Bastrop vs Smithville, TX: Two Historic Towns, Compared Honestly
Bastrop and Smithville can have very similar property-tax totals in a simplified city comparison even though their city and school rates differ. Using the illustrative 2025 units below, the difference on $350,000 of taxable value is about $34 per year. The actual comparison still depends on the complete taxing-unit stack, exemptions, appraisal limits, and any special districts attached to each parcel.
I am a REALTOR®, not a tax professional. Rates are adopted tax year 2025 figures from Bastrop CAD and the county’s truth-in-taxation posting; These are historical examples; verify current adopted rates for the parcel. Fire emergency services district boundaries are address-specific and I have excluded them from both columns so the comparison is like for like.
The tax result almost nobody expects
| Taxing unit | Bastrop | Smithville |
|---|---|---|
| County general | 0.350500 | 0.350500 |
| County road & bridge | 0.078210 | 0.078210 |
| School district | Bastrop ISD 1.067900 | Smithville ISD 0.942500 |
| City | 0.504000 | 0.639000 |
| ESD #3 (countywide EMS) | 0.100000 | 0.100000 |
| Total (excl. fire ESD) | 2.100610 | 2.110210 |
| Tax on $350,000 taxable | $7,352 | $7,386 |
In this 2025 example, Smithville’s school rate is approximately 12.5 cents lower per $100 of value while its city rate is approximately 13.5 cents higher. The resulting displayed totals are close, but property tax alone does not establish that two homes cost the same to own. Price, insurance, utilities, maintenance, financing, exemptions, and parcel-specific districts also matter.
The comparison illustrates why a school or city rate should never be treated as the whole bill. Verify the parcel’s actual taxing units and current adopted rates through Bastrop Central Appraisal District and the applicable truth-in-taxation records. A MUD, PID, emergency-services district, or other overlapping unit can materially change the result.
One caveat I would rather flag than hide: I confirmed Bastrop sits inside a fire emergency services district. I could not confirm that the City of Smithville is inside one — it appears to run its own city fire department. If Smithville carries no fire ESD line and a given Bastrop address does, Bastrop’s real total goes to 2.2006 and Bastrop becomes the more expensive of the two by roughly $336 a year. Verify on the parcel.
The short version
| Category | Bastrop | Smithville |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,383 (July 2025) | 3,922 (2020 census) |
| Growth since 2020 | +38.2% | 2020 count shown; consult Census annual estimates |
| City land area | 9.22 sq mi | 4.00 sq mi |
| School district | Bastrop ISD — 13,370 students (2024-25) | Smithville ISD — 1,849 students (2024-25) |
| District trend | Compare dated TEA enrollment reports | Compare the same school years and measure |
| Water / sewer | City / city sewer | City / city sewer |
| Electricity | Bastrop Power & Light or Bluebonnet | City of Smithville municipal electric |
| Zillow ZHVI change, June 2025–June 2026 | −4.4% (ZIP-series label 78602) | −3.7% (ZIP-series label 78957) |
Size and pace is the honest headline
Keep the dates and geographies separate when comparing population. The Census Bureau profile reports 3,922 people for Smithville in the 2020 Census. QuickFacts has a population threshold, but omission there does not establish that no later official estimate exists. Check the Census Bureau’s city and town population estimates before comparing growth; do not infer a growth trend by comparing a 2020 count with another city’s 2025 estimate.
The TEA 2024-25 enrollment table for Bastrop ISD reports 13,370 students, compared with 1,849 for Smithville ISD and 5,959 for Elgin ISD. These are district-wide counts, not city populations. They describe the scale of each district in that school year and do not establish future growth, school quality or housing-market performance.
Using the Zillow Research ZIP-level ZHVI series downloaded October 18, 2026, the change from June 2025 to June 2026 was approximately −3.7% for 78957, −4.4% for 78602 and −6.8% for 78621. ZHVI is a modeled typical-home-value index, not a median closed-sale price or an appraisal of a specific home. ZIP-series figures are not incorporated-city measures. Historical observations may be revised, and these changes do not establish why values moved or predict future resilience.
Schools: 17 campuses versus four
The district’s history page describes four campuses: Brown Primary for PreK and kindergarten, Smithville Elementary for grades 1–5, Smithville Junior High for grades 6–8 and Smithville High School for grades 9–12. Verify that the exact address is within the district and confirm current grade placement, program eligibility, transportation and any applicable enrollment requirements directly with Smithville ISD. A mailing address or the number of campuses alone does not complete that check.
The structure may be simpler for households that value fewer attendance-zone variables. Bastrop ISD assigns campuses by attendance area and adopted new maps for 2025-26 and 2026-27. Future boundaries can change as enrollment and facilities change, so verify every address directly with the district. Bastrop Intermediate became Riverside Middle School and Cedar Creek Intermediate became Creekside Middle School in 2025.
The districts also have different campus structures and programs. Bastrop ISD lists a collegiate academy, an alternative campus, and two comprehensive high schools; Smithville ISD has a smaller campus system. Families should use official district sources to compare current programs, eligibility, transportation, and address assignments without treating campus count as a quality rating. Full district-by-district breakdown here.
The districts’ 2025 debt-service rates also differ. Historical bond elections and current debt rates can provide context, but they do not predict future elections or tax rates. Review each district’s adopted budget, official election materials, and current tax records rather than assuming what either board or voters will do next.
Smithville’s real distinction: it is a film town, and that is documented
Not marketing — designations you can look up.
- The Texas Film Commission identifies Smithville as the first Film Friendly Texas community, designated in January 2008.
- The state’s Austin-area film directory lists Hope Floats (1998), The Tree of Life (2011) and Bernie (2011) in Smithville’s filmography.
- The City’s economic-development page reports Cultural District designation in 2013 and Music Friendly designation in 2025.
- For any additional historic designation, district boundary or contributing-building count, use the issuing agency’s record. A cultural designation is not a guarantee about a particular property’s restrictions or eligibility.
Distinguish the programs: the Texas Historical Commission’s February 11, 2026 announcement names Smithville in that year’s First Street cohort and explains that eligible participants may later pursue Texas Main Street entry. First Street participation alone does not establish Main Street membership. The local Chamber records Smithville’s 2006 gingerbread achievement, while Guinness lists the larger IKEA Furuset gingerbread man made in November 2009. Present the Smithville achievement as historical, rather than as the current world record.
Bastrop EDC’s development directory describes the Line 204 Texas studio project as 546 acres. Its August 25, 2025 Wyldwood article describes a separate planned studio development. Those publications establish what was announced, not the current construction stage, opening date or future job count. Check the developer and current permit records if either project affects your decision.
Healthcare access: verify services and travel time
Ascension Seton Smithville operates a hospital in Smithville. Facility capabilities, bed counts, emergency services, specialty care, insurance participation, and referral patterns can change, and proximity alone does not establish that a facility meets a household’s needs. Confirm current services directly with the provider and measure travel time to any facilities important to you.
The City of Bastrop has publicly explored potential hospital development, but an exploratory or feasibility-stage proposal is not the same as a funded, approved, or operating facility. Do not base a purchase on a proposed project; verify current status through official city records.
Use the City’s economic-development resources to research Smithville’s airport, business sites and local employers. A published directory or proposed industrial project does not establish current vacancies, operating status or available facilities. Confirm the particular employer, parcel and service with the responsible operator or City office.
Jobs and commute — the honest gap
Compare employment using actual destinations and current employer information. Smithville’s economic-development resources describe local business and workforce activity. A list or an older headcount does not establish every employer, current hiring, job security, future concentration risk or the value of a nearby home. Confirm the worksite, schedule and commute directly before choosing a property.
Commute time depends on the actual property, worksite, route, departure time and traffic. Drive the route from the specific house at the hour you expect to leave, and check current transit schedules if needed. A town’s position along SH 71 does not establish a universal commute ranking or a dependable travel time.
So which one?
Smithville may fit better when its available homes, smaller-city setting, verified school structure, commute, services, and total monthly cost align with your priorities. Do not assume future appreciation, market stability, healthcare suitability, or campus assignment without checking current property and agency information.
Bastrop may fit better when its available homes, commute routes, services, employers, district structure, and total monthly cost align with your priorities. Employment, traffic, inventory, development, and school boundaries can change, so verify the factors that matter to your address and schedule.
The 2025 illustrative tax difference is small, but the verified parcel tax stack remains one part of the decision alongside price, insurance, utilities, maintenance, financing, commute, and property condition.
Want this run on two real addresses?
Send me the two addresses you are weighing and I can help identify the listed taxing units, special-district disclosures, utility providers, school-boundary resources, and other comparison points. The appraisal district, taxing entities, school district, utility providers, insurer, and lender remain the final sources for current figures and eligibility. Call or text (512) 993-8488 or use the contact form.
Go deeper: Homes for sale in Smithville · Smithville REALTOR® · Buying in Bastrop · Bastrop vs Elgin · Bastrop vs Cedar Creek · School districts · Property taxes
Written by Bre Meador, REALTOR® — All City Real Estate, Bastrop County, TX · U.S. Army veteran and former nurse · TREC #0835116
Read client reviews. Last updated October 18, 2026. Rates, boundaries, services, projects, school assignments, and market figures can change. This page is general information from a licensed REALTOR®, not tax, legal, lending, appraisal, medical, engineering, or insurance advice.