 1877, sold lots to German settlers, and built the community's first store and cotton gin, establishing an ethnic character described by the TSHA Handbook as "still primarily German." By 1886, Paige had grown to roughly 500 residents with seven cotton gins, a pickle factory, a creamery, and a broom factory. The population declined after World War II as cotton production waned, stabilizing around 275 residents through the end of the 20th century.
The real estate market around Paige consists primarily of rural acreage, ranch land, and homesteads along U.S. 290 and the surrounding farm roads. The community sits at the junction of State Highway 21 — the historic Old San Antonio Road, one of Texas's oldest and most significant routes — which connects northeast toward Bryan/College Station and south toward Bastrop and San Marcos. Natural gas drilling began in the area in 1981, adding a secondary economic activity to the area's agricultural base.
Living in Paige
Paige is a rural crossroads community without incorporated municipal services. Bastrop County provides governance, and the community has a volunteer fire department established in 1982. Groceries, retail, and most services are in Bastrop, approximately 15 miles west on U.S. 290, or in Elgin, about 20 miles west.
Students attend schools in Bastrop Independent School District, which serves approximately 13,453 students across 17 campuses and has grown 30.9 percent since 2016. Emile Elementary School is the feeder campus for the Paige area, enrolling approximately 581 students. Students continue to Bastrop Intermediate, Bastrop Middle School, and Bastrop High School.
The drive to Austin is approximately 45 miles west on U.S. 290, typically 50 to 65 minutes. Bastrop State Park, about 14 miles west in the Lost Pines forest, offers over 2,000 acres of loblolly pine forest with 16 miles of hiking and cycling trails, historic CCC-built cabins, seasonal swimming, and camping. The park is a National Historic Landmark designated in 1997 and is home to one of the largest mating groups of the endangered Houston toad on public land. Lake Bastrop, a 906-acre reservoir three miles northeast of Bastrop, provides fishing, boating, and swimming.
Things to Do in Paige
- Hike and camp in Bastrop State Park: About 14 miles west of Paige, Bastrop State Park preserves over 2,000 acres of the Lost Pines forest — a loblolly pine ecosystem isolated approximately 100 miles west of the main East Texas pine belt. The park features 16 miles of hiking and cycling trails, CCC-built cabins from the 1930s, seasonal swimming, and camping. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1997.
- Fish and swim at Lake Bastrop: Lake Bastrop is a 906-acre reservoir three miles northeast of Bastrop that supports fishing, boating, swimming, camping, and picnicking. The lake maintains a constant level year-round.
- Explore Bastrop's historic downtown: Bastrop, approximately 15 miles west, has a restored Main Street district with the Bastrop Opera House (1889), independent galleries, restaurants, and shops. The city also hosts the Deep in the Heart Art Foundry and live music at the Lumberyard.
- Drive the Park Road 1C scenic route: A 12-mile scenic road connects Bastrop State Park to Buescher State Park near Smithville, winding through the Lost Pines forest. Buescher State Park offers additional trails, a stocked lake for non-motorized watercraft, and quieter camping.
- Visit the Lost Pines region: Paige sits on the eastern edge of the Lost Pines, one of Texas's most ecologically distinctive landscapes. The relict loblolly pine forest, stranded approximately 100 miles west of the main East Texas pine belt, is a draw for nature tourism, birdwatching, and ecological education.
Major Employers in Paige
- Bastrop ISD (Education): Bastrop Independent School District serves the Paige area along with Bastrop, Cedar Creek, and surrounding communities. The district enrolls approximately 13,453 students across 17 campuses.
- Agriculture and ranching (Agriculture): Cattle ranching, hay production, and other agricultural operations continue on the sandy-soil prairies and post-oak savannas surrounding Paige. Bastrop County had 2,187 farms and ranches covering 422,852 acres as of the most recent agricultural census.
- Natural gas operations (Energy): Natural gas drilling began in the Paige area in 1981, adding an energy-sector employment base to the community's traditional agricultural economy.
Paige Schools
Paige is served by Bastrop ISD, a growing rural district approximately 15 miles to the west. The district enrolls approximately 13,453 students across 17 campuses and has grown 30.9 percent since 2016.
School District: Bastrop ISD
Public Schools
- Emile Elementary School - Feeder elementary for the Paige area, enrolling approximately 581 students (2026).
- Bastrop Intermediate School - Intermediate campus in the Bastrop ISD pipeline.
- Bastrop Middle School - Middle school in Bastrop serving the broader district.
- Bastrop High School - Comprehensive high school in Bastrop ISD.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Paige TX known for?
Paige is a rural crossroads community at the junction of U.S. 290 and State Highway 21 (the historic Old San Antonio Road) in northeastern Bastrop County. It was founded in 1872 as a Houston and Texas Central Railway town and named for Norman Paige, the civil engineer who laid out the route. The community sits on the eastern edge of the Lost Pines region.
What school district serves Paige?
Paige is served by Bastrop Independent School District, which enrolls approximately 13,453 students across 17 campuses. Emile Elementary School is the feeder campus for the Paige area. Students continue to Bastrop Intermediate, Bastrop Middle School, and Bastrop High School.
How far is Paige from Austin?
Paige is approximately 45 miles east of Austin on U.S. Highway 290. The drive takes 50 to 65 minutes. Bastrop is about 15 miles west, and Elgin is roughly 20 miles west.
What outdoor recreation is near Paige?
Bastrop State Park (over 2,000 acres of Lost Pines forest, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1997) is about 14 miles west. Lake Bastrop, a 906-acre reservoir, offers fishing, boating, and swimming. Buescher State Park near Smithville connects to Bastrop State Park via a 12-mile scenic drive on Park Road 1C.
What is the population of Paige?
Paige had 278 residents at the 2020 census, which was its first appearance as a Census Designated Place. The population has been relatively stable since the mid-20th century. The broader rural trade area around Paige is larger than the CDP boundary suggests.