●Bastrop CountyHomes for Sale

Market Overview for Bastrop County

There are 759 active listings in Bastrop County with a median list price of $365K and a median sold price of $346K.

Homes average 106 days on market.

Over the past 30 days, 91 homes have sold, with 1312 sales in the past 12 months.

The average price per square foot is $209.

About Bastrop County

Bastrop County covers 896 square miles east of Austin in central Texas, straddling the boundary between the Blackland Prairie and the Post Oak Savannah ecological regions. The county seat is Bastrop, situated along the Colorado River, and the 2020 census recorded a population of 97,216. The county includes the city of Elgin in the north, Smithville in the southeast, and the Cedar Creek community between Bastrop and Austin. The Lost Pines forest, an isolated stand of loblolly pines separated from the East Texas pine belt by approximately 100 miles, defines the county's landscape and gives the area a distinct ecological character within central Texas.

Bastrop County draws buyers commuting to Austin. The city of Bastrop has a mix of older properties near downtown and newer construction in communities like Colony Oaks and Piney Creek Bend. Elgin is known as "The Sausage Capital of Texas." Cedar Creek provides rural and semi-rural properties with larger lots. Smithville, on the county's southeastern edge, offers small-town living. Ranch and acreage properties are available throughout the county's rural areas. The county attracts buyers who want more space while maintaining a reasonable commute to Austin. Current median price and active inventory are shown on the Market Overview tab.

Bastrop ISD is the largest school district in the county with approximately 13,453 students (2025-26) across campuses including Bastrop High School, Cedar Creek High School, and elementary schools such as Bluebonnet, Emile, and Colony Oaks. Elgin ISD serves the northern part of the county with approximately 6,230 students, including Elgin High School. Smithville ISD covers the southeastern area with about 1,870 students. McDade ISD operates a small rural campus in the northeastern corner of the county. The county does not have a four-year university, but Austin Community College operates an Elgin campus providing associate degrees and workforce training.

Bastrop County sits along State Highway 71, Highway 290, and State Highway 21, with downtown Bastrop approximately 30 miles and 35 minutes southeast of downtown Austin. The county's economy has expanded with the construction of Tesla's Gigafactory just across the Travis County line, as well as facilities operated by SpaceX and The Boring Company near the county border, creating thousands of jobs accessible to Bastrop County residents. The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort on 405 acres along the Colorado River, MD Anderson Cancer Center's research facility, and the historic downtown Bastrop Main Street district listed on the National Register of Historic Places serve as additional economic anchors. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is approximately 20 minutes west of Bastrop. Highway 290 connects Elgin to Austin's east side, providing an alternate commute route that avoids I-35 congestion. The county is part of the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan statistical area and has seen accelerating residential growth since 2020.

Living in Bastrop County

Bastrop County offers a rural and semi-rural lifestyle within commuting distance of Austin's employment centers. The median household income is approximately $85,000 (2024 ACS), somewhat below the broader Austin metro but offset by more affordable housing costs. Dining options center on the county's barbecue tradition, with Southside Market and Meyer's Elgin Smokehouse drawing visitors from across the state, alongside local restaurants and cafes in downtown Bastrop and along Elgin's Main Street.

The western portion of the county near Cedar Creek has attracted newer development, while central Bastrop maintains a historic small-town character anchored by its Main Street district along the Colorado River. Smithville, on the county's southeastern edge, hosts the annual Jamboree festival and maintains a compact, historic downtown. The Lost Pines forest ecosystem — a stand of loblolly pines isolated from the main East Texas pine belt — defines the county's landscape and provides a backdrop for outdoor recreation. The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort operates on 405 acres along the Colorado River, serving as both a tourism anchor and one of the county's larger employers.

Things to Do in Bastrop County

• Bastrop State Park: A state park about 30 miles east of Austin within the Lost Pines forest, featuring a stand of loblolly pines geographically separated from East Texas pine forests. The park offers camping, hiking, a seasonal swimming pool, and a scenic 12-mile road (Park Road 1C) connecting to adjacent Buescher State Park.
• McKinney Roughs Nature Park: A 1,100-acre Lower Colorado River Authority park along the Colorado River near Cedar Creek. The park contains an 18-mile multi-use trail system for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, plus overnight facilities and environmental education programs.
• Lake Bastrop: A 906-acre reservoir operated by the Lower Colorado River Authority. The North Shore Park and South Shore Park offer swimming, fishing, boating, and RV camping. The lake is stocked with largemouth bass and catfish.
• Southside Market & Barbeque (Elgin): Operating since 1882, Southside Market in Elgin is one of the oldest barbecue establishments in Texas and the original home of Elgin hot sausage. The city of Elgin trademarked its title as 'The Sausage Capital of Texas.'
• Historic Downtown Bastrop: The Main Street district in Bastrop features over 100 locally owned shops, restaurants, and galleries in restored 19th-century buildings along the Colorado River. The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Major Employers in Bastrop County

• Bastrop ISD (Education): The largest employer in the county, operating 17 campuses across Bastrop County.
• Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort (Hospitality): A 405-acre resort along the Colorado River near Cedar Creek with 491 rooms, a spa, and multiple dining venues, employing several hundred workers.
• MD Anderson Cancer Center - Bastrop (Healthcare): Operates a research facility in Bastrop County supporting the larger MD Anderson system based in Houston.
• Bastrop County Government (Government): County offices in Bastrop employ hundreds of workers across law enforcement, courts, road maintenance, and administrative services.
• The Boring Company (Infrastructure / Technology): Headquartered in Bastrop County, Elon Musk's tunnel-boring company maintains facilities and employs engineering and operations staff in the area.

Bastrop County Schools

Bastrop County is served by three primary school districts. Bastrop ISD is the largest, with Elgin ISD and Smithville ISD covering their respective communities. Cedar Creek High School, within Bastrop ISD, serves the western portion of the county.

School District: Multiple Districts

Public Schools

Pre-Schools

• Bastrop Christian Academy Preschool - Faith-based early childhood program in Bastrop serving children from toddler through pre-kindergarten.
• Creative World School - Bastrop - Early education center offering structured curriculum for infants through school-age children in the Bastrop area.
• Elgin Community Head Start - Federally funded early childhood program in Elgin providing free preschool education for income-eligible households.

Private Schools

• Bastrop Christian Academy - Private Christian school in Bastrop offering pre-K through 8th grade education with small class sizes.
• Sacred Heart Catholic School - Catholic elementary school in Elgin serving pre-K through 5th grade students.

Higher Education

• Austin Community College - Elgin Campus - ACC campus in Elgin providing associate degree programs and workforce training to Bastrop County residents.

Frequently Asked Questions