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Market Overview for Fairlawn

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About Fairlawn

Fairlawn is a residential neighborhood in San Marcos, Texas, located in Hays County along the Interstate 35 corridor between Austin (30 miles north) and San Antonio (50 miles south). The neighborhood occupies a central position within San Marcos, with direct access to the city's commercial district and proximity to both the Blanco River and the San Marcos River. San Marcos CISD serves the area, with students in the Fairlawn attendance zone feeding into Travis Elementary School, Goodnight Middle School, and San Marcos High School. The neighborhood contains a mix of single-family homes, rental properties, and multi-family housing, with approximately 62% of households being renter-occupied, a figure that reflects the influence of nearby Texas State University on the local housing market. San Marcos as a city has a population of approximately 68,000, with the university's 39,000-student enrollment creating a significant student rental population throughout the city's neighborhoods.

Goodnight Middle School, located at 1301 Highway 123 in San Marcos, serves approximately 867 students in grades 6 through 8 and is one of two middle schools in San Marcos CISD. The school offers a Gifted and Talented program and feeds into San Marcos High School for grades 9 through 12. Travis Elementary School serves the neighborhood's younger students within the district, providing Pre-K through 5th grade instruction. San Marcos CISD operates across multiple campuses throughout the city and has worked to maintain class sizes and facility quality as the city has grown. Texas State University, with enrollment of approximately 44,596 students (fall 2025) and more than 5,000 faculty and staff, is located within a short drive of Fairlawn and serves as the city's largest employer, shaping the local economy through direct employment, student spending, and research activity.

The neighborhood's central San Marcos location puts residents within a few minutes of the city's primary commercial areas along Hopkins Street and the I-35 frontage roads, including grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies, and service businesses. The San Marcos River, spring-fed at a constant 72 degrees from the Edwards Aquifer, is accessible for swimming, tubing, kayaking, and fishing at multiple points throughout the city, with three tubing outfitters operating along the river during the warmer months. Rio Vista Park along the river offers dam-controlled swimming areas and walking paths, and the Meadows Center at Spring Lake provides glass-bottom boat tours and nature trails. The Blanco River, which runs closer to the Fairlawn area on the city's western side, provides additional green space, water access, and a different character from the spring-fed San Marcos River, with swimming holes and bank access for fishing at various points along its course through the city.

San Marcos Premium Outlets and Tanger Outlets along I-35 together house over 250 retail stores and employ approximately 3,600 workers, making outlet retail one of the city's largest employment sectors alongside the university. Hunter Industries operates a manufacturing facility in San Marcos employing 650 workers producing irrigation equipment for global distribution, and Christus Santa Rosa Hospital San Marcos provides acute-care hospital services on Wonder World Drive. The City of San Marcos employs approximately 500 people across 25 departments. These employers, combined with the university's 3,000-plus faculty and staff positions, create a diversified local job market that serves Fairlawn residents who prefer to work within the city. For those commuting out of San Marcos, I-35 provides a direct route to Austin in approximately 30 minutes or San Antonio in approximately 50 minutes, placing Fairlawn within practical commuting distance of both major metropolitan job markets.

Living in Fairlawn

Fairlawn sits in a central part of San Marcos with convenient access to the city's commercial areas, schools, and recreational resources along both the San Marcos River and the Blanco River. The neighborhood's housing mix includes single-family homes, duplexes, and rental properties at price points generally below the Austin metro median, making it accessible to families, university staff, and working professionals employed in San Marcos or commuting along I-35. The higher renter percentage (approximately 62%) reflects the proximity to Texas State University and the availability of apartment and multi-family options alongside traditional houses, though the owner-occupied homes in Fairlawn tend to be more established residences occupied by longer-term residents. Grocery stores, restaurants, and everyday services are a short drive along Hopkins Street and the I-35 frontage roads, and the downtown San Marcos square with its independent shops and restaurants is accessible within a few minutes.

San Marcos CISD provides public education through Travis Elementary, Goodnight Middle School (867 students, with a Gifted and Talented program), and San Marcos High School. The spring-fed San Marcos River and the Blanco River both offer outdoor recreation options within the city, and Rio Vista Park provides free swimming access at the dam-controlled river section with walking paths along the banks. Fairlawn's I-35 location allows 30-minute commutes to Austin employers or 50-minute commutes to San Antonio, while local employment at Texas State University (3,000+ staff), the outlet malls (3,600 combined workers), Hunter Industries (650 workers), and Christus Santa Rosa Hospital San Marcos (650+ employees) provides options for those who prefer to work within San Marcos. For families with young children, San Marcos preschool options include Kids of the Kingdom, First Step School (a four-star Texas Rising Star accredited center), and Giggle and Grow, which opened its San Marcos location in January 2024 with a focus on kindergarten readiness programming.

Things to Do in Fairlawn

• San Marcos River: Spring-fed river at a constant 72 degrees with swimming, tubing, kayaking, and fishing. Three outfitters operate along the river. Tube rentals typically $15-$20 per person. Swimming is free at public access points year-round.
• Rio Vista Park: City park along the San Marcos River with dam-controlled swimming areas, walking paths, and bank access. Free admission. Open daily.
• Downtown San Marcos Square: The 1851 town square with the restored 1909 Hays County Courthouse, independent shops, restaurants, and live music venues. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• San Marcos Premium Outlets and Tanger Outlets: Adjacent outlet centers along I-35 with 250+ stores. Open daily with extended weekend hours.
• The Meadows Center at Spring Lake: Glass-bottom boat tours over San Marcos Springs operated by Texas State University. Tickets $9 adults, $6 children. Nature trails and educational exhibits on site.

Major Employers in Fairlawn

• Texas State University (Higher Education): Enrollment of approximately 44,596 students (fall 2025) with over 3,000 faculty and staff, the largest employer in San Marcos.
• San Marcos Premium Outlets / Tanger Outlets (Retail): Two outlet centers along I-35 employing approximately 3,600 workers across 250+ stores.
• Hunter Industries (Manufacturing): One of the world's largest irrigation manufacturers, employing 650 workers at its San Marcos facility.
• Christus Santa Rosa Hospital San Marcos (Healthcare): A 140-bed hospital employing more than 650 people in San Marcos.

Fairlawn Schools

Fairlawn is served by San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District (San Marcos CISD). The neighborhood feeds into Travis Elementary, Goodnight Middle School, and San Marcos High School. Goodnight Middle School serves approximately 867 students and offers a Gifted and Talented program.

School District: San Marcos CISD

Public Schools

Pre-Schools

• Kids of the Kingdom - Preschool ministry of First Lutheran Church at 130 W. Holland St., San Marcos. Serves ages 6 weeks through 5 years. Open 7 AM to 6 PM weekdays.
• First Step School - Four-star Texas Rising Star accredited center at 4003 Hunter Road, San Marcos. Programs for infants through age 12. Open Monday-Friday 7:15 AM to 5:45 PM.
• Giggle and Grow - San Marcos location opened January 2024. Focuses on kindergarten readiness covering physical, social-emotional, language, and cognitive development.

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