●Hays CountyHomes for Sale

Market Overview for Hays County

There are 1,918 active listings in Hays County with a median list price of $373K and a median sold price of $366K.

Homes average 74 days on market.

Over the past 30 days, 383 homes have sold, with 4372 sales in the past 12 months.

The average price per square foot is $225.

About Hays County

Hays County covers 680 square miles in central Texas between Austin and San Antonio along the Interstate 35 corridor. The county seat is San Marcos, and the population reached 241,067 in the 2020 census, with growth exceeding 16% from 2020 to 2023, placing it among the fastest-growing large counties in the United States. Major cities include San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, Wimberley, and Dripping Springs. The county's terrain ranges from the flat I-35 corridor on the east to the limestone hills and spring-fed creeks of the Edwards Plateau in the west. The Blanco River, San Marcos River, and numerous creeks including Cypress Creek and Onion Creek flow through the county.

Real estate in Hays County spans a wide price range reflecting its geographic diversity. Kyle and Buda along the I-35 corridor offer new-construction homes starting in the low $300,000s in master-planned communities like Plum Creek, Sunfield, and Waterleaf, attracting first-time buyers and families priced out of Austin. Dripping Springs on the western side features Hill Country properties on larger lots, with prices typically ranging from $500,000 to over $1 million in communities like Caliterra and Headwaters. San Marcos provides a mix of affordable housing near Texas State University and newer developments south of the river. Wimberley offers rural acreage and custom homes on wooded lots in the $400,000 to $800,000 range, with some properties exceeding $1 million along Cypress Creek. The county's housing mix includes newer single-family suburban homes, established ranch-style properties, and Hill Country custom builds on acreage.

Hays CISD is the largest school district in the county, serving approximately 24,000 students across campuses including Jack C. Hays High School in Kyle, Lehman High School in Kyle, and Johnson High School in Buda. Elementary campuses include Hemphill, Ralph Pfluger, and Uhland. Dripping Springs ISD serves approximately 7,500 students and has earned consistent TEA A-ratings, drawing families specifically for its academic programs. San Marcos CISD covers the San Marcos area with about 8,000 students, and Wimberley ISD operates a close-knit campus system for approximately 2,800 students. Austin Community College operates a Hays Campus in Kyle providing associate degrees and workforce training.

San Marcos sits at the intersection of I-35 and State Highway 123, approximately 30 miles south of downtown Austin and 50 miles north of downtown San Antonio. Texas State University, one of the largest universities in Texas with enrollment that reached a record 40,678 in fall 2024 on a 517-acre main campus, is the dominant economic presence in San Marcos. The San Marcos Premium Outlets and adjacent Tanger Outlets together contain over 200 stores and attract approximately 14 million visitors annually, making them one of the largest outlet destinations in the United States. Kyle and Buda are connected to Austin by I-35 and the commuter corridor, with downtown Austin approximately 20-25 minutes north of Buda during off-peak hours. Dripping Springs, in the western Hill Country portion of the county, is accessible via US Highway 290 and Ranch Road 12, approximately 25 miles west of Austin. Wimberley is reached via Ranch Road 12 south of Dripping Springs, about 40 miles southwest of downtown Austin.

Living in Hays County

Hays County's rapid growth is driven by its position between Austin and San Antonio, with relatively lower home prices compared to Travis County. The median household income across the county is approximately $70,000, though this varies significantly by city. Dripping Springs and western Wimberley tend higher, while Kyle and San Marcos trend closer to the county average. Dining options range from the barbecue and Tex-Mex restaurants along the I-35 corridor to farm-to-table establishments in Dripping Springs and Wimberley's locally owned restaurants along the town square.

The western portion of the county features Hill Country topography with oak and juniper woodlands, seasonal creeks, and views along the Balcones Escarpment. Kyle and Buda to the east offer newer suburban developments with community amenities including pools, trails, and parks. San Marcos blends a university-town atmosphere with a growing residential base south of campus. Wimberley maintains a small-town, arts-oriented identity centered around its market days, galleries, and natural swimming areas. Hays County Parks operates facilities including the 5 Mile Dam Recreation Area and Purgatory Creek Natural Area, which offers over 8 miles of multi-use trails near San Marcos.

Things to Do in Hays County

• San Marcos River: A spring-fed river flowing through downtown San Marcos that maintains a consistent 72°F temperature year-round. The river supports tubing, kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming, with Rio Vista Falls providing a Class II rapids section created from a redesigned low-water dam.
• Jacob's Well Natural Area: An artesian spring in Wimberley that flows from the Trinity Aquifer and forms the headwaters of Cypress Creek. The spring shaft descends over 140 feet into a multi-chamber cave system. The 81-acre natural area includes approximately 3 miles of hiking trails open to the public year-round.
• Wimberley Blue Hole: A spring-fed swimming area on Cypress Creek in Wimberley surrounded by old-growth cypress trees. The regional park offers swimming from May through September by reservation, along with picnic areas and nature trails on the 126-acre property.
• Devil's Backbone Scenic Drive: A 24-mile stretch of Ranch Road 32 between Wimberley and Blanco that follows a narrow limestone ridge with views of the Hays County Hill Country on both sides. The road reaches elevations above 1,300 feet.
• San Marcos Premium Outlets: One of the largest outlet shopping destinations in the United States, located off I-35 in San Marcos. The adjacent San Marcos Premium Outlets and Tanger Outlets together offer over 200 stores and draw approximately 14 million visitors per year.

Major Employers in Hays County

• Texas State University (Education): The largest employer in San Marcos with over 38,000 students and thousands of faculty and staff across its 507-acre main campus.
• San Marcos Premium Outlets / Tanger Outlets (Retail): Over 200 outlet stores along I-35 in San Marcos that draw approximately 14 million visitors annually, supporting thousands of retail jobs.
• Hays CISD (Education): The county's largest school district employs approximately 3,000 teachers and staff across its campuses in Kyle and Buda.
• Amazon (Logistics): Operates a fulfillment center in San Marcos that employs over 1,000 workers processing and shipping orders for the Central Texas region.
• Thermon Group (Manufacturing): Headquartered in San Marcos, Thermon manufactures industrial heating solutions and employs several hundred workers at its production facility.

Hays County Schools

Hays County is served by four school districts. Hays CISD is the largest, covering Kyle, Buda, and surrounding areas. Dripping Springs ISD, San Marcos CISD, and Wimberley ISD serve their respective communities.

School District: Multiple Districts

Public Schools

Pre-Schools

• Dripping Springs Montessori School - Montessori-based early childhood program in Dripping Springs serving toddlers through kindergarten-age children.
• Kids R Kids Kyle - Early learning center in Kyle offering infant through pre-kindergarten programs with a structured curriculum.
• Primrose School of Buda - Accredited early education and child care center in Buda serving infants through pre-kindergarten.

Private Schools

• Hill Country Christian School - Private Christian school in San Marcos offering pre-K through 12th grade education with a college preparatory curriculum.
• Wimberley Montessori School - Montessori program in Wimberley serving children from toddler through elementary ages.

Higher Education

• Texas State University - One of the largest universities in Texas with a record 40,678 students enrolled in fall 2024, located on a 517-acre main campus in San Marcos along the San Marcos River.
• Austin Community College - Hays Campus - ACC campus in Kyle offering associate degrees, workforce training, and university transfer programs to Hays County residents.

Frequently Asked Questions