Central Texas · Relocation Guide
Living in Belton, Texas
The numbers, the lakes and the Fourth of July, from a local REALTOR
The numbers, the lakes and the Fourth of July, from a local REALTOR
Belton is the Bell County seat, a historic courthouse town on Nolan Creek where I-35 meets I-14. Austin is about 57 miles south and Dallas about 127 miles north, and two big Corps of Engineers lakes, Belton and Stillhouse Hollow, are about ten minutes from downtown. Temple is next door, and Fort Hood’s main gate is a short drive west.
It keeps a small-town feel while the area grows: Belton’s population is up nearly 13% since 2020. Downtown has the restored 1884 courthouse, a county museum in the old Carnegie Library and restaurants along the creek. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, chartered in 1845, gives the town a college-town energy, and the Fourth of July here is a tradition more than a century old.
I’m Loni Jones, a REALTOR with Niche Real Estate, licensed since 2008. I help buyers across Central Texas find the right fit, from a home in Belton ISD to acreage out toward the lakes or over in Coryell County. I put this guide together with sources for every number, so you can share it with the people you’re moving with.
Home values are Census survey figures for owner-occupied homes, not today’s asking prices. For current prices in a specific neighborhood, ask Loni for recent sales.
A starter list. For events and more ideas, see the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Belton events page.
A tradition for more than 100 years that draws an estimated 30,000-plus people. The parade runs about a mile and a half from UMHB down Main Street to the Bell County Courthouse, the Festival on Nolan Creek fills Liberty Park, and the PRCA rodeo runs three nights.
| Parade | UMHB to the courthouse, about 1.5 miles |
| Festival | Liberty Park, 700 Veterans Way |
| Rodeo | Three nights of PRCA rodeo |
| Crowd | Estimated 30,000+ |
Hours, dates and seasons change. Check each official site before you go.
Belton sits in the middle of a string of fast-growing towns. Many buyers end up choosing among them based on school district, commute to Temple or Fort Hood, and how much land they want. Here’s a quick look at the places buyers ask Loni about most.
Whether you want a home near UMHB, a neighborhood close to the lakes or acreage outside town, Loni can help you compare areas, schools and taxes before you make an offer.
Moving with family or a partner? Send them this guide so you’re all looking at the same information.
Figures are from the sources listed, with years noted, and were checked November 2026. Tax rates, utility fees, event dates, and attraction hours and seasons change; confirm with the source. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Bell County Courthouse photo: “Bell County Courthouse in Belton, Texas” by Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized.