Luxury & Residential · Community
Onalaska TX Homes & Real Estate for Sale
About Onalaska
Onalaska is a small lake city in Polk County, Texas, in the Piney Woods of East Texas. It sits on a peninsula between the main channel and one arm of Lake Livingston, one of the largest lakes in the state, and the city calls itself The Heart of Lake Livingston. It lies on US 190 and FM 356, about 90 miles north of Houston, and counted 3,020 residents in the 2020 census. Homes range from cabins and ranch-style houses on wooded lots to waterfront places with their own boat ramps. Onalaska is a good fit for buyers who want a lake home they can live in full time, a weekend place within reach of Houston, or just a spot where the pines run down to the water.
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The multiple listing information is provided by LERA MLS. Copyright ©2026 LERA MLS. All Rights Reserved. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed accurate. This information should be independently verified if any person intends to engage in a transaction in reliance upon it. The information provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Based on information from Unlock MLS (alternatively, from ACTRIS) for the period through 10/15/2026. Neither the Board nor ACTRIS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. All data is provided “AS IS” and with all faults. Data maintained by the Board or ACTRIS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.
Information being provided is for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Some IDX listings have been excluded from this website.
Data last updated: 10/15/2026 13:32
The information being provided by Central Texas MLS is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use, that it may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing, and that the data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by Central Texas MLS.
Based on information from South Texas MLS, LLC as of 2026-10-15 13:32:22. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. South Texas MLS, LLC provides the MLS and all content therein “AS IS” and without any warranty, express or implied. MLS aggregate data is a copyright of Texas Association of REALTORS® (TAR) and that the reader may not reproduce or distribute the MLS aggregate data.
© 2026 Bryan-College Station Regional Multiple Listing Service. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS or Legacy Broker Group. Data last updated 09/23/2023 16:30.
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Information contained on the computer print-outs of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) of the HOUSTON REALTORS® INFORMATION SERVICE (HRIS) is furnished by MLS Participants for dissemination to other MLS Participants, for their exclusive use, and should not be relied upon by Buyer/Tenant or any other person. There is no express or implied warranty by HAR or MLS as to the accuracy of such information, which should be independently verified by Buyer/Tenant or such other person. MLS does not verify the information and disclaims any responsibility for its accuracy.
Onalaska on the map
Each marker is a Legacy Broker Group listing in Onalaska — click for details; a sold one links to Significant Transactions.
Living in Onalaska
- Onalaska ISD — Onalaska's public school district, with one elementary campus and one junior/senior high, plus enrollment and registration information.
- Lake Livingston State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife park in the Pineywoods on Lake Livingston, with places to camp, fish, boat, swim, hike and bird.
- Polk County Chamber of Commerce — Chamber serving Onalaska, Livingston and the rest of Polk County, with a business directory, events and local news.
- Events in Polk County — Countywide events listing that covers Onalaska, including concerts and live music near Lake Livingston.
- Polk County County Web Map — The county's public web map, updated nightly, showing school district boundaries, city limits, points of interest and more.
The vibe
Life in Onalaska happens around the lake. The town started as a farming settlement during the Republic of Texas years. Around 1905 the lumberman William Carlisle turned it into a sawmill town and named it after an older mill town he ran in Onalaska, Arkansas. By 1907 the Beaumont and Great Northern Railway had arrived, and by 1908 the town had a depot, a bank, a hotel, its own power plant and about 2,000 people. The mill was gone by 1913, and the town got much smaller. Then the Trinity River was dammed, and Lake Livingston was finished in 1968. That brought a second life built on boating, fishing and real estate, and residents voted to incorporate in 1971.
The land is gently rolling and covered in tall pines and hardwoods, with coves, creeks and long views across open water. The houses look like the woods around them. You'll see rustic two-story cabins, classic ranch and Craftsman designs, and traditional homes with deep porches or covered balconies. Many sit on wooded lots, and waterfront homes often have private boat ramps and wide lake views. The area gets close to 50 inches of rain a year, so things stay green, and summers are long and warm.
The pace follows the seasons and the fishing. Weekends get busy when visitors come up US 190 to the marinas and RV resorts. Weekdays are slower. Community life centers on the city park and its big open-air pavilion, which hosts city events like the holiday market Christmas in Our Town. Most errands mean a short drive to Livingston, the Polk County seat.
Market snapshot
As of October 2026, Movoto reported a median sale price of $239,200 for homes in Onalaska. Properties took an average of 159 days to sell, up from 141 days a year earlier, and listed homes had a median of about $174 per square foot. Redfin measured a different window, the three months ending in August 2026, and found a median sale price of about $211,000, up 29.8 percent from a year before. Redfin also scored the market 14 out of 100 for competitiveness. The sources don't line up exactly because the city is small and each one uses its own sales sample and time period. Taken together, they point to a buyer-friendly market where homes sit a while and there's room to negotiate.
The local market includes small lake cottages, ranch homes on wooded lots, gated lake subdivisions and true waterfront estates, and lakefront property costs noticeably more than homes inland. There are plenty of vacant lots and wooded homesites in the lake neighborhoods around town. We couldn't find a reliable price-per-acre figure for Onalaska, so for land, talk with an Legacy Broker Group agent about recent sales near the parcels you're considering.
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Amenities
Public schools are run by Onalaska ISD, which has two campuses: Onalaska Elementary and Onalaska Junior/Senior High School. In the 2026 Texas Education Agency accountability ratings, the district earned a B (81), the junior/senior high a B (87) and the elementary a C (75). Onalaska City Park sits on nine and one-third acres donated to the city in 2010. It has a mile-and-a-half walking track past shade trees and a small stream, a half-acre dog park, a fenced playground, and the 6,400-square-foot Garland Pavilion. Lake Livingston is owned and run by the Trinity River Authority and is a well-known white bass fishery. Anglers also catch crappie, largemouth and striped bass, and catfish there. Texas Parks and Wildlife lists several boat ramps in Onalaska, including ones on Navahoe Trail off US 190 and near the Kickapoo Creek bridge. Lake Livingston State Park is about 15 miles away and has trails, campsites and fishing piers, and Sam Houston National Forest is about 35 miles away.
Dining in town is local and casual, and Livingston and Huntsville have more restaurants and shopping. Livingston is about 15 miles southeast on US 190, roughly a 17-minute drive, and has the county's shopping, healthcare and services. Huntsville and Interstate 45 are about 29 miles west on US 190, a little over half an hour. Houston is about 90 miles south. Polk County Transit provides basic local service around the lake area.
Onalaska FAQs
How is the Onalaska real estate market right now?
In the last 30 days, 7 homes sold in Onalaska, down from 8 in the 30 days before. 14 active listings were on the market in that time. Source: the Legacy Broker Group market report for Onalaska, MLS data as of November 13, 2026.
What is the median sale price of homes in Onalaska?
Over the last 30 days, the median sale price of homes in Onalaska was $299,900, across 7 sales. Source: the Legacy Broker Group market report for Onalaska, MLS data as of November 13, 2026.
What is the median list price of homes in Onalaska?
Over the last 30 days, the median list price of homes in Onalaska was $225,000. Source: the Legacy Broker Group market report for Onalaska, MLS data as of November 13, 2026.
How long do homes take to sell in Onalaska?
Over the last 30 days, the median time on the market for homes in Onalaska was 231 days, against 142 days in the 30 days before. Source: the Legacy Broker Group market report for Onalaska, MLS data as of November 13, 2026.
How can I get the Onalaska market report every month?
Open the Onalaska TX Market Report on our Market Reports page (legacybrokergroup.com/market-report-collection/) and choose Subscribe to the report. It is our own report, built from MLS data, and it comes to your inbox each month.
What county is Onalaska, Texas in?
Onalaska is in western Polk County in the East Texas Piney Woods. It sits on a peninsula on Lake Livingston, between Huntsville and Livingston.
How far is Onalaska from Houston?
Onalaska is about 90 miles north of Houston. Most drivers take US 59 or I-45 north and then US 190 to the lake.
How far is Onalaska from Livingston and Huntsville?
Livingston is about 15 miles southeast on US 190, a drive of about 17 minutes. Huntsville is about 29 miles west on the same highway, a little over half an hour away.
Is Onalaska actually on Lake Livingston?
Yes. The city sits on a peninsula between the main channel and one arm of Lake Livingston, and its motto is The Heart of Lake Livingston. Many neighborhoods have direct lake access or are just minutes from a boat ramp.
What is Lake Livingston known for?
Lake Livingston is one of the largest lakes in Texas and a well-known white bass fishery. It also holds crappie, largemouth and striped bass, and catfish. The Trinity River Authority built it on the Trinity River and still operates it.
Where can I launch a boat near Onalaska?
Texas Parks and Wildlife lists several ramps in Onalaska, including some on Navahoe Trail off US 190 and near the Kickapoo Creek bridge. Lake Livingston State Park, about 15 miles away, has more ramps and fishing piers.
What school district serves Onalaska, Texas?
Onalaska ISD serves the city with an elementary school and a junior/senior high school. In the 2026 Texas Education Agency accountability ratings, the district earned an overall B.
What kinds of homes are for sale in Onalaska?
You'll find lake cabins, ranch and Craftsman-style homes on wooded lots, homes in gated lake subdivisions, and waterfront properties with private boat ramps. There are also plenty of vacant lots and wooded homesites in the lake neighborhoods.
How long do homes take to sell in Onalaska?
Homes in Onalaska usually take longer to sell than in big-city markets, often several months. That generally gives buyers time to compare options and negotiate.
What is there to do in Onalaska besides the lake?
Onalaska City Park has a mile-and-a-half walking track, a dog park, a playground and the Garland Pavilion, where the city holds community events. Lake Livingston State Park and Sam Houston National Forest are both within an easy drive for hiking, camping and birdwatching.
How did Onalaska get its name?
Lumberman William Carlisle named the town around 1905, after an older mill town he ran in Onalaska, Arkansas. It started as a sawmill town and grew again as a lake community after Lake Livingston was finished in 1968.
Market and community sections reviewed 2026-11-12.