Market Overview for Zip Code 78957
There are 89 active listings in Zip Code 78957 with a median list price of $350K and a median sold price of $325K.
Homes average 98 days on market.
Over the past 30 days, 10 homes have sold, with 77 sales in the past 12 months.
The average price per square foot is $243.
About Zip Code 78957
Zip code 78957 covers Smithville, a small city of approximately 4,200 people in southern Bastrop County, about 45 miles southeast of Austin. The town sits on the south bank of the Colorado River along State Highway 71 and is also served by the Union Pacific railroad. Smithville was incorporated in 1895 and built its economy on cotton farming and rail commerce. The town gained recognition as a film location for the 1998 movie Hope Floats and has a well-preserved Main Street with 19th and early 20th century commercial buildings.
Real estate in 78957 is affordable compared to the Austin metro. In-town homes range from $175K for smaller older properties to $400K for larger renovated houses on half-acre or larger lots. Properties on the outskirts with 5 to 20 acres list from $300K to $650K. Larger ranch tracts command higher prices based on acreage, fencing, and improvements. Manufactured homes on private lots start around $100K. The riverfront corridor north of town has attracted buyers seeking recreational property, and a few new subdivisions have begun development along SH-71. Smithville has experienced steady but moderate price appreciation, remaining well below Bastrop and Austin price levels.
Students in 78957 attend Smithville ISD, which serves approximately 1,600 students across three campuses. Brown Primary and Smithville Elementary cover pre-K through 5th grade, Smithville Junior High serves 6th through 8th, and Smithville High School covers 9th through 12th. The district competes in UIL Class 4A and has competitive football, track, and FFA programs. Smithville High School also offers dual-credit coursework through Austin Community College. There are no private schools in Smithville; the nearest options are in Bastrop (15 miles north) or La Grange (30 miles east).
Smithville is approximately 45 minutes from downtown Austin via SH-71 or SH-130 toll road. Bastrop, the county seat, is about 15 miles north. Houston is roughly 2 hours east via SH-71 to I-10. The town has an H-E-B grocery store, a True Value hardware, and a downtown corridor with restaurants and shops. Buescher State Park, a 1,017-acre park with a 30-acre lake, hiking trails, and camping, is located within the zip code just north of town. The Colorado River provides kayaking and fishing access. The nearest hospital is Ascension Seton Bastrop, about 15 miles north, and the Smithville Regional Hospital closed in recent years, leaving medical care to clinics in town and the Bastrop facility.
Living in Zip Code 78957
Smithville's population is a mix of longtime residents, retirees, and newer arrivals from the Austin area seeking affordable small-town living. Median household income is approximately $48,000. The community has a diverse demographic profile with significant white, Hispanic, and Black populations. Homeownership rates are higher than the state average, and the housing stock includes historic homes near Main Street, mid-century ranch-style properties, and newer manufactured homes on the outskirts. Smithville has a strong community identity, with active participation in school events, church activities, and local festivals.
