Temple is Central Texas’s medical city — anchored by BSW’s 8,800+ employees, growing fast, and priced well below Austin. Whether you’re relocating for work or buying your first home, the data here will tell you exactly what to expect.
Active listings across Temple TX — including new construction, resale, and properties in both Temple ISD and Belton ISD zones.
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Search Temple Listings →Temple’s median sold price sits around $265K as of Q1 2026, down about 4% year-over-year. Living costs run roughly 11% below the national average. It’s a buyer-friendly market right now — homes are sitting 80–120 days on average, which means negotiating room exists.
Older resale in central and east Temple, some older Hospital District homes (pier-and-beam, 1950s–60s construction), and a handful of new construction base-level plans from D.R. Horton starting at $216,990. Inspect foundations carefully in this range.
The most active price band. New construction in South Pointe, Prairie Ridge, and Pecan Creek. Updated resale in Canyon Creek and Western Hills. Most BSW non-physician staff and first-time buyers shop here. Temple ISD or Belton ISD depending on exact address.
West Temple master-planned communities: Bella Terra, Three Creeks, Lake Pointe, Legacy Ranch. Belton ISD zoning, newer construction, community amenities. Where BSW physicians and senior staff typically land. Canyon Creek tops out at $765K for large custom homes.
* Price data from Q1 2026 MLS, Zillow, and Redfin. Temple’s market is active — medians shift monthly. Request a current CMA for any specific address.
Temple is a small-city commute market — most neighborhoods are within 20 minutes of BSW Medical Center at 2401 S 31st St. But “20 minutes on Google Maps” and “20 minutes at 7 AM during Outer Loop construction” are different numbers. This table reflects real-world peak commute times.
| Neighborhood | Price Range | BSW Commute | School District | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital District / TMED | $150K–$250K | Under 5 min | Temple ISD | BSW Commute |
| Canyon Creek | $150K–$765K | 5–8 min | Temple ISD | BSW Commute Value |
| Western Hills | $180K–$350K | 5–8 min | Temple ISD | BSW Commute Value |
| Hills of Westwood | $239K–$450K | 8–12 min | Temple ISD | BSW Commute |
| South Pointe | $225K–$309K | 10–12 min | Temple ISD | New Construction Value |
| Prairie Ridge / Pecan Creek | $217K–$280K | 10–12 min | Temple ISD | New Construction Value |
| Bella Terra | $305K–$569K | 8–12 min* | Belton ISD | Belton ISD New Construction |
| Lake Pointe | $217K–$525K | 15+ min | Belton ISD | Belton ISD |
| Three Creeks | $279K–$499K | 15+ min | Belton ISD | Belton ISD |
| Legacy Ranch / Dawson Ranch | $280K–$400K+ | 12–18 min* | Belton ISD | Belton ISD New Construction |
* West Adams corridor adds 10–15 min during morning peak due to Outer Loop construction through late 2026. Price ranges from March 2026 MLS data. School district zoning must be verified at BellCAD — a Temple mailing address does NOT guarantee Temple ISD assignment.
Temple was founded in 1881 when the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway established a division point here. Named after engineer Bernard Moore Temple, it grew into a regional railroad hub before healthcare took over as the dominant economic driver. Today, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center — a Level I Trauma Center employing over 8,800 people — is the engine that drives Temple’s housing market.
The city sits on I-35, 65 miles north of Austin and 34 miles south of Waco. It’s part of the Killeen–Temple MSA of about 500,000 people. Population has climbed to roughly 92,000 as of 2025, with significant new construction activity in the west and southwest corridors around West Adams Avenue.
Living costs run about 11% below the national average. That’s the fundamental pitch for Temple: real healthcare jobs, a growing city infrastructure, and home prices that don’t require an Austin salary to afford. The trade-off is that schools in Temple ISD (the district covering most of central and east Temple) are rated lower than neighboring Belton ISD — something buyers need to factor in honestly before choosing a neighborhood.
Two school districts, one city. Many of the most desirable West Temple neighborhoods are zoned for Belton ISD, not Temple ISD — and command a $20K–$40K premium as a result. Verify before you make an offer.
Black clay soil. All of Bell County sits on Houston Black expansive clay. Foundation movement affects roughly 15% of inspection reports. Budget for a soaker hose system as a preventive measure.
West Adams construction delays. The Outer Loop project is causing 10–15 minute delays in the West Temple corridor through late 2026. Real-world BSW commutes from Bella Terra and Legacy Ranch are longer than Google Maps shows right now.
BNSF rail noise. Freight trains run through central and east Temple at significant noise levels. Homes near active tracks show measurable appraisal discounts and longer resale timelines. Ask for a noise map before closing on anything east of I-35.
Temple ISD — one of the area’s top 5 employers
Texas A&M–Central Texas — higher education anchor
Fort Hood — 27 miles west; drives significant rental demand spillover into Temple
Logistics & manufacturing — $20M distribution center under development; 2025 City of Temple Economic Development Agreement
Temple attracts a specific mix of buyers. Here’s who typically makes this market work — and who doesn’t.
Temple’s dominant buyer profile. From PGY-1 residents earning $70,993 at Canyon Creek to attending physicians in the $400K+ Bella Terra tier — BSW employment drives more purchase decisions here than any other factor. See the BSW relocation guide →
40.5% of Temple sales in 2025 were new construction. D.R. Horton, Lennar, and Stylecraft are all active in the west corridor with entry points starting at $216,990. Builder incentives — including rate buy-downs — are significant right now. Compare builders →
Fort Hood is 27 miles west. With a 5.4% BAH increase in 2025 and ongoing on-base housing demolition pushing families off-post, Temple’s West corridor is picking up military buyers who want Belton ISD zoning and a reasonable commute to the gate.
Temple’s median is roughly $265K vs. Austin’s $530K+. For remote workers and anyone who can work from home 3–5 days a week, the math on Temple is hard to argue with. The I-35 corridor makes an occasional Austin trip manageable.
Temple’s living costs run 11% below national average and new construction entry points start under $220K. With FHA and VA loans widely applicable here, it’s one of the more accessible first-time buyer markets in Central Texas. Builder rate incentives in 2026 are worth understanding before you shop.
BSW’s 8,800+ employees create a permanent rental demand floor. Buy-and-hold investors focus on West Temple new construction for low maintenance. BRRRR investors target central Temple’s 1970s–90s housing stock for forced equity plays. Median rent sits around $1,525/month as of late 2025.
“The two things that trip up Temple buyers most are school district assumptions and the BSW commute realities during construction season. A Temple address doesn’t mean Temple ISD. And a neighborhood that’s 12 minutes from the hospital on Saturday morning might be 25 minutes at 7 AM on a Tuesday in 2026. My job is to run the actual numbers — drive the commute at shift-change time, pull the BellCAD school zone data, and give you an honest picture of what you’re buying into. I use data, not sales language.”
As of Q1 2026, the median sold price in Temple is approximately $265,000 — down about 4.2% from Q1 2025. Zillow’s home value index shows $255,731. Listing (asking) prices run higher, around $290K–$294K, because unsold inventory skews that number. The underlying market has been settling in the $260K–$275K range since mid-2025. Homes are spending 80–120 days on market, which gives buyers real negotiating leverage. This is a buyer-friendly market compared to 2021–2022.
Not necessarily — and this is one of the most common buyer mistakes in Temple. Many West Temple neighborhoods (Lake Pointe, Bella Terra, parts of Legacy Ranch and Three Creeks) carry Temple mailing addresses but are zoned for Belton ISD. Belton ISD is rated significantly higher than Temple ISD and commands a $20K–$40K price premium on comparable homes. Always verify school assignment directly through BellCAD or by contacting the district before making an offer — never rely on Zillow or the listing agent’s description for this.
It depends on your priorities. For the shortest commute, the Hospital District (walkable, $150K–$250K) and Canyon Creek ($240K–$320K, 5–8 min) are the top choices. For families who want Belton ISD schools and can tolerate a 12–18 minute commute, Bella Terra and Legacy Ranch in West Temple are the most popular. For new construction under $280K, South Pointe, Prairie Ridge, and Pecan Creek all sit 10–12 minutes from BSW in Temple ISD. Be aware the West Adams corridor adds 10–15 minutes during morning rush due to ongoing Outer Loop construction through late 2026.
The data says yes for buyers who are here for the long term. Prices have softened 4–5% from the 2025 peak, inventory is up, and homes are sitting longer — all of which favor buyers. The fundamental demand drivers (BSW employment, Fort Hood BAH purchasing power, I-35 corridor growth) are real and ongoing. Where I’d be more cautious: buyers who expect short-term appreciation are going to be disappointed — this isn’t a flipping market right now. And anyone buying east of I-35 near active BNSF tracks should understand the resale implications before they commit.
Temple sits at the intersection of several Central Texas corridors. It’s 65 miles north of Austin (60–75 min via I-35 depending on traffic), 34 miles south of Waco (30–40 min), and 27 miles east of Killeen/Fort Hood (25–35 min via US-190). This position makes it a legitimate commuter hub for all three employment centers, though the Austin commute involves I-35’s infamous traffic and isn’t practical daily without remote work flexibility.
All of Bell County sits on Houston Black Clay — locally called “black gumbo” — an expansive soil that swells when wet and contracts when dry. This causes foundation movement in roughly 15% of home inspections. It’s not unique to Temple; it’s a Central Texas-wide issue. Prevention is straightforward: perimeter soaker hoses run on a timer (approximately $50/month in water cost) significantly reduce seasonal movement. For older homes, especially pier-and-beam construction in the Hospital District or pre-1980 central Temple neighborhoods, get a foundation inspection from a licensed engineer — not just a home inspector — before closing.
Temple is the largest city in Bell County but not the only option. Here are communities and buyer resources worth comparing.