Harker Heights

Locally, they call it the “Austin creep,” a reference to migration from the Lonestar State’s capital, just 60 miles south of booming Belton. “This is a really popular area that has grown at a 35% rate since 2010,” says Paul Romer, Director of Communications with the city of Belton. Proximity to Austin in the south and Waco in the north explains some of the population influx, but not all. “We’ve got people coming from the West Coast – California, Washington State – we can’t build houses fast enough,” Romer says. For prospective buyers in West 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 West Belton was around $480,000 in late 2023, only a marginal discount to Austin’s half-million-dollar point of entry, but homes tend to be spacious on generous lots. Most of this area of the city has been built since 2002, so an eclectic mix of spacious contemporary homes on lots of varying size line the quiet, well-maintained streets. Homes range in price from around $250,000 on the low end for a three-bedroom, three bath vintage home to around $730,000 for a five-bedroom, three-bath home built in 2017 on a half-acre lot. 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 like a period log cabin that showcases pioneer life. “We’ve got a quaint, walkable downtown that is quite beautiful because the city incentivizes businesses to upkeep,” Romer says. AR•U•SHA Coffee & Tea is a stylish coffee house serving specialized hot beverages in a cozy space with brick walls and hardwood floors. Guests love the comfortable couches, spacious seating, both indoors and out, and general ambiance. For stocking up on groceries and essentials, there’s a Heb plus! just north of the downtown area. West on Frontage Road is Taco Cowboy, an authentic Mexican restaurant known for reasonable prices. 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. The Nolan Creek Hike and Bike Trail runs through Liberty Park, which has two playground areas and lots of green space and mature oaks. 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. 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.