Market Overview for Luling
There are 14 active listings in Luling with a median list price of $272K and a median sold price of $235K.
Homes average 152 days on market.
Over the past 30 days, 1 homes have sold, with 24 sales in the past 12 months.
The average price per square foot is $173.
About Luling
Luling is a city of approximately 5,600 residents in Caldwell County, located about 50 miles south of downtown Austin at the intersection of US Highway 183 and Interstate 10. The city sits on flat to gently rolling Blackland Prairie terrain at an elevation of roughly 420 feet, with the San Marcos River forming the city's northern boundary. The landscape includes farmland, pecan orchards, and the distinctive silhouettes of oil pumpjacks that dot the surrounding fields, remnants of the Rafael Rios No. 1 oil discovery well that struck oil in 1922 and transformed the local economy. The Union Pacific railroad runs through the center of town.
Luling's real estate market is among the most affordable in the greater Austin-San Antonio corridor. Home prices range from the low $100,000s for older frame houses to $300,000 for larger or renovated properties. The median home price is approximately $185,000. The housing stock is predominantly older, with many homes dating to the early and mid-twentieth century oil boom era. Properties along the San Marcos River or with larger acreage command higher prices. New construction has been limited compared to the rapid growth in communities along the I-35 corridor to the west, though Luling's position on I-10 provides a different kind of connectivity.
Luling ISD serves the city and surrounding area, enrolling approximately 2,000 students across an elementary school, a middle school, and Luling High School. The district offers agricultural science and career-technical programs alongside standard academics. For higher education, residents typically travel to San Marcos for Texas State University, to Seguin for Texas Lutheran University, or to Austin for broader university and community college options.
Luling's economy is rooted in oil production, agriculture, and small-town commerce, with a growing contribution from highway-oriented businesses along I-10 and US-183. The city's most prominent annual event is the Watermelon Thump, a festival held each June since 1954 that features a watermelon seed-spitting contest, live music, carnival rides, and a street dance. The intersection of I-10 and US-183 provides access to San Antonio (about 55 miles southwest) and Houston (about 150 miles east), as well as to Austin via US-183 north. Zedler Mill, a restored historic gristmill on the San Marcos River, operates as an event venue and local landmark. The pumpjack sculptures painted in colorful designs along city streets serve as informal public art and a nod to Luling's petroleum heritage.
Living in Luling
Luling's population has a median household income of approximately $42,000, with employment concentrated in oil field services, agriculture, retail, and public sector jobs. The median age is around 36. The city's demographic composition is roughly 50% Hispanic, 40% White, and 8% Black. About 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Luling retains a traditional small-town Texas character, with many families having deep roots in the community stretching back several generations, and the pace of life is noticeably slower than in the Austin metro suburbs.
