Market Overview for Zip Code 78656
There are 34 active listings in Zip Code 78656 with a median list price of $239K and a median sold price of $274K.
Homes average 97 days on market.
Over the past 30 days, 13 homes have sold, with 99 sales in the past 12 months.
The average price per square foot is $179.
About Zip Code 78656
Zip code 78656 covers Maxwell, a small unincorporated community in Caldwell and Hays counties, approximately 35 miles south of downtown Austin. Maxwell sits along FM 621 between Lockhart to the east and Kyle to the northwest, in the agricultural heartland between the two counties. The community consists of a small cluster of homes, a post office, and a few rural businesses at the intersection of FM 621 and FM 110. The surrounding landscape is flat to gently rolling Blackland Prairie, with rich agricultural soils supporting cattle ranching, hay production, and row crops. Plum Creek and its tributaries drain the area, providing seasonal water features through the countryside.
Real estate in 78656 is almost entirely rural acreage and agricultural land. Raw land typically runs $10,000 to $20,000 per acre depending on road frontage, fencing, and soil quality. Improved properties with homes on 5 to 30 acres generally list from $300K to $700K. Larger ranch tracts of 50 to 200 acres can exceed $1 million. Homes in the small Maxwell community proper are older, mostly built between 1940 and 1980, and list from $175K to $325K. Manufactured homes on private lots are common, typically priced from $100K to $250K including land. There is no subdivision development in Maxwell; the market consists of individual parcels and existing homesteads suited for buyers seeking agricultural or rural residential property.
Students in 78656 attend either Lockhart ISD or Hays CISD depending on their location. Lockhart ISD serves approximately 6,000 students across eight campuses, while Hays CISD serves about 22,000 students with campuses primarily in Kyle and Buda. Both districts are accessible within a 10 to 15-minute drive. Lockhart ISD is the more likely assignment for Maxwell addresses in Caldwell County, while Hays County addresses may fall in Hays CISD. Both districts offer agricultural education programs relevant to the area's farming character.
Maxwell is approximately 35 minutes from downtown Austin via I-35 through Kyle, or about 40 minutes via SH-130 and FM 621. Lockhart is roughly 10 miles east, and Kyle is about 10 miles northwest. San Marcos is approximately 15 miles south on I-35. The SH-130 toll road passes about 5 miles west of Maxwell, providing a faster commute route to Austin. Most residents commute to Lockhart, Kyle, San Marcos, or Austin for employment. Maxwell has no grocery store, gas station, or restaurant; residents depend on Lockhart or Kyle for all commercial services. The area's economy is primarily agricultural, with cattle operations, hay sales, and hunting leases generating income for landowners.
