Market Overview for Smithville
There are 41 active listings in Smithville with a median list price of $300K and a median sold price of $310K.
Homes average 119 days on market.
Over the past 30 days, 4 homes have sold, with 57 sales in the past 12 months.
The average price per square foot is $209.
About Smithville
Smithville is a city of approximately 4,200 residents in Bastrop County, located about 45 miles southeast of downtown Austin along State Highway 71 at the crossing of the Colorado River. The town sits at an elevation of roughly 330 feet on the flat to gently rolling terrain of the post-oak belt, where sandy loam soils support a mix of agriculture, pine, and oak woodland. The Colorado River forms the city's northern boundary, and its bottomlands include pecan orchards and riparian forest. The Union Pacific railroad runs through the center of town, a legacy of Smithville's founding as a railroad stop in the 1880s.
Smithville's housing market is among the most affordable in the greater Austin region. Home prices range from the $100,000s for older frame houses in the original grid neighborhoods to $350,000 for newer or renovated properties on larger lots. The median home price is approximately $225,000. Properties near the Colorado River or on acreage command higher prices. The housing stock includes a significant number of pre-1960 homes, many with the wide porches and tall ceilings characteristic of small-town Texas architecture. Development has been modest, with no large master-planned communities, preserving the town's compact, walkable scale.
Smithville ISD serves the city and surrounding rural area, enrolling approximately 1,870 students across an elementary school, middle school, and Smithville High School. The district is small enough that most teachers know their students personally. Academic programs are supplemented by strong vocational and agricultural science offerings. For higher education, residents typically commute to Bastrop, where Austin Community College has a presence, or to Austin for four-year university options at UT Austin or Texas State in San Marcos.
The local economy includes the Lower Colorado River Authority, railroad operations, small manufacturing, agriculture, and a growing tourism sector. Smithville gained national recognition as the filming location for the 1998 movie Hope Floats starring Sandra Bullock, and the Smithville Chamber of Commerce has leveraged that connection for tourism. SH-71 provides a direct route to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, about 35 miles to the northwest, and to La Grange and points east. The annual Smithville Jamboree in April has been a community tradition for over 100 years, featuring carnival rides, live music, a parade, and rodeo events. Buescher State Park, with its pine-forested 1,000-acre grounds, sits just north of town.
Living in Smithville
Smithville's population has a median household income of approximately $48,000, with employment spread across government, education, manufacturing, and service sectors. The median age is around 38. About 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The community has a strong multigenerational character, with many households having lived in the area for decades, alongside a smaller number of newcomers attracted by the affordable cost of living and small-town pace.
Daily life in Smithville is centered on the compact downtown along Main Street, which includes a few restaurants, antique shops, and the Smithville Public Library. The Colorado River provides fishing and kayaking access, with a public boat ramp near the SH-71 bridge. Buescher State Park offers hiking trails, a small fishing lake, and campsites amid the Lost Pines forest. Grocery shopping is limited to a Brookshire Brothers on SH-71 and a Dollar General; for larger shopping trips, most residents drive to Bastrop or Austin. The Smithville Recreation Center provides an indoor gym and community meeting space. High school sports, particularly football and softball, serve as major community gathering points during the school year.
Things to Do in Smithville
- Buescher State Park: 136-acre state park two miles north of Smithville with a 25-acre fishing lake, 7.7 miles of hiking trails, camping sites, and scenic drives through Lost Pines loblolly forest.
- Smithville Jamboree: Annual April festival running since 1940 with a parade, carnival, live music, barbecue cook-off, pageant, and community gatherings across multiple days in downtown.
- Historic Downtown Main Street: Walkable downtown corridor featuring antique shops, the Olde World Bakery, Smithville Heritage Museum, and preserved early-1900s storefronts from the railroad era.
- Colorado River Access: Public river access points in and around Smithville for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing along a scenic stretch of the Colorado River below Bastrop.
- Smithville Heritage Museum: Local history museum on Main Street housed in a restored building, displaying railroad artifacts, early settlement items, and exhibits about the city's role in central Texas history.
Major Employers in Smithville
- Smithville ISD (Education): Largest employer in Smithville with approximately 300 staff across four campuses serving 1,870 students in a 3A district.
- City of Smithville (Government): Municipal government employing roughly 80 people in administration, public works, police, fire, and parks departments.
- Whirlpool/Maytag Distribution (Manufacturing/Distribution): Regional distribution facility located along SH-71 east of town employing approximately 50 workers for appliance logistics.
- Brookshire Brothers (Retail/Grocery): Full-service grocery store on Main Street serving as the primary grocery option in Smithville with approximately 40 employees.
Smithville Schools
Smithville is served by Smithville ISD. Students typically attend Brown Primary or Smithville Elementary for elementary school, Smithville Middle School for middle school, and Smithville High School for high school.
School District: Smithville ISD
Public Schools
Pre-Schools
- Smithville ISD Pre-K - District-operated pre-kindergarten at Brown Primary School for eligible 4-year-olds in the Smithville attendance zone.
- First Baptist Church Preschool - Part-day preschool program for 3- and 4-year-olds operated by First Baptist Church of Smithville.
Private Schools
- Faith Academy of Smithville - Small faith-based school offering individualized instruction in core academics with an enrollment of approximately 30 students.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Smithville TX from Austin?
Smithville is approximately 45 miles southeast of Austin. SH-71 provides a direct route to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in about 35 minutes. The drive to downtown Austin takes roughly 50 to 55 minutes.
What school district serves Smithville TX?
Smithville ISD serves the city with approximately 1,870 students across four campuses. The district includes Smithville High School, Smithville Junior High, Smithville Elementary, and Brown Primary School.
What are home prices in Smithville TX?
Home prices in Smithville generally range from $150K for older homes near downtown to $350K for updated properties or newer construction. Properties with Colorado River frontage or acreage tend to list higher.
What movie was filmed in Smithville TX?
The 1998 film Hope Floats starring Sandra Bullock was filmed in Smithville. Much of downtown served as the movie's small-town setting, and several filming locations remain recognizable along Main Street.
What is there to do in Smithville TX?
Smithville offers Buescher State Park for hiking and camping, Colorado River access for kayaking and fishing, a walkable historic downtown with antique shops, and the annual Smithville Jamboree festival held each April since 1940.
