Bastrop County Faces Housing Affordability Crisis

T.j. Johnson
Jun 26
3 min read

Here’s a well-rounded look at Bastrop County’s housing landscape, spotlighting the affordability crunch and potential paths forward:

🏠 Current Home Prices: Stretching Budgets

County-wide average: The typical home value stands around $371,335, a modest 1.8 % decline over the past year, with the median sale price at roughly $359,900 as of May 2025 (zillow.com).
Town of Bastrop: Homes average $368,261, down 2.4 % year-over-year (zillow.com), or according to local listing data median around $375,000, down 4.6 % from last year .
Redfin variation: Reports a median sale price of $349,745 across the county (–0.04 % YoY) with homes lingering ~79 days on the market (redfin.com).

Meanwhile, average monthly rent hovers near $1,900–$2,050, comparable to the national average .

😟 The Affordability Gap: Why Many Feel Priced Out

Wages vs. Housing Costs Community assessments show over half of households lack enough income to cover basics. Residents spend on average 23 % of income on housing, with 11 % allocating over half of their earnings (stdavidsfoundation.org).
Rapid Growth Pressure Between 2010–20, the county’s population surged 31.3 %, driven primarily by Hispanic/Latinx migration. But housing supply hasn’t kept pace, pushing prices upward (stdavidsfoundation.org).
Market Dynamics Although trending buyer-favorable, a lack of entry-level inventory (e.g. 1–2 bedroom homes) compounds affordability—county median for one-bedroom units is still high and supply limited .
Infrastructure Bottlenecks Bastrop officials warn that strained roads, utilities, and rapid development (especially through municipal utility districts) are limiting affordable new builds (citizenportal.ai).

💡 Proposed & Ongoing Solutions

A. Expand Affordable Housing Supply

Public-private partnerships: The city is exploring collaborations with builders to introduce affordable housing, including apartments and tiny-home communities .
Section 8 & public housing: Bastrop’s Housing Authority manages Section 8 vouchers, public housing, and new construction initiatives aimed at low-income families, seniors, and the disabled (bastropha.org).

B. Leverage State and Nonprofit Programs

Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC): Offers down payment aid, mortgage programs, bond financing, and grants to support low-income and rural housing developments (en.wikipedia.org).
Bluebonnet Trails & local nonprofits: Provide supportive housing services, rental and utility assistance, and counseling to at-risk individuals (bbtrails.org).

C. Infrastructure & Planning Reforms

Municipal oversight of MUDs: City Council discussions emphasize aligning utility districts with broader infrastructure planning to prevent haphazard expansion (citizenportal.ai).
Strategic zoning: Integrating affordable units into new residential zones, mixed-use designs, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) may lower construction costs and boost supply.

D. Protect Resident Well‑being

Anti-displacement measures: Monitoring property tax increases and offering grants/loans for home maintenance can help long-time residents stay in their homes .
Tenant assistance: Streamlined access to rental aid, legal support, and homelessness prevention services (such as rapid rehousing) helps stabilize low-income renters .

🧭 The Road Ahead: What’s Needed

Dedicated Land Use Policies: Embrace mixed-income zoning, inclusionary mandates, and support for affordable multi-family developments.
Public Investment: Allocate local bond funds or budgeted resources toward down payment grants and supportive housing infrastructure.
Stakeholder Collaboration: Align efforts between the city, county, housing authorities, nonprofits, and state agencies like TSAHC.
Community Input & Oversight: Persistent resident engagement in planning ensures solutions meet on-the-ground needs and preserve Bastrop’s character.

📌 Bottom Line

Bastrop County faces a growing affordability crisis: home prices averaging $350K–$370K and rents near $2K compound existing wage gaps, leaving many residents financially squeezed. While the city and county are adopting various tools—from housing authority programs to state-backed funding—progress hinges on coordinated planning, infrastructure upgrades, supportive policies, and sustained local investment. The path forward lies in building affordable options before, not after, growth pressures become overwhelming.