Where Medicine, History, and Heart of Texas Living Converge
Temple is the commercial and medical hub of Bell County, situated along the I-35 corridor in Central Texas. Founded as a railroad town in 1881, it has grown into a dynamic city of roughly 90,000 residents anchored by Baylor Scott & White Medical Center. Temple offers a rare combination of world-class healthcare, affordable housing, and easy access to both Fort Hood and the greater Austin metro.
Temple’s real estate market offers outstanding value compared to Austin-area communities, with a diverse inventory ranging from historic Craftsman bungalows near downtown to modern new-construction neighborhoods on the city’s edges. Median home prices remain well below state averages. Contact Sujin Park Henson at StarPointe Realty to find your Temple home — SujinParkHenson.com.
Life in Temple balances the warmth of a mid-sized Texas city with growing metropolitan amenities. Residents enjoy a revitalized downtown, weekend farmers markets, and strong community pride. The city’s deep railroad heritage lives on in events and architecture, and its multicultural fabric reflects generations of Central Texas families who have made Temple home.
Temple’s food scene features local favorites like Mesa Rosa for Tex-Mex and the Depot District for craft beverages and boutiques. Temple Mall and nearby corridors cover national retail, while multiple H-E-B locations serve everyday needs. Downtown’s revitalization continues to add new independent restaurants and gathering spaces to the mix.
Miller Springs Nature Center offers miles of hiking along the Leon River. Stillhouse Hollow Lake and Belton Lake provide boating and kayaking. The Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum chronicles the city’s Union Pacific roots. The Frank W. Mayborn Civic & Convention Center hosts concerts and festivals throughout the year.
Total Population
Median Age
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Average Commute Time
Owner-Occupied Homes
College Degree or Higher
Largest Employers
*Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau and current market reports.
Temple’s economy is anchored by healthcare (Baylor Scott & White is the region’s largest employer), distribution and logistics (McLane Company, a major national distributor, is headquartered here), manufacturing, retail, and government. The city’s position on I-35 supports a growing logistics sector, and its medical institutions draw professionals from across Central Texas.
Temple ISD serves the city with multiple campuses across all grade levels, emphasizing academic achievement and extracurricular opportunity.
(PreK–5th)
Consistently positive parent reviews; welcoming campus culture.
(6th-8th)
Well-regarded campus with broad extracurricular offerings.
(9th–12th)
Home of the Wildcats; offers AP, dual-credit, and CTE programs.
(9th–12th)
Smaller campus with strong community identity in the Academy area.
Higher Education
Consistently positive parent reviews; welcoming campus culture.
Community College
Serves Temple and Fort Cavazos with flexible degree and cert programs.
Car-dependent for most errands; downtown area most walkable
Limited dedicated cycling infrastructure; improving in new developments
Limited public transit; Bell County Transit provides limited service
Average one-way commute; I-35 access facilitates regional travel
Miles of trails along the Leon River; popular for birding, hiking, and wildlife.
Multi-purpose venue for concerts, trade shows, and community events.
Explores Temple's Union Pacific railroad history; open to the public.
Army Corps of Engineers lake with boating, kayaking, and lakeside trails.
Revitalized historic district with craft breweries, boutiques, and local restaurants.
One of the largest not-for-profit health systems in Texas; major regional hub.
Temple’s neighborhoods range from historic bungalow streets near downtown to newer suburban developments on the city’s growing edges.
Temple sits approximately 10–15 minutes from Fort Hood, the nation’s largest military installation. Active-duty personnel, veterans, and military families are drawn by world-class VA-partnered healthcare at Baylor Scott & White, affordable housing prices that make VA loan use practical, and a community with deep respect for military service. The Bell County Veterans Service Office provides benefits counseling, and numerous veteran-owned businesses and support organizations operate throughout the city.
