78610 is the ZIP code for Buda, a fast-growing small town in Hays County about 15 miles south of Austin along Interstate 35. It's known for a walkable historic Main Street, master-planned neighborhoods like Sunfield and Whispering Hollow, Hays CISD schools, and noticeably more house for your money than you'll find inside Austin. If you want a real small-town feel with an easy shot up I-35 to the city, Buda is one of the most popular places south of Austin to look.
Here's a feel for everyday life in Buda, from the food and golf to the small-town vibe:
78610 sits in northern Hays County, straddling Interstate 35 about 15 miles south of downtown Austin. It runs roughly from the Travis County line near Onion Creek south toward Kyle, with the SH-45 toll and Main Street as the two ways most people get in and out. Neighboring areas include South Austin (78748 and 78747) to the north and Kyle (78640) just to the south, so a lot of buyers end up weighing Buda against both. If you're comparing towns, my Buda relocation guide walks through how Buda stacks up against the rest of Central Texas.
Buda has grown fast, but it has held onto the small-town feel that draws people here in the first place. The heart of it is a compact, walkable Main Street lined with preserved 19th-century buildings, local shops, and restaurants, anchored by the restored Buda Mill and Grain Co. Around that core, the town is mostly newer, master-planned neighborhoods with their own pools, trails, and amenity centers. It leans family-friendly and car-dependent, the kind of place where day-to-day life happens along Main Street, at H-E-B, and out at Cabela's, with Austin close enough for work or a night out. Buda is also known for its community events, from the monthly farmers market to the annual Buda Wiener Dog Races.
Buda is a mix of established subdivisions and large master-planned communities, and the range is wide. On the master-planned side you'll find Sunfield, with its lazy rivers and amenity centers, plus Whispering Hollow, Garlic Creek, Shadow Creek, Bradfield Village, and the Meadows at Buda. On the newer-construction edges are communities like Persimmon and Turner's Crossing. Housing is mostly single-family, a blend of homes from the 2000s and 2010s and a steady stream of new construction. The median sale price in 78610 was $365,000 in August 2026, below South Austin but carrying a real premium over towns further out, and prices have softened a little over the past year. If you're weighing an established Buda home against a brand-new build, my Buda new construction guide covers the build side in detail.
For a town its size, Buda has a lot of green space. Buda City Park and the historic Stagecoach Park sit near the center of town, with trails, playgrounds, and event space, and the Buda Amphitheater hosts community events and live music. Bradfield Park and Green Meadows Park add more neighborhood green space, and the Buda Sportsplex covers organized sports and fields. Many of the master-planned neighborhoods layer in their own pools, splash pads, and trail systems on top of the city parks, which is a big part of the appeal for families.
Most of Buda's character lives on and around Main Street. The restored Buda Mill and Grain Co. is the anchor, a former feed mill turned into a walkable spot for food, drinks, and local shops. Willie's Joint is a longtime local favorite for food and live music, and the monthly Buda Farmers Market brings the community out downtown. On the retail side, Cabela's is a regional draw right off I-35, and H-E-B covers the everyday runs.
Buda is served by Hays CISD, one of the fastest-growing districts in the state, though the exact elementary, middle, and high school depend on your specific address. High schoolers in the Buda area generally attend Johnson High School or Jack C. Hays High School, and the district continues to add campuses as the area grows. When we look at homes together I'll match the neighborhood to the schools you want, and confirm the exact assignment for any address. For the district picture, see my Central Texas school districts guide.
Getting to Austin from 78610 usually means Interstate 35 north, or the SH-45 toll over to MoPac (Loop 1) if you're headed to the west or southwest side. Off-peak, downtown Austin is roughly a 25 to 35 minute drive; at rush hour on I-35, budget more. The airport is a straight shot up the SH-45 and 130 tolls. If your commute matters to your budget and your day, it's one of the first things we'll weigh together.
As of August 2026, the median sold price in 78610 was $365,000, and Buda was a balanced market, with about 6.3 months of inventory and homes selling at roughly 97.7% of list price. Homes were taking around 80 days from list to contract, and values have softened a little over the past year. Well-priced homes still move, and buyers may have some room on price, inspection items, and closing costs. When you're ready, I'll pull live figures for the specific neighborhoods and streets you're considering.
Whether you're relocating to Central Texas or moving down from Austin, I can give you a straight read on Buda and how it compares to the areas around it. Start with the free Buda relocation guide, and if you're ready to talk homes, here's what buying or selling here looks like: the Buda buyer's guide and the Buda seller's guide. Considering a new build? See new construction in Buda. And because many Buda communities sit in a MUD or PID tax district, the MUD and PID guide is worth a read before you make an offer.
Central Texas is the market I know best. With 175+ closed deals since 2016 across South Austin, Buda, Kyle, and Bastrop, and named a FastExpert 2026 Top Agent, I've guided buyers and sellers through every kind of move this side of Austin.
Whether you're buying, selling, relocating, or just starting to explore, my job is to give you a straight, local read so you can make a confident, well-informed decision.
Last updated: September 2026.