Market Overview for Marble Falls
There are 70 active listings in Marble Falls with a median list price of $332K and a median sold price of $312K.
Homes average 74 days on market.
Over the past 30 days, 16 homes have sold, with 148 sales in the past 12 months.
The average price per square foot is $244.
About Marble Falls
Marble Falls is a city of 7,037 residents (2020 census) on the banks of Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls in southern Burnet County, about 50 miles northwest of downtown Austin via U.S. Highway 281 and State Highway 71. Estimates for 2024 place the population near 9,400, reflecting steady growth along the Highland Lakes corridor. The city spans roughly 15 square miles at an elevation of 801 feet and serves as the main retail, healthcare, and hospitality hub for the Hill Country region west of Austin.
The city was established in 1887 by Adam Rankin Johnson, a former Confederate general who planned the town at the natural falls of the Colorado River. Those falls were submerged in 1951 when the Lower Colorado River Authority completed Max Starcke Dam — originally called Marble Falls Dam and renamed in 1962 for the LCRA's second general manager — creating the 611-acre Lake Marble Falls, the newest and smallest of the Texas Highland Lakes. The dam stands 98.8 feet tall and operates a 32-megawatt hydroelectric plant. In 1917, Marble Falls made national history when voters elected Ophelia Crosby "Birdie" Harwood as mayor, three years before American women gained the constitutional right to vote.
Just west of town stands Granite Mountain, an 866-foot dome of pink granite covering roughly 180 acres. Its owners donated stone from the mountain in 1882 to build the Texas State Capitol in Austin, and a dedicated railroad spur was constructed from Burnet to the quarry in 1885 to haul Sunset Red granite blocks east. Granite quarrying has continued at the site for more than a century and remains a working industry on the mountain's north face.
The modern Marble Falls housing market spans a wide range: lakefront homes on Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls, Hill Country acreage on the fringes of the city limits, newer subdivisions along U.S. 281, and moderately priced in-town neighborhoods near the historic downtown. Buyers from the Austin metro frequently cite lake access, lower property taxes than Travis County, and the 50-mile drive to downtown Austin as tradeoffs they're willing to make. Commuting to Austin typically takes 70 to 90 minutes at rush hour via Highway 71.
Living in Marble Falls
Day-to-day life in Marble Falls revolves around the two lakes and the highway corridor. Locals split time between boating and fishing on Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls, shopping and errands along U.S. 281, and dining downtown along Main Street, where a mix of independent restaurants, a bakery, wine bars, and boutiques sit near the restored historic commercial district. The Walkway of Lights along Lakeside Park draws visitors through the holiday season and anchors a year-round waterfront park.
Healthcare is a significant local strength. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Marble Falls, a 46-bed hospital that opened in August 2015, serves as the regional hub for the Hill Country region west of Austin. An adjacent 66,000-square-foot specialty clinic on the same campus houses imaging, cardiology, orthopedics, and other outpatient services, cutting the old Austin commute for specialty appointments. Retail and full-service grocery are clustered along U.S. 281 north and south of Highway 71.
Commute patterns: Marble Falls to downtown Austin is about 50 miles via State Highway 71 through Bee Cave and the Y at Oak Hill, typically a 70 to 90-minute drive at rush hour. Many residents who work in Austin do so on a hybrid or remote schedule rather than driving in daily. South along 281 is Horseshoe Bay on Lake LBJ; north is the county seat of Burnet. Schools are operated by Marble Falls ISD, a 4A district with 4,066 students (2025-26) and a single comprehensive high school. Higher-education access runs through the Central Texas College – Hill Country office in Marble Falls at 806 Steve Hawkins Parkway.
Things to Do in Marble Falls
- Boat and fish Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls: Marble Falls sits on two adjacent Highland Lakes. Lake LBJ (6,432 acres) is known for stable year-round water levels that make it popular for boating and water-skiing. Lake Marble Falls (611 acres) is the newest and smallest of the Highland Lakes, created in 1951 by the Max Starcke Dam. Marinas, launch ramps, and lakeside restaurants line both shorelines.
- Explore Main Street and Lakeside Park: Downtown Marble Falls centers on Main Street, a historic commercial district with independent restaurants, a bakery, wine bars, and shops. A few blocks away, Lakeside Park fronts Lake Marble Falls with a pavilion, picnic grounds, and the city's Walkway of Lights holiday display, a seasonal waterfront event that runs from late November through the new year.
- Visit Granite Mountain: Granite Mountain is an 866-foot dome of pink granite covering about 180 acres on the western edge of the city. Its owners donated stone from the mountain in 1882 to build the Texas State Capitol, and a rail spur was built from Burnet to the quarry in 1885 to ship Sunset Red granite blocks east. The working quarry is not open to tours, but the mountain is visible from multiple points in town.
- Tour Longhorn Cavern State Park: About 10 miles north of Marble Falls, Longhorn Cavern State Park offers a 90-minute guided walking tour of a river-carved cavern on a 1.1-mile underground route. The park was developed between 1934 and 1942 by Civilian Conservation Corps Company 854, and its stone entry building and observation tower remain in place under National Park Service Rustic architecture.
- Golf Horseshoe Bay Resort: Horseshoe Bay Resort sits on Lake LBJ on the Burnet/Llano county line just southwest of Marble Falls. The resort features three championship golf courses — Slick Rock, Apple Rock, and Ram Rock — all designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. Horseshoe Bay is the only resort in the continental United States with three courses designed by Jones Sr.
- See the Hill Country bluebonnets each spring: Burnet County shares the "Bluebonnet Co-Capital of Texas" designation with Llano County, established by the 67th Texas Legislature in 1981. Each April the wildflowers bloom along U.S. Highway 281 and Park Road 4, and the nearby city of Burnet hosts the annual Bluebonnet Festival on its downtown square.
Major Employers in Marble Falls
- Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Marble Falls (Healthcare): A 46-bed hospital that opened in August 2015 and serves as the main hospital for the Baylor Scott & White Hill Country region. An adjacent 66,000-square-foot specialty clinic houses outpatient imaging, cardiology, orthopedics, and other specialty services.
- Marble Falls ISD (Education): Marble Falls Independent School District serves 4,066 students (2025-26) across Marble Falls, Horseshoe Bay, Cottonwood Shores, Meadowlakes, and Granite Shoals. The 4A district operates elementary, middle, and high school campuses plus district administration.
- Horseshoe Bay Resort (Hospitality & Tourism): A Hill Country resort on Lake LBJ on the Burnet/Llano county line, just outside Marble Falls. The resort features three Robert Trent Jones Sr. courses, a marina, a spa, and hotel operations, and employs hospitality, grounds, and food-service staff across the lakefront campus.
- City of Marble Falls (Public administration): Municipal services for the city of Marble Falls, including police, fire, public works, utilities, parks, and community development. City offices are located in the downtown municipal complex.
- Granite quarrying operations (Mining & materials): Granite quarrying has been a continuous Marble Falls industry since the 19th century. The active quarry on the north face of Granite Mountain supplied Sunset Red granite for the Texas State Capitol in the 1880s and continues as a working stone operation.
- Tourism and retail corridor (Retail & services): The U.S. 281 and Highway 71 corridors in Marble Falls concentrate regional retail, restaurants, marinas, and lake-tourism businesses that serve visitors and residents across Burnet, Llano, and Blanco counties.
Marble Falls Schools
Marble Falls Independent School District serves the city and surrounding Lake LBJ communities, with 4,066 students (2025-26) across elementary, middle, and high school campuses. The district is classified 4A. Higher-education access in Marble Falls runs through a Central Texas College office and a collaborative Texas Tech program both operating at 806 Steve Hawkins Parkway.
School District: Marble Falls ISD
Public Schools
Higher Education
- Central Texas College – Hill Country (Marble Falls) - Central Texas College operates its Hill Country office in Marble Falls at 806 Steve Hawkins Parkway, offering coursework in business, criminal justice, education, and nursing program prerequisites. The office provides student support across Burnet, Gillespie, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, and San Saba counties.
- Texas Tech University at Highland Lakes - A collaborative Texas Tech program hosted at the Marble Falls / Burnet campus in partnership with Central Texas College, offering bachelor's and master's degrees in selected fields.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Marble Falls, Texas?
Marble Falls sits on Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls in southern Burnet County, about 50 miles northwest of downtown Austin via State Highway 71. U.S. Highway 281 runs through the city north to south, connecting Marble Falls to the county seat of Burnet 13 miles north and to Johnson City to the south.
How large is Marble Falls?
The city had a population of 7,037 at the 2020 census and was estimated at roughly 9,400 residents by 2024, reflecting steady growth along the Highland Lakes corridor. The city covers about 15 square miles at an elevation of 801 feet.
What school district serves Marble Falls?
Marble Falls is served by Marble Falls Independent School District, a 4A district with 4,066 students (2025-26) across elementary, middle, and high school campuses. Marble Falls High School is the district's sole comprehensive high school, drawing students from Marble Falls, Horseshoe Bay, Cottonwood Shores, Meadowlakes, and Granite Shoals.
Is there a hospital in Marble Falls?
Yes. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Marble Falls is a 46-bed hospital that opened in August 2015 as the main hospital for the Baylor Scott & White Hill Country region. It is supported by an adjacent 66,000-square-foot specialty clinic housing outpatient imaging, cardiology, orthopedics, and other specialty services.
What is the commute from Marble Falls to Austin?
Marble Falls to downtown Austin is about 50 miles via State Highway 71, typically a 70 to 90-minute drive at rush hour. Many residents who work in Austin are on hybrid or fully remote schedules rather than driving in daily. There is no direct commuter rail or bus service between Marble Falls and Austin.
What is Granite Mountain?
Granite Mountain is an 866-foot pink granite dome covering about 180 acres on the western edge of Marble Falls. Its owners donated stone from the mountain in 1882 for the construction of the Texas State Capitol, and a dedicated rail spur was built from Burnet to the quarry in 1885 to haul Sunset Red granite blocks east. The active working quarry is still a local industry.
