Coleman combines a small-town feeling with big-city offerings
Coleman calls itself "The Friendliest Town in Texas,” and its residents tend to welcome visitors with a greeting and a tip of the hat. The town of around 4,000 people has amenities more often seen in larger cities, including a diverse restaurant scene, a museum, a game center and sports facilities. It even hosts a regional film festival. Instead of keeping the area as-is, Coleman seeks to make a name for itself. “I’m from here, and the impression I get from out-of-towners is that it really is a welcoming community,” says SuJo McKee, a broker with SuJo McKee Real Estate. “We embrace people who want to come here and make it better.”
Ranch-style and New Traditional homes sit on wide, grid-like streets
Brick ranch-style homes often range from $100,000 to $325,000. Craftsman-style houses can run from $50,000 to $250,000. There is also a subdivision under construction called The Triangle at Coleman, which McKee, the listing broker, says contains the area's first new homes in decades. The subdivision has brick New Traditional homes that sell from about $290,000 to $340,000. The city’s asphalt roads lay in a grid-like pattern. Residential streets are generally wide and do not feature lane lines or sidewalks, though the city center is walkable. Patches of grass, medium-sized trees and bushes flank the roads. Parking along the curb is a common practice.
A wide range of restaurants and shops along Commercial Avenue
Cattle Drive Cafe & Bull Bar has farm-themed burgers like the “Hangry Heifer.” Hidalgo’s Cafe serves a mix of Mexican and American entrees. Rancho Pizzeria bakes wood-fired pies and homemade desserts, while next door is Black Cur, a steakhouse with an upscale menu. The city has Shoppin’ Baskit for groceries and Dollar General for essentials. Small stores like Petal Patch, a flower shop, and Bonneville, which sells mid-century modern decorations and vinyl records, sit along Commercial Avenue.
The Coleman Independent School District and a school choice program
Students are served by the Coleman Independent School District. They can attend Coleman Elementary School, which holds a C-plus Niche grade. Coleman Junior High has a B score. Coleman High offers dual enrollment classes in partnership with local colleges. It earns an A-minus rating. Beginning in 2026, Texas’s school choice voucher program will send approved families close to $10,000 to put toward private education. The nearest private school is Brown County Christian School, about 30 miles east of Coleman.
Athletic facilities, playgrounds, a game center and the Coleman Museum
City Park sits along Hords Creek and takes advantage of its scenery, placing a picnic area under the shade of tall trees. The park also has tennis courts, a disc golf course, an Olympic-size swimming pool and a playground. Milton Autry Memory Lake is a fishing and swimming spot, as no motorized boats are allowed on the water. Mills Park recently underwent renovations and features basketball courts, swing sets, a jungle gym, exercise equipment, and tables for gatherings.
The Coleman Museum, inside Heritage Hall, showcases art created in the region. Jackalope’s Golf & Games is a family-friendly space with pool tables, mini golf courses and other activities. “Here, you’re able to live in a small town but have a big life,” McKee says.
Holiday parades, food trucks and the Western Film Festival
The annual Western Film Festival shows movies of all genres from regional filmmakers, with Best Feature Film and Best Short Film winners receiving custom belt buckles. Fiesta de la Paloma brings live music, food trucks, and car and motorcycle shows to the area each fall. During Christmas on Commercial, residents can participate in a nighttime parade and browse a holiday-themed market.
Access to major highways, but strong storms are possible
U.S. Route 283 snakes around the northeast portion of the city, while Texas state highways 206 and 153 run through its center. A railroad runs through the north section of town on a diagonal. Brownwood is about 30 miles away, while Downtown Fort Worth is close to a 160-mile drive. Abilene Regional Airport is around 55 miles away. City and Rural Rides, or CARR, provides point-to-point transportation for Coleman residents. Rides must be requested in advance. The Coleman County Medical Center, in the middle of town, offers round-the-clock emergency care. McKee says the town gets occasional storms that knock down power lines, but they are quickly repaired. Tornadoes can also impact the county.
