Three amenity centers incl. lazy rivers; ~12 miles of trails; on-site elementary school
- Builders
- Taylor Morrison, Pulte Homes, Chesmar Homes, Centex, CastleRock Communities, David Weekley Homes, DRB Homes
- School district
- Hays CISD
- Tax district
- MUD
South Suburbs
BudaBuda
South of downtown along I-35, the closest Hays County town to Austin. A historic downtown and new communities, growing together.
SoutheastKyleManchacaBudaCity limits: U.S. Census TIGER · Roads & lakes: Natural Earth
High schoolsHaysJohnson
PopulationAbout 15,1002020 Census: 15,108
Median sale price$350KJan–Sep 2026 median · flat vs last year · Unlock MLS
Price per sq ft · pace$183 /sqftMedian 44 days to sellSep 2026 · Unlock MLS
School ratings9% rated ATEA 2026 · 11To downtown25–35 minNew-home communities6Development projects6Not sure Buda is the one? Take the 1-minute neighborhood match →
01 — AT A GLANCE
Just south of Austin,with a small-town main street.
WhereLocationAbout 15 miles south of downtown Austin along I-35, between Austin and Kyle.
FeelVibeA historic downtown by the railroad, a large city park, and new-build communities such as Sunfield and Persimmon.
ForBest forBuyers commuting to South Austin or Tesla who want a newer home close to Austin.
02 — HOME PRICES
What homes sell forin Buda right now.
The Jan–Sep 2026 median compared with last year. Single-month numbers swing with the number of sales.
Median sale · Jan–Sep 2026$350KAbout the same as 2025
Homes sold · Sep 202698
Price per sq ft · Sep 2026$183
Median days on market · Sep 202644 days
Median sale price by year
2021$387K
2022$461K
2023$410K
2024$370K
2025$350K
2026*$350K
* 2026 is January–SeptemberMedian by bedrooms · 2026
3 bed$315K
4 bed$360K
5 bed$445K
Price range — what sold in September 2026 (98 sales)
Under $200K 1%$200–299K 26%$300–399K 48%$400–499K 9%$500–599K 8%$600–699K 5%$700–799K 2%$800–999K 1%
Source: Unlock MLS Residential Market Snapshot (Buda, residential), retrieved Oct 14, 2026. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
03 — SCHOOLS
Hays CISD.Check any address in seconds.
Elementary
BudaC
Carpenter HillB
Elm GroveB
PflugerC
SunfieldB
Tom GreenC
Middle
BartonA
DahlstromB
McCormickC
High
HaysB
JohnsonB
Schools listed are those with Buda addresses. High school zoning splits between Hays and Johnson by address, and zones may change when the fourth high school from the 2025 bond opens — always verify by address. Ratings: Texas Education Agency 2026 A–F accountability ratings (released Aug 2026). “New” marks campuses that opened after the ratings year.
Check zoned schools ↗04 — COMMUTE
Downtown in about 25 minutes.Tesla, too.
Typical drive times from central Buda. Allow more at rush hour.
TeslaGiga Texas · Southeast20–30 min
DowntownDowntown Austin25–35 min
SpaceXBastrop plant35–45 min
AppleNorth Austin campus40–55 min
DellHQ · Round Rock40–55 min
SamsungTaylor fab50–65 min
05 — EVERYDAY LIFE
Close-in weekdays.Weekends in the parks and downtown.
Getting around
- I-35north-south to Austin & San Marcos
- SH 45 SE Tolltoward Tesla & the airport
- FM 1626 & FM 967local roads
Weekends
- Buda City Parka large park along Onion Creek
- Historic Main Streetshops and restaurants
- Stagecoach Park & Garlic Creek trails
Shopping
- H-E-B
- Cabela’s (I-35)
- Downtown shops
06 — WHAT’S COMING
New neighborhoods,new places to shop.
New shopping is rising along FM 967, with large residential communities to the south and east.
NEW H-E-BUnder constructionA new H-E-B on I-35On the southbound I-35 frontage road north of Main Street, on a former landfill site H-E-B is cleaning up. The current store site will be redeveloped for other retail.
HIGH SCHOOL NO. 42030Hays CISD’s next high schoolUnder construction on S. Turnersville Road since May 2026, with room for 2,800 students. Opening is planned for the 2030–31 school year.
GARISON PARKSummer 2027A 40-acre creekside parkJust north of downtown on Onion Creek, with a swimming hole, kayak launch, canopy walk and trails linking to the Onion Creek trail system.
BUDA CHAMPIONSHIP PARK2027A rebuilt tournament sports parkThe former Sportsplex is being remodeled with eight lighted softball fields, four sports fields and 20 batting cages.
FM 1626 / RM 967Long-termFixing a busy west Buda intersectionA 2025 study narrowed the options to a displaced left-turn design or a diamond interchange. Funding and timing have not been set.
PERSEUS DEFENSE2026 onwardA defense-tech headquartersThe startup is moving its headquarters, engineering and manufacturing into Tower Business Park, with about 400 jobs expected by year five.
Timelines are as announced and may change.
All Austin-area development news →07 — COMMUNITIES
Same city.Very different neighborhoods.
Subdivision boundaries, price ranges and recent sales are coming next.
SunfieldLarge community with water amenities; in a MUDCommunity guide coming soon
PersimmonNew master-planned community started in 2025; in a PIDCommunity guide coming soon
Garlic CreekFamily community off FM 967Community guide coming soon
Whispering HollowEstablished community west of I-35Community guide coming soon
Historic DowntownOlder homes on smaller lotsCommunity guide coming soon
08 — NEW HOMES
New-home communitiesin Buda.
6 communities where builders are selling new homes now. Builders and phases change often — confirm before you visit.
Single-family homesites plus Turner's Village townhomes; pool, trails, playground
- Builders
- Tri Pointe Homes, Taylor Morrison, Meritage Homes
- School district
- Hays CISD
- Tax district
- PID
Set between two lakes; amenity center with pool, soccer field
- Builders
- D.R. Horton
- School district
- Hays CISD
- Tax district
- Check by address
Pool, playscape, pavilion and walking trails
- Builders
- Ashton Woods, Starlight Homes
- School district
- Del Valle ISD
- Tax district
- Check by address
The Glen and The Meadows collections; pool, playground and dog park
- Builders
- Century Communities
- School district
- Del Valle ISD
- Tax district
- Check by address
MileStone master-planned community in the Buda area
- Builders
- MileStone Community Builders
- School district
- Check by address
- Tax district
- Check by address
09 — MELISSA’S PRO TIPS
Buying in Buda?Check these first.
Taxes, water and MUD/PID districts are the key things to check in Buda. Five things to confirm before you sign.
Melissa Jung, REALTOR®
PRO TIP
The city rate went up. Buda’s 2026–27 city rate is $0.3895, up 8.9%. Hays CISD (proposed $1.1546) and county rates apply on top.
PRO TIP
Check water and sewer rates, too. From October 2026, water rose 8% and wastewater 4%. Buda uses Edwards Aquifer and river water, and watering rules tighten with drought stages.
PRO TIP
Check for MUD and PID districts. In Sunfield, a MUD provides water and sewer and adds a tax. All 774 acres of Persimmon are in a PID with a separate assessment.
PRO TIP
High school zones may change. The 2025 bond is building a fourth high school for 2,800 students (target 2029–30). Zones may be redrawn when it opens.
PRO TIP
Check Onion Creek flooding. Onion Creek and nearby creeks rise quickly. FEMA released new preliminary flood maps in 2025 — check by address.
10 — FREE GUIDES