Land & Ranch · Texas · Austin Waco Hill Country
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Hays County TX Land & Ranches for Sale
About Hays County
Hays County sits on the eastern edge of the Texas Hill Country, between Austin and San Antonio, inside the Austin-Waco-Hill Country land-market region tracked by the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M. San Marcos is the county seat. The Balcones Escarpment splits the county in two. Roughly the northwest three-quarters is hilly, tree-covered ranch country around Dripping Springs, Driftwood and Wimberley, and the southeast quarter is grassy farm plain along I-35. Hays County fits buyers who want Hill Country acreage, a homesite with some elbow room, or a working tract within a reasonable drive of two big metros. It rewards buyers who check water, floodplain and access before they fall for a view.
Legacy Broker Group listings in Hays County
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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.
Hays County on the map
Each marker is a Legacy Broker Group listing in Hays County — click for details; a sold one links to Significant Transactions.
Living in Hays County
- Blue Hole Regional Park – Wimberley Parks & Recreation — Wimberley's spring-fed swimming hole under cypress trees, plus trails, sports fields and a playscape. Book ahead to swim in season.
- Glass-Bottom Boat Tours at Spring Lake – The Meadows Center — Daily guided boat tours over the springs at the head of the San Marcos River, run by Texas State University.
- Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce – Resources — Links for the Wimberley Valley: business directory, events calendar, visitor's guide, Wimberley ISD and the village library.
- Hays Free Press and News-Dispatch — Hays County's local newspaper since 1903. It covers Kyle, Buda, Dripping Springs, Wimberley and county government.
The vibe
Hays County has two landscapes. West of I-35 the ground climbs into limestone hills, cedar and oak, and creek bottoms shaded by big cypress trees along Cypress Creek and the Blanco River. Wimberley grew from a trading post on Cypress Creek in 1848 and is known for its wineries, breweries, distilleries, dark skies and river scenery. Dripping Springs calls itself the Gateway to the Hill Country, a name that goes back to the 1880s when it sat on the trade road between Austin and Fredericksburg. The Texas Legislature has also named it the Wedding Capital of Texas, and US-290 through town is lined with tasting rooms, distilleries and event venues.
East of the escarpment the country flattens into blackland prairie. At Kyle, the Handbook of Texas puts it plainly: farming to the east, ranching to the west. Along the I-35 corridor, Kyle, Buda and San Marcos have grown fast. San Marcos was founded on the banks of the spring-fed San Marcos River, which rises from the Edwards Aquifer at Spring Lake, and the area is thought to be among the oldest continuously inhabited places in the Americas. Texas State University and the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment are in town.
The Legislature formed the county on March 1, 1848, from land that had been part of Travis County. It was named for John Coffee Hays, a Texas Ranger captain, and ranching ran through its early history. Growth sets the pace now. The Census Bureau estimated 304,390 residents in July 2025, up 26.3 percent from the 2020 census. Rural land on the west side still reads as ranch country, but you'll find new rooftops and road work closer to the interstate.
Market snapshot
Land first. Hays County trades within the Austin-Waco-Hill Country region (Region 7). The Texas Real Estate Research Center's Second Quarter 2026 report, published August 20, 2026, put the region at a record $8,040 per acre, up 8.63 percent year over year, on 1,062 sales with a typical tract of about 199 acres. Statewide prices plateaued over the same stretch. That is a regional median for larger rural tracts across many counties, not a Hays County price. Smaller tracts near Austin, and tracts with dependable water or creek frontage, can trade very differently, so ask your agent for recent nearby sales. We could not source a county-level days-on-market figure for land. Water belongs in any land conversation here. When we checked for this page, the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, which covers western Hays County, had posted Emergency Drought Stage. It reported wells failing at an unprecedented rate and said it would not accept new permits for production or non-exempt wells until conditions improve.
Homes next. As of September 2026, Unlock MLS reported a Hays County median sales price of $399,900, up 10.8 percent year over year. Closings fell 30.5 percent to 294, active listings reached 1,898, and inventory stood at 4.8 months. The median was $355,000 in August, so one thin month can swing it. Read several months together before pricing or writing an offer. From April through September 2026, median days on market for homes under $400,000 rose from 39 to 43. Homes at $1 million and up went the other way, falling from 57 days to 33.
Selling in Hays County?
Thinking of selling land or a ranch in Hays County? A Legacy Broker Group Broker Price Opinion is free, and it starts with the market you are actually in.
Amenities
Texas State University in San Marcos is the county's four-year university. Several independent school districts serve different parts of the county, so check the district for any specific address with the district itself or the Texas Education Agency. Water and open space are what Hays County does best. Jacob's Well Natural Area, about 81 acres just outside Wimberley, protects an artesian spring that flows from the Trinity Aquifer and forms the headwaters of Cypress Creek. The 175-acre Karst Canyon Preserve next door adds more than two miles of trail. Cypress Creek runs on through Blue Hole Regional Park and into the Blanco River. In San Marcos, the spring-fed San Marcos River runs through town and campus, and Wonder World Cave and the June Texas Water Safari draw visitors. On the food side, Driftwood is home to the Salt Lick barbecue and Duchman Family Winery, and Dripping Springs has wineries, distilleries and breweries along US-290.
For commuting, I-35 is the spine. San Marcos is about 30 miles southwest of Austin and about 46 miles northeast of San Antonio. Kyle is 20 miles south of Austin and eight miles north of San Marcos. Wimberley is about 38 road miles southwest of Austin, 58 miles northeast of San Antonio and 16 miles from San Marcos. Dripping Springs is about 25 miles west of Austin on US-290 and roughly 63 miles from downtown Boerne, where LBG's nearest office serves the county.
Hays County FAQs
What county is San Marcos in, and where is Hays County?
San Marcos is the county seat of Hays County, on the I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio. The county sits where the Hill Country meets the blackland prairie, and Texas A&M groups it in the Austin-Waco-Hill Country land-market region.
Is Hays County really part of the Texas Hill Country?
Mostly, yes. The Balcones Escarpment crosses the county, with hilly, tree-covered ranch country across roughly the northwest three-quarters and flatter, grassy farm plains in the southeast quarter.
How far is Hays County from Austin and San Antonio?
San Marcos is about 30 miles from Austin and about 46 miles from San Antonio on I-35. Kyle is about 20 miles south of Austin, and Dripping Springs is about 25 miles west of Austin on US-290.
What should I know about well water before buying land in western Hays County?
Western Hays County relies on the Trinity Aquifer, and the local groundwater district has warned of failing wells and posted emergency drought restrictions. Every new well must be registered with the district, even exempt domestic wells. Exempt status doesn't guarantee enough water, so check well records, depths and nearby production before you close.
Which groundwater district covers Dripping Springs and Wimberley?
The Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District covers the Trinity Aquifer across all of western Hays County, including Henly, Dripping Springs, Driftwood and Wimberley. Call the district early when you're looking at any tract that will depend on a well.
Is flooding something to check when buying land in Hays County?
Yes. In 2015 the Blanco River crested at an estimated 41.5 feet in Wimberley, almost 30 feet above flood stage. Review floodplain maps, creek crossings and road access for any tract near the Blanco, Cypress Creek or other waterways.
How is the land on the east side of Hays County different from the west side?
East of the escarpment you'll find deep, dark blackland soils that have long been farmed. West of it the ground turns to limestone hills and ranch country with springs and creeks. Kyle sits right where the two meet.
Can you still swim at Jacob's Well near Wimberley?
Hays County currently lists Jacob's Well Natural Area as open for hiking only, and swimming is not permitted for now. The spring has stopped flowing several times since 2000 during droughts, so check the county parks page before you go.
What is there to do outdoors in Hays County?
You can hike Jacob's Well Natural Area and the Karst Canyon Preserve, swim and paddle where Cypress Creek runs through Blue Hole Regional Park, or get out on the spring-fed San Marcos River. Wineries, distilleries and barbecue around Dripping Springs and Driftwood round out a weekend.
How fast is Hays County growing?
Fast. Census Bureau estimates show the county grew by about a quarter between the 2020 census and mid-2025, and most of that growth is along the I-35 corridor.
Are land prices still rising in the Austin-Waco-Hill Country region around Hays County?
The Texas Real Estate Research Center reported record regional land prices in the second quarter of 2026, while statewide prices leveled off. Regional figures cover many counties, so ask a land agent for recent sales near the tract you're considering.
Which Legacy Broker Group office serves Hays County?
LBG's Boerne office serves Hays County through our Land and Ranch division. Dripping Springs is roughly 63 miles from downtown Boerne.
Market and community sections reviewed 2026-10-30.