●Bertram, TXHomes for Sale

Market Overview for Bertram

There are 16 active listings in Bertram with a median list price of $325K and a median sold price of $280K.

Homes average 59 days on market.

Over the past 30 days, 3 homes have sold, with 19 sales in the past 12 months.

The average price per square foot is $195.

About Bertram

Bertram is a small incorporated city of 1,616 residents (2020 census) in eastern Burnet County, positioned on State Highway 29 at the junction of Farm Roads 243 and 1174, about 10 miles east of the county seat of Burnet. The city covers 1.51 square miles at an elevation of 1,257 feet and sits roughly halfway between Burnet and Liberty Hill on the edge of the Texas Hill Country. Estimated population for 2024 approaches 2,020, reflecting steady growth on the east side of Burnet County as the Austin metro has expanded northwest.

Bertram was founded in 1882 when the Austin & Northwestern Railroad was built into the area and the earlier community of San Gabriel, about two miles to the southeast, was relocated to the new rail line. The town was named for Rudolph Bertram, the largest stockholder in the railroad. That 19th-century rail origin still shapes the downtown grid, though passenger rail service ended long ago and the tracks now carry only tourist excursions — the Austin Steam Train Association's Hill Country Flyer passes through Bertram on its route between Cedar Park and Burnet.

The city's most recognized annual event is the Bertram Oatmeal Festival, an outdoor street fair held over Labor Day weekend every year since 1978. The festival fills downtown with vendors, parades, music, a run, and — as the name suggests — oatmeal-themed cooking and eating contests. It is the city's signature civic occasion and draws visitors from Austin and beyond.

Housing in Bertram is dominated by older single-family homes in the historic grid near downtown, newer subdivisions along Highway 29 and the FM 1174 corridor, and Hill Country acreage parcels outside the city limits. Buyers from the Austin metro typically cite lower prices, bigger lots, and a 10-mile drive to the Highland Lakes as reasons for moving to the east Burnet County corridor. Commuting east to Leander or the 183A tollway for the Austin metro is a more common daily pattern than driving to downtown Burnet.

Living in Bertram

Day-to-day life in Bertram is organized around a small downtown grid and the Highway 29 corridor. The downtown historic district includes a handful of independent restaurants, shops, and public buildings, and is walkable within a few square blocks. A full-service grocery run typically means a short drive to Burnet (10 miles west on Highway 29) or to Liberty Hill (about 15 miles east), though convenience stores and basic retail are available in town.

Schools in Bertram are operated by Burnet Consolidated Independent School District, the same district that serves the city of Burnet and more than 700 square miles of rural Burnet County. Bertram is the district's eastern anchor; most older students ride buses to the Burnet High School and Burnet Middle School campuses. The district enrolls approximately 3,300 students total across six campuses.

Commute patterns: Bertram residents who work in the Austin metro typically drive east on State Highway 29 to Liberty Hill and then south on U.S. 183 / the 183A tollway to reach Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, and points in Travis and Williamson counties. Bertram to downtown Austin is about 50 miles via Highway 29 and 183A, and a typical rush-hour drive runs 75 to 95 minutes. The Hill Country Flyer passes through Bertram on its run from Cedar Park to Burnet, offering a weekend tourist rail experience rather than commuter service.

Practical trade-offs: Bertram has Hill Country acreage parcels still available at rural rates outside the city limits. The trade-off is distance from Austin metro amenities and longer commutes than Cedar Park or Leander.

Things to Do in Bertram

• Attend the Bertram Oatmeal Festival: The Bertram Oatmeal Festival has been held over Labor Day weekend every year since 1978. The outdoor street fair fills downtown Bertram with vendors, parades, live music, a community run, and oatmeal-themed cooking and eating contests. It is the city's signature civic event and draws visitors from across the region.
• Ride the Hill Country Flyer vintage train: The Austin Steam Train Association's Hill Country Flyer excursion train has run on the old Austin & Northwestern Railroad corridor through Bertram since 1992. The train departs Cedar Park Depot and runs 66 miles round trip to the historic Burnet depot, passing through Bertram on the way. The vintage passenger cars date from the late 1930s through the 1950s.
• Explore the downtown historic district: Bertram's downtown grid was laid out in 1882 along the Austin & Northwestern Railroad right-of-way. The historic core includes a small cluster of independent restaurants, shops, and civic buildings within a few walkable blocks. The rail alignment and original street grid still define the downtown.
• Visit the Highland Lakes state parks: Bertram is roughly 25 miles east of Inks Lake State Park (1,201 acres on Inks Lake, opened 1950) and Longhorn Cavern State Park (645 acres, with a 1.1-mile guided cavern walking tour), both accessed via Park Road 4 west of Burnet. Both parks are day-trip destinations from Bertram via State Highway 29.
• Scenic drives along Highway 29 and FM 1174: Highway 29 between Bertram and Burnet crosses rolling Hill Country ranchland and is one of the main spring bluebonnet routes — the county is a state-designated Bluebonnet Co-Capital of Texas. FM 1174 heads north from Bertram through similar rural Burnet County terrain.
• Day-trip to Marble Falls and the Highland Lakes: Marble Falls, on Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls, is about 20 miles southwest of Bertram via Highway 29 and U.S. 281. The city offers lake recreation, a historic Main Street, the Walkway of Lights seasonal display, and access to Lake LBJ boating. It makes a feasible half-day outing from Bertram.

Major Employers in Bertram

• Burnet Consolidated ISD (Education): Burnet CISD serves the east side of Burnet County including Bertram. The district enrolls approximately 3,300 students across six campuses, with most Bertram students attending schools on the Burnet campus 10 miles west.
• City of Bertram (Public administration): Municipal services for the city of Bertram including public works, utilities, parks, and the city administration offices located in the downtown grid.
• Local retail and service corridor (Retail & services): Independent restaurants, shops, convenience stores, and services along State Highway 29 and in downtown Bertram serve residents and through-travelers on the Highway 29 corridor between Burnet and Liberty Hill.
• Agriculture and ranching (Agriculture): Cattle ranching, hay production, and small-scale agriculture remain a significant economic activity in the rural areas surrounding Bertram, typical of eastern Burnet County's mix of Hill Country ranchland.
• Commuter workforce to Austin metro (Various): A significant share of Bertram's working residents commute east on State Highway 29 and the 183A tollway into Cedar Park, Leander, and the broader Austin metro for jobs in technology, healthcare, construction, and professional services.

Bertram Schools

Bertram is served by Burnet Consolidated Independent School District, the same district that serves the city of Burnet and the rural portion of Burnet County. Bertram is the district's eastern anchor; most older students ride to campuses on the Burnet side of the county. Burnet CISD enrolls approximately 3,300 students total across six campuses, including Burnet High School and Burnet Middle School.

School District: Burnet Consolidated ISD

Public Schools

• Bertram Elementary School - An elementary campus operated by Burnet Consolidated ISD, serving students from Bertram and the immediate surrounding area. Bertram Elementary feeds into the middle and high school campuses on the Burnet side of the district.
• Burnet Middle School - The district's middle school campus on the Burnet side of Burnet CISD, serving Bertram students at grades 6-8 via school bus transportation.
• Burnet High School - The district's high school, home of the Burnet Bulldogs, serving Bertram students at grades 9-12. Burnet Consolidated ISD covers more than 700 square miles of rural Burnet County with approximately 3,300 students total.

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