●Bastrop CountyHomes for Sale

Market Overview for Bastrop County

There are 776 active listings in Bastrop County with a median list price of $396K and a median sold price of $363K.

Homes average 100 days on market.

Over the past 30 days, 98 homes have sold, with 1279 sales in the past 12 months.

The average price per square foot is $227.

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 found nowhere else in central Texas.

Home prices in Bastrop County remain significantly lower than in neighboring Travis County, making it an increasingly popular option for buyers commuting to Austin. The city of Bastrop offers homes ranging from the low $200,000s for older properties to the mid-$400,000s for newer construction in communities like Colony Oaks and Piney Creek Bend. Elgin, known as "The Sausage Capital of Texas," features homes primarily in the $250,000 to $400,000 range. Cedar Creek provides rural and semi-rural properties with larger lots, typically in the $300,000 to $500,000 range. Smithville, on the county's southeastern edge, offers small-town living with homes often priced below $300,000. Ranch and acreage properties are available throughout the county's rural areas. The median home price across the county is significantly below the Travis County median, attracting buyers who want more space at lower price points while maintaining a reasonable commute to Austin.

Bastrop ISD is the largest school district in the county with approximately 10,000 students 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 5,500 students, including Elgin High School. Smithville ISD covers the southeastern area with about 2,000 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 $60,000, lower than the Austin metro average 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 quiet, walkable 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 6,600-acre state park 32 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 spring-fed pool, and a scenic 12-mile road 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 over 15 campuses with approximately 1,500 faculty and staff.
• 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 near the Bastrop County border, 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

• Bastrop ISD - The county's largest district with approximately 10,000 students, operating Bastrop High School and Cedar Creek High School along with multiple elementary and middle campuses.
• Elgin ISD - Serves the Elgin area in northern Bastrop County with approximately 5,500 students across Elgin High School and feeder campuses.
• Smithville ISD - Serves the Smithville area in southeastern Bastrop County with approximately 2,000 students in a close-knit, community-oriented district.
• McDade ISD - A small rural district serving the McDade community in northeastern Bastrop County with under 300 students.

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 families.

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