Market Overview for Zip Code 78616
There are 33 active listings in Zip Code 78616 with a median list price of $650K and a median sold price of $369K.
Homes average 149 days on market.
Over the past 30 days, 4 homes have sold, with 25 sales in the past 12 months.
The average price per square foot is $407.
About Zip Code 78616
Zip code 78616 covers Dale, an unincorporated community in northern Caldwell County approximately 30 miles south of downtown Austin. Dale sits along the Interstate 35 corridor and FM-1854, positioned between Buda and Kyle to the north and Lockhart, the Caldwell County seat, approximately 10 miles to the southeast. The community has no incorporated government and relies on Caldwell County for public services including roads, law enforcement, and emergency response. The terrain is flat to gently rolling Blackland Prairie, with rich black clay soils that have supported cotton, corn, and cattle operations since the 1850s. Plum Creek runs through portions of the zip code, and the landscape transitions from open agricultural fields to scattered post oak woodlands.
Real estate in 78616 consists primarily of rural acreage properties, single-family homes on large lots, and manufactured homes on private land. In-town properties near the Dale community center typically list from $200,000 to $375,000 for modest single-family homes on one to three acres. Properties with 5 to 20 acres of improved pasture, fencing, and outbuildings range from $350,000 to $700,000. Larger ranch tracts of 30 to 100-plus acres are available for $500,000 to well over $1 million depending on improvements and water resources. Manufactured homes on rural lots are common and typically list from $100,000 to $250,000. The I-35 corridor has brought increased development pressure to the area, and land prices have risen 20 to 30 percent since 2020 as Hays County and Caldwell County suburbs expand southward from the Austin metro.
Students in 78616 primarily attend Lockhart ISD, which serves approximately 6,500 students across multiple campuses. Lockhart ISD operates four elementary schools, one middle school, one junior high, and Lockhart High School. Lockhart High School competes in UIL Class 5A athletics with strong programs in football, baseball, and track. The district offers dual-credit courses through Austin Community College and career and technology education pathways. Some students in the northern portion of the zip code may attend Hays CISD depending on exact address. The nearest private school options are in Lockhart, Kyle, or San Marcos, each within a 15- to 25-minute drive.
Dale is approximately 30 minutes from downtown Austin via I-35, with the Kyle and Buda commercial areas about 10 to 15 minutes to the north. Lockhart is roughly 10 minutes to the southeast via FM-1854. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is approximately 25 minutes to the northeast via SH-130 and SH-71. The area lacks a significant local commercial base, with the nearest grocery stores being H-E-B locations in Lockhart and Kyle. Medical care is available at Seton Medical Center in Kyle, about 10 minutes north, and at Ascension Seton in Lockhart. The I-35 corridor provides access to the growing commercial development in Kyle and Buda, including the Plum Creek development area and the Kyle Crossing shopping center. Dale Volunteer Fire Department provides local emergency response.
