COMPARE / BUDA VS. DRIPPING SPRINGS
Buda vs. Dripping Springs: prices, property taxes and school districts
The median asking price on active listings was $357,995 in Buda’s ZIP 78610 (August 2026) and $849,450 in Dripping Springs’s ZIP 78620 (July 2026), per Realtor.com. Realtor.com flagged one ZIP’s August 2026 figures, so its latest unflagged month is used. The combined adopted rate inside city limits is $2.184524 per $100 in Buda (2025) and $1.86204 in Dripping Springs (2025). On a $450,000 taxable value before exemptions, that is about $9,830 a year in Buda and $8,379 in Dripping Springs.
By David Eimer · Facts reviewed
Buda vs. Dripping Springs at a glance, August 2026
| Measure | Buda | Dripping Springs |
|---|---|---|
| County | Hays County | Hays County |
| School districts | Hays CISD | Dripping Springs ISD |
| ZIP shown | 78610 | 78620 (July 2026) |
| Median list price | $357,995 | $849,450 |
| Price per sq ft | $179 | $305 |
| Active listings | 249 | 220 |
| Median days on market | 69 | 70 |
| Combined tax rate per $100 (year) | $2.184524 (2025) | $1.86204 (2025) |
| Road distance to the Texas Capitol (computed) | 17.8 miles | 24.6 miles |
How do home prices compare in Buda and Dripping Springs?
The median asking price on active listings was $357,995 in Buda’s ZIP 78610 (August 2026) and $849,450 in Dripping Springs’s ZIP 78620 (July 2026), per Realtor.com. Realtor.com flagged one ZIP’s August 2026 figures, so its latest unflagged month is used.
Homes spent a median 69 days on the market in ZIP 78610 and 70 in ZIP 78620, with 249 and 220 active listings. The table above adds price per square foot and each city’s full list of ZIP codes is on its own page.
Which has higher property taxes, Buda or Dripping Springs?
The combined adopted rate inside city limits is $2.184524 per $100 in Buda (2025) and $1.86204 in Dripping Springs (2025). On a $450,000 taxable value before exemptions, that is about $9,830 a year in Buda and $8,379 in Dripping Springs.
Those are the rates adopted by the city, county and school district, plus any college or hospital district a homeowner pays, as listed unit by unit on each city page. A MUD or PID in newer subdivisions adds its own rate, and the homestead exemption lowers the school portion. The estimator runs the math on a price you choose.
What school districts serve Buda and Dripping Springs?
Buda is served mainly by Hays CISD; Dripping Springs by Dripping Springs ISD. District lines do not follow city limits, so confirm the assigned schools for an address with the district’s own boundary tool.
This site does not rate or rank schools. The Texas Education Agency publishes accountability results, and each district publishes its attendance zones.
Read the full city pages
Buda homes for sale
Buda, TX homes for sale split into two groups that are taxed differently: homes inside the City of Buda, and homes in the 78610 ZIP that sit outside city limits, often in a MUD. The Census Bureau estimates the City of Buda at 16,166 residents on July 1, 2025, and a homestead inside city limits paid seven taxing units in 2025 with a combined $2.184524 per $100 of value. This page lists each rate, the city's own list of neighborhoods in and out of its limits, and how to verify an address.
Dripping Springs homes for sale
Dripping Springs, TX homes for sale mostly sit outside the City of Dripping Springs: the city covers only about 4.6% of the land in ZIP 78620, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 ZIP-to-place file (computed). Inside city limits, a homestead paid six taxing units in 2025 for about $1.86204 per $100 of value (computed from the Hays County list), but many homes outside the city pay a MUD, WCID or development district rate of up to $1.00 instead of the city's $0.2267. There is no single Dripping Springs tax rate, and this page shows how to find the right one for an address.
Common questions
Is Buda or Dripping Springs cheaper?
By median asking price, Buda ZIP 78610 ($357,995) was 58% below Dripping Springs ZIP 78620 ($849,450) in the latest unflagged months, per Realtor.com. A median describes the listing mix, not a like-for-like house, so compare price per square foot and specific homes too.
Does Buda or Dripping Springs have lower property taxes?
Dripping Springs had the lower combined adopted rate of the two: $1.86204 per $100 against $2.184524 in Buda. A homestead exemption, a MUD or PID, or an address in a different school district changes the real bill, so check the specific property on the appraisal district site.
What school district is Buda in, and what about Dripping Springs?
Buda is served mainly by Hays CISD; Dripping Springs by Dripping Springs ISD. District lines do not follow city limits, so confirm the assigned schools for an address with the district’s own boundary tool.
How do I search homes for sale in both Buda and Dripping Springs?
Each city page has a live search filtered to that city through David Eimer’s Ascend IDX. Save the homes you like in both, then compare them on price per square foot, tax rate including any MUD, and commute before you tour.
Estimate the tax on a specific price with the property tax estimator, or see all 12 cities compared.