Neighborhood in Buda, Hays County

Living in Central Buda, Buda

B

1st of 3areas in Buda
Overall score 72 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Buda overall: A-

Central Buda covers part of Buda, TX, home to about 7,000 people. It gets a B, in the top 36% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 1st of 3 areas we score in Buda. It does best on internet access and worst on getting around.

  • Well connected
  • Lots of parks
  • Getting around scores low (12 of 100)
  • Tornado risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.8 mi
Pharmacy0.8 mi
Park0.2 mi
Cafe0.5 mi
Restaurant0.6 mi
Gym0.5 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.5 mi
Childcare0.9 mi
Library0.7 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
7,000
Median rent
$1,910
Median home value
$391,000
Household income
$110,100
Average commute
29 min
Homes owned
76%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Central Buda

Central Buda is an area in Buda with about 7,000 residents, mostly newer homes (median year built 2012), mostly owner-occupied (76%) and 35% of households with children.

It grades B against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 1st of 3 areas in Buda, which grades A- overall.

Pros of living in Central Buda

  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.2 miles away.

Cons of living in Central Buda

  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes, heat waves and hail as very high in this part of town.

Central Buda report card

Each grade compares Central Buda with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade C

    Median rent $1,910, homes cost 3.6x income.

    46 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade B

    Median household income $110,100, 2.5% unemployed.

    66 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade B-

    Nearby schools average 83 of 100 on the state rating.

    61 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 104 violent crimes per 100k, 1,589 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade C+

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    52 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade D-

    Average commute 29 min, 13% work from home.

    12 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade B

    47% have a bachelor’s degree.

    69 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C+

    16% of adults uninsured.

    49 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade B+

    76% of homes owner-occupied.

    80 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade A

    100% of homes have broadband.

    91 of 100 vs TX areas

Central Buda compared with Buda

Better than Buda

  • Vacant homes: 0%3 points lower than Buda (2.9%)
  • Homes with broadband internet: 100%1 points higher than Buda (99%)

Worse than Buda

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 35%8 points higher than Buda (27%)
  • Median household income: $110,10011% lower than Buda ($123,766)
  • People below the poverty line: 9.2%3 points higher than Buda (6.0%)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • AElm Grove ElementaryElementary, Hays CISD0.9 mi
  • BEric Dahlstrom MiddleMiddle, Hays CISD1.3 mi
  • BMoe and Gene Johnson High SchoolHigh, Hays CISD1.9 mi

Cost of living in Central Buda

Median rent in Central Buda is $1,910 a month, about the same as the Buda median. A household would need about $76,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $391,000, 12% lower than the Buda median, which means a monthly payment of about $2,765 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereBudaTexas
Median rent3% higher than Buda$1,910$1,852$1,403
Median home value12% lower than Buda$391,000$446,600$283,800
Home value to incomeAbout the same as Buda3.6x3.6x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent8 points higher than Buda35%27%52%
Homes owned by the people living in themAbout the same as Buda76%77%63%
Vacant homes3 points lower than Buda0%2.9%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Buda201220121992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$2,765
Mortgage payment
$2,140
Property tax
$625
Median rent, for comparison
$1,910

Based on a $391,000 home in Central Buda, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereBudaTexas
Median household income11% lower than Buda$110,100$123,766$78,476
Unemployment rateAbout the same as Buda2.5%3.4%5.3%
People below the poverty line3 points higher than Buda9.2%6.0%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher3 points lower than Buda47%50%34%
Average commuteAbout the same as Buda29 min29 min27 min
Workers who work from home8 points lower than Buda13%21%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit0%0%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet1 points higher than Buda100%99%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingHigh
  • HurricanesModerate
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesVery high
  • WildfiresVery high
  • Winter stormsVery high
  • Strong windVery high

Who lives in Central Buda

Under 1821%
18 to 3428%
35 to 6446%
65 and over5.0%
Race and ethnicity
White57%
Hispanic or Latino39%
Black2.7%
Asian0.3%
Other or more than one race0.8%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Buda

  1. 2BSouth BudaMedian rent $2,390
  2. 3D+Southwest BudaMedian rent $1,860

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. BFlagstone EstatesRockwall
  2. B-Central Little ElmLittle Elm
  3. B+Highland Hills VLewisville

Questions about Central Buda

Is Central Buda a good place to live?

Central Buda covers part of Buda, TX, home to about 7,000 people. It gets a B, in the top 36% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 1st of 3 areas we score in Buda. It does best on internet access and worst on getting around.

How much does it cost to live in Central Buda?

Median rent in Central Buda is $1,910 a month, 3% higher than the Buda median. The median home is worth $391,000, 12% lower than the Buda median. A median home costs 3.6x the median household income, compared with 3.6x across Buda.

What schools serve Central Buda?

The closest rated public schools are Elm Grove Elementary (elementary, rated A), Eric Dahlstrom Middle (middle, rated B) and Moe and Gene Johnson High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area groups 3 Census block groups in this part of Buda that have no neighborhood name on the map. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.