Belton

Established in 1850, booming Belton is a city in the heart of Texas that is attracting new residents from near and far. “This is a really popular area that has grown at a 35% rate since 2010,” says Paul Romer, Director of Communications with the city. Locally, they call it the “Austin creep,” a reference to migration from the Lonestar State’s capital, just 60 miles south via I-35. “It’s not just Austin and Waco; people are coming in from California, Washington State,” Romer says of Belton’s population influx. “We can’t build houses fast enough.” For prospective buyers in South Belton, there’s a lot of good news because years of development has created a healthy housing inventory. It remained a buyer’s market in late 2023, with homes sitting on the market for as long as three months, a trend that usually results in lower prices. The median sale price for a home in South Belton was around $360,000 in late 2023, a deep discount to Austin’s half-million-dollar point of entry. Most of this area of the city has been built since 2010, so an eclectic mix of spacious contemporary homes on modest lots line the quiet, well-maintained streets. Homes range in price from around $250,000 on the low end for a three-bedroom, 1,500 square foot home built in 2018 to over $500,000 on the high end for five-bedroom, 3,200 square foot home built in 2022. Families with children in South Belton are served by the Belton Independent School District, the best public school district in Bell County, according to Niche, which gives it an A grade. "Our schools are a big draw here," Romer says. Students can start their education at Miller Heights Elementary, a school with a B grade and a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1, compared to the national average of 17 to 1. Belton Middle is a B-plus school with a 14 to 1 student-teacher ratio and is among the more diverse middle schools in Texas. Highly rated Belton High is the second-best public high school in the county, according to Niche, which grades it an A-minus. The school has a full slate of athletic activities, including golf and powerlifting. The seat of county government, downtown Belton is anchored by the Bell County Courthouse, a Renaissance Revival masterpiece that was built in 1884. The Bell County Museum features art, archaeology, culture and interactive activities for visitors. “We’ve got a quaint, walkable downtown that is quite beautiful because the city incentivizes businesses to upkeep,” Romer says. “And we’ve got some of the best barbecue places in Bell County.” Happy customers at Miller’s Smokehouse say it might be one of the best in the state of Texas. Situated in sleekly renovated building with concrete floors and exposed ductwork, Miller’s has old-school cred because it has grown slowly over decades. The Depot is an old restored train depot that opened downtown that has different restaurants, a wine bar and one of the coolest little book stores. “Blackbird Books and Spirits is a cool place to sit down with a book and have a drink,” Romer says. “The door to the sitting area is a large work of art that you slide to get in.” Buyers seeking the active, outdoor lifestyle that the temperate climate in Texas allows will find a lot to love in Belton. “The premier hike and bike trail in the region runs along Nolan Creek, and that has been expanded a few times already,” Romer says. There are also trails at Chalk Ridge Falls Park, which has a beautiful water feature and scenic walking paths. There are two fully recreational lakes – Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Lake – for boating, fishing or just relaxing by the water. Belton Lake, the bigger of the two, has three marinas and is known to have clean, clear water for swimming and lots of wildlife. Stillhouse Park is a standout with nature trails along waterside cliffs, boat access and there is even an indoor fishing area. One of the larger cities in the Killeen-Temple metropolitan area, Belton is split in two by I-35, which links to Waco about 40 miles to the north and Austin around 60 miles south. Temple is 10 miles east via I-35, and Killeen is 20 miles west via I-14, which originates downtown. Most residents use a car to get around, but there is a public transportation option available. The HOP is a regional public transit system that serves a nine-county area covering 9,000 square miles. Belton is home to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, a private Christian school that was chartered by the Republic of Texas as a school for women in 1845. “They have a great arts program and sports program,” Romer says. “It’s the jewel of Bell County.” The military plays a part in the community, with a major base just minutes outside of Belton. The Army base Fort Cavazos, formerly known Fort Hood, is about 20 miles east of the city. There are over 23,000 soldiers stationed at the base near Killeen.

“Have you ever thought of a quintessential town that is classically Texas? That’s Belton,” says Fathom Realty-Benchmark Real Estate’s Damon Gottschalk, fifth generation born and raised in Bell County. “You’ve got people taking care of people and a community that comes together.” Bustling Belton is a suburb about 60 miles north of Austin that is attracting residents from near and far. “This is a really popular area that has grown at a 35% rate since 2010,” says Paul Romer, Director of Communications with the city. People are not only migrating from the Lonestar State’s capital, but also coming in large numbers from the West Coast. For prospective buyers in East Belton, there’s a lot of good news because years of development has created a healthy housing inventory. It remained a buyer’s market in late 2023, with homes sitting on the market for as long as three months, a trend that usually results in lower prices. The median sale price for a home in East Belton was around $300,000 in late 2023, a deep discount to Austin’s half-million-dollar point of entry. The median year built for the housing inventory in East Belton is 1972, so there is an abundance of modest ramblers and other one-and-a half story homes. There are also more spacious contemporary homes on modest lots that line the quiet, well-maintained streets. Homes range in price from around $200,000 for a three bedroom, two-bath 1970s rambler on the low end to $650,000 on the high end for a four-bedroom, three-bath brand new construction from 2023. Families with children in East Belton are served by the Belton Independent School District, the best public school district in Bell County, according to Niche, which gives it an A grade. Students can start their education at Miller Heights Elementary, a school with a B grade and a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1, compared to the national average of 17 to 1. Belton Middle is a B-plus school with a 14 to 1 student-teacher ratio and is among the more diverse middle schools in Texas. Highly rated Belton High is the second-best public high school in the county, according to Niche, which grades it an A-minus. The school has a full slate of athletic activities, including golf and powerlifting. The seat of Bell County government, downtown Belton is a quaint, walkable downtown that is noticeably well-kept because the city incentivizes beautification, according to Romer. The Bell County Museum features art, archaeology, culture and interactive activities for visitors. Lena Armstrong Public Library is open to the public six days a week and hosts a summer reading program. There is a Heb plus! for stocking up on groceries and essentials. The Grand Avenue Theater is a multiplex showing first-run films and football. El Mexicano Grill and Bar is a local favorite with an all you can eat lunch buffet and a lively atmosphere on Thursday for college night. Guests love El Mexicano’s margaritas, which are known to fuel serious karaoke seshes. Just east of downtown, Bo’s Barn Dancehall is a country music hotspot with live music, dancing, pool tables, heated patios for smokers and bartenders that are reportedly on point. Outdoor lovers seeking an active lifestyle will appreciate the year-round recreation offered by the Texas climate. “The premier hike and bike trail in the region runs along Nolan Creek, and that has been expanded a few times already,” Romer says. There are two fully recreational lakes – Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Lake – for boating, fishing or just relaxing by the water. Belton Lake, the bigger of the two, has three marinas and is known to have clean, clear water for swimming and lots of wildlife. The city’s largest park at 155 acres, Heritage Park along the Leon River has a boat dock and is home to the area’s premier sports complex. The Nolan Creek Hike and Bike Trail runs through Liberty Park, which has two playground areas and lots of green space and mature oaks. Feed the ducks at Yettie Polk Park, one of Belton’s oldest and most heavily utilized parks. Local events are hosted in the park, which has a playground and well-lit walking trails. One of the larger cities in the Killeen-Temple metropolitan area, Belton is split in two by I-35, which links to Waco about 40 miles to the north and Austin around 60 miles south. Temple is 10 miles east via I-35, and Killeen is 20 miles west via I-14, which originates downtown. Most residents use a car to get around, but there is a public transportation option available. The HOP is a regional public transit system that serves a nine-county area covering 9,000 square miles. Belton is home to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, a private Christian school that was chartered by the Republic of Texas as a school for women in 1845. “They have a great arts program and sports program,” Romer says. “It’s the jewel of Bell County.” The military plays a part in the community, with a major base just minutes outside of Belton. The Army base Fort Cavazos, formerly known Fort Hood, is about 20 miles east of the city. There are over 23,000 soldiers stationed at the base near Killeen.

In the heart of Central Texas is the City of Belton, with the neighborhood of North Belton sitting along Belton Lake. “I wouldn’t want to live or work anywhere else,” says Paula Golden, Realtor at Covington Real Estate, with 30 years of experience in the area. “The area keeps growing, but it really hasn’t lost the small town, community-centered feel.” The homes reflect that sentiment, with a variety of home styles built throughout the years. The area has plenty of public green spaces, both along the lake and closer to the center of the neighborhood. Nolan Creek weaves through and is used by the city for public events. Also within is an elementary, middle and the oldest high school in the city. In 1954, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering created a dam that led to the creation of the 12,300-acre Belton Lake. “My husband and son say it’s some of the best fishing in Texas, and there are bass fishing tournaments here every year,” Golden says. The main attraction of the neighborhood, the lake has beaches, campgrounds and parks scattered along the shores. In Belton Lakeview Park is Frank’s Marina, with a variety of water vehicles for rent. Westcliff Park is comprised of mainly campgrounds on the lake but does have boat ramps and a swimming area. The Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Association, or BLORA, is run by Fort Cavazos but is located outside the base itself. The association has canoe and wakeboard rentals, a paintball course and horseback riding trails. The neighborhood is a mixture of older ranch-style homes and more recently built New Traditional styles. Ranch-style homes will be lower in price, beginning around $125,000 and reaching up to $499,000. Some outliers can reach up to $1.35 million if they sit along the lakeshore. “Prices have certainly gone up in the past few years with folks moving into town,” Golden says. With the influx of new residents, developers have put together subdivisions of large, new homes sitting on close-together lots. New Traditional homes will be more expensive, starting around $325,000 and gradually increasing to around to $1.35 million for a home on the lake. The price within homes gradually increases as bedrooms, acreage and square footage are added to the properties. Belton hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including a community-wide service project in April. Family, Fishin’ & Fun takes place along the Nolan Creek in December. The creek is stocked with rainbow trout provided by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Rainbow Trout Program. There are multiple fishing tournaments that take place around the lake. Along FM 439 is Fire Street Pizza. Originally a food truck, the premise has grown to include an outdoor venue section, including a playground for children. Bingham Marine Texas is a boat dealership with new and used boats. They also provide servicing and customization. Downtown Belton showcases brunch at Water Street Waffle Company, with murals of musicians filling the walls and waffles stacked with eggs and breakfast meats. Miller’s Smokehouse is open for breakfast until 10:55 a.m., but the smokehouse portion is only open until the meat runs out. Along North Main Street are chain stores Walmart Supercenter and H-E-B plus!, along with local restaurant Taqueria Mexicano Grill & Bar #13. Most children can begin at Sparta Elementary School, which is graded an A-minus by Niche. Students can then move to Belton Middle School, with a B, and then Belton High School, with an A-minus. The Belton New Tech @Waskow was originally part of Belton High School as a specialized program before splitting off to be its own school in 2021. It earns a grade of A-minus from Niche as well. Students must apply to attend this high school. Interstates 14 and 35 converge in the city of Belton. I-35 is a major north-south interstate. Hill Country Transit District operates a small public transportation system known as The Hop. Similar to on-demand car services like Uber, residents can request rides via an app. The closest hospital is in Belton, the Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple.