County seat: New Braunfels · Texas
Comal County
New Braunfels, Canyon Lake and Bulverde on the I-35 corridor, with two spring-fed rivers and population up nearly 28% since 2020.
- ~209,200Population (2025 est.)
- ~$424KMedian Sale Price
- New BraunfelsCounty Seat
- 560 sq miLand Area
Where it is
Where Comal County sits
Texas Hill Country and I-35 corridor, between San Antonio and Austi.
- ~35 minto Downtown San Antonio
from New Braunfels via I-35 S - ~30 minto San Antonio Int'l Airport
from New Braunfels via I-35 S and Loop 1604 - ~50 minto Austin
from New Braunfels via I-35 N - ~40 minto Boerne (Option One office)
from New Braunfels via TX-46 W
Drive times are approximate and assume no traffic.
About Comal County
Two rivers, one lake and a lot of new neighbors
Comal County runs from the edge of San Antonio's north side up into the Hill Country, with New Braunfels as its county seat. German settlers led by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels founded New Braunfels in 1845, and that heritage still shows in Wurstfest, the historic Gruene district and the stone buildings downtown. The county has been one of the fastest-growing in the country this decade, reaching an estimated 209,166 residents in 2025, up about 28% from 2020.
Water defines much of the county. The spring-fed Comal River starts in Landa Park and flows only a few miles before joining the Guadalupe, and both rivers are known for summer tubing. Upstream, Canyon Lake covers about 8,200 acres and anchors a community of lake homes, marinas and retirees in the county's northern half. The western side around Bulverde, Spring Branch and Smithson Valley is rolling ranch land that has filled in with acreage homes and subdivisions along US-281 and TX-46.
New construction is a large share of the market. Master-planned communities such as Veramendi, Mayfair and Meyer Ranch in New Braunfels and Johnson Ranch in Bulverde continue to add homes, alongside acreage communities like Vintage Oaks. Redfin put the county median sale price at about $424K for the three months ending August 2026, up about 5% from a year earlier.
Town guides in Comal County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year (2020–2024). Figures are rounded.
What stands out
Why people choose Comal County
Comal and Guadalupe Rivers
The Comal River rises from springs in Landa Park and stays near 72 degrees year-round. Tubers float it through town in summer, while the Guadalupe below Canyon Dam is known for tubing, rafting and trout fishing.
Canyon Lake
Built by the Army Corps of Engineers and filled in the 1960s, Canyon Lake has marinas, boat ramps and lakeside parks run by the county's Water Oriented Recreation District. Its shoreline neighborhoods range from small cabins to large waterfront homes.
Gruene Hall
Built in 1878, Gruene Hall is billed as the oldest continually operating dance hall in Texas. The surrounding Gruene Historic District has shops, restaurants and a riverside setting a few minutes from downtown New Braunfels.
Wurstfest
Each November New Braunfels holds Wurstfest, a 10-day celebration of German food, beer and music at the Wursthalle near Landa Park. It is one of the largest events of its kind in Texas.
Natural Bridge Caverns
The largest known commercial caverns in Texas sit on the county's southwest side near Garden Ridge. Visitors can tour the caves and use the ropes courses and zip lines above ground.
Between Two Metros
I-35 puts New Braunfels about 35 minutes from downtown San Antonio and about 50 minutes from Austin. US-281 and TX-46 connect Bulverde and Spring Branch to San Antonio's north side and to Boerne.
Towns & areas
Where people live in Comal County
Price ranges are approximate, based on recent sales, and change with the market.
Gruene
$450K–$1.2MDowntown / Landa Park area
$350K–$1MVeramendi
$350K–$900KMayfair
$280K–$800KMeyer Ranch
$400K–$800KVintage Oaks
$650K–$2MCanyon Lake
$250K–$1.5MBulverde
$400K–$1.2MJohnson Ranch
$400K–$800KSpring Branch / Smithson Valley
$400K–$1.5MGarden Ridge
$450K–$1.2M
- ~209,200Residents (2025 Census estimate)
- ~28%Population growth, 2020 to 2025
- ~8,200Surface acres at Canyon Lake
- 1878Year Gruene Hall was built
- 1845Year New Braunfels was founded
Live MLS data
Comal County homes for sale
Live listings load here. If they don't appear, search all homes on our listing site.
HOA fees
What to expect monthly
| Community type | Typical fee |
|---|---|
| Older New Braunfels neighborhoods | None to ~$30/month |
| Master-planned communities | ~$50–$150/month |
| Acreage and amenity communities (e.g. Vintage Oaks) | ~$75–$200/month |
| Lake subdivisions and gated sections | ~$20–$300/month, varies widely |
Several newer New Braunfels and Bulverde communities sit in a MUD or PID that adds to the tax rate. Confirm the HOA fee, any transfer fee and the full tax rate before you write an offer.
What HOA dues often cover
- Pools, splash pads and amenity centers
- Trails, parks and greenbelts
- Common-area landscaping and entry features
- Lake or river access areas in some Canyon Lake subdivisions
- Deed-restriction and architectural review
Parks & recreation
Getting outside in Comal County
Landa Park
~51 acres164 Landa Park Dr, New Braunfels, TX 78130
Directions ↗Guadalupe River State Park
1,938 acres3350 Park Road 31, Spring Branch, TX 78070
Directions ↗Comal Park (Canyon Lake)
116 acres1178 Comal Park Rd, Canyon Lake, TX 78133
Directions ↗Natural Bridge Caverns
26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266
Directions ↗
New construction
Building now in Comal County
Builders and pricing change often. Confirm details with the builder, and bring your own agent to the first visit.
Veramendi
Large mixed-use community on the northwest side of New Braunfels with trails, pools, parks and a Del Webb section for buyers 55 and older. Plans call for more than 6,000 homes at buildout.
Builder site ↗Mayfair
Master-planned community near I-35 and Gruene with more than 300 acres of parks and open space, a connected trail network and a new Comal ISD elementary school.
Builder site ↗Meyer Ranch
New Braunfels community with a resort-style pool, fitness center, putting green, dog park and trails, built around the 1850s Heimer House.
Builder site ↗Johnson Ranch
Master-planned community in Bulverde near US-281 from the builders Perry Homes and Whitestone Custom Homes, with on-site amenities. About 1,000 homes are planned.
Builder site ↗Vintage Oaks
Hill Country community off TX-46 between New Braunfels and Boerne with five miles of trails, multiple pools, a fitness club and a lazy river, plus a newer Grove section with smaller lots.
Builder site ↗Schools
Schools serving Comal County
Comal ISD covers most of the county including Canyon Lake, Bulverde, Spring Branch and Garden Ridge, while New Braunfels ISD serves the central part of New Braunfels.
| School | Grades | District |
|---|---|---|
| Smithson Valley High School | 9-12 | Comal ISD |
| Canyon High School | 9-12 | Comal ISD |
| Canyon Lake High School | 9-12 | Comal ISD |
| Davenport High School | 9-12 | Comal ISD |
| Memorial Early College High School | 9-12 | Comal ISD |
| Smithson Valley Middle School | 6-8 | Comal ISD |
| New Braunfels High School | 9-12 | New Braunfels ISD |
| Long Creek High School | 9-12 | New Braunfels ISD |
School assignments depend on the address and are set by each district; boundaries can change. Confirm eligibility directly with the district. Option One Real Estate does not rate or rank schools.
Nearby
Compare nearby areas
| Area | Starting around | Why consider it |
|---|---|---|
| New Braunfels | From ~$280K | The county seat, with river access, Gruene and the most new construction in the county. |
| Canyon Lake | From ~$250K | Lake homes and cabins around one of the largest lakes in the region. |
| Bulverde | From ~$400K | Larger lots and master-planned communities on US-281, close to San Antonio's north side. |
| Kendall County | From ~$350K | Boerne and Hill Country acreage to the west along TX-46. |
| Guadalupe County | From ~$200K | Seguin, Cibolo and lake living to the southeast, often at lower prices. |
FAQ
Questions about Comal County
The median sale price in Comal County was about $424K for the three months ending August 2026, according to Redfin, up about 5% from a year earlier. Builder homes in New Braunfels start in the high $200Ks, while Hill Country acreage and Canyon Lake waterfront often run well over $1M.
Comal County grew from about 163,600 residents in 2020 to an estimated 209,166 in 2025, a gain of roughly 28%, according to Census Bureau estimates. Growth has slowed somewhat each year, but the county still added about 7,700 residents in 2025.
Comal ISD serves most of the county, including Canyon Lake, Bulverde, Spring Branch, Garden Ridge and parts of New Braunfels. New Braunfels ISD covers the central city and opened Long Creek High School as its second high school in 2024. Attendance zones change as the area grows, so confirm the assigned campus for any address.
Combined property tax rates in Comal County typically fall roughly between 1.6% and 2.3% of assessed value, and are higher in subdivisions with a MUD or PID. Texas homeowners can claim a homestead exemption, and the school-tax exemption rose to $140,000 starting with the 2025 tax year. The Comal Appraisal District lists rates by taxing unit.
Homes around Canyon Lake are spread across many subdivisions in communities like Startzville, Sattler, Canyon City and Fischer. True waterfront lots are limited because the Army Corps of Engineers owns a buffer around most of the shoreline, so many lake homes have views or community access rather than private frontage.
New Braunfels is about 35 minutes from downtown San Antonio and about 50 minutes from downtown Austin on I-35, without heavy traffic. I-35 congestion can add significant time at peak hours.
Active master-planned communities include Veramendi, Mayfair and Meyer Ranch in New Braunfels, Johnson Ranch in Bulverde, and Vintage Oaks, which offers 1 to 14 acre homesites. Builders range from D.R. Horton and Perry Homes to Highland Homes, Drees and David Weekley.
River and lake tourism create demand for short-term rentals in New Braunfels, Gruene and Canyon Lake. Rules differ between the city of New Braunfels, which requires short-term rental permits in certain zones, and unincorporated areas, where HOA deed restrictions often decide the question. Verify both before buying for rental use.
A local agent can help you sort through floodplain maps along the rivers, MUD and PID tax rates, and builder incentives in new communities. Option One Real Estate is based in Boerne and works with buyers and sellers throughout Comal County.
Day to day
River days and German heritage
Summer in Comal County runs on the rivers. Locals float the Comal from Prince Solms Park, tube the Guadalupe below Canyon Dam, and spend evenings at Gruene Hall or along the patios in Gruene. Schlitterbahn's original water park sits right on the Comal in New Braunfels.
The rest of the year has its own calendar. Wurstfest fills the Wursthalle every November, Canyon Lake is busy with boaters and fishermen in spring and fall, and the western side of the county offers quiet Hill Country roads toward Bulverde and Spring Branch. San Antonio and Austin are both within an hour for flights, sports and concerts.
- Wurstfest each November in New Braunfels
- Live music at Gruene Hall, Texas's oldest continually operating dance hall
- Tubing the Comal River and the Guadalupe River
- Boating and fishing on Canyon Lake
- Touring Natural Bridge Caverns
- Summer days at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels
Thinking about Comal County?
Talk with an Option One agent who works here, or start with live listings.
Sources and data notes (data as of 2026-10)
Prices, HOA ranges and drive times are estimates. Census figures are rounded. Verify anything that affects a decision.
- api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/acs2024_5yr?table_ids=B01003,B01002,B19013,B11001,B25003,B25077&geo_ids=05000US48091
- censusreporter.org/profiles/05000US48091-comal-county-tx/
- communityimpact.com/san-antonio/northeast-san-antonio-metrocom/government/2026/04/07/comal-county-sees-278-population-increase-from-2020-25/
- herald-zeitung.com/news/comal-county-growth-rate-on-steady-decline-us-census-bureau-estimates-show/article_d5946934-c475-4080-bd3a-0f684df7d7b3.html
- www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip
- redfin.com/county/2685/TX/Comal-County/housing-market
- veramenditx.com/
- communityimpact.com/san-antonio/new-braunfels/development/2025/02/24/600-more-homes-in-the-works-for-veramendi
- delwebb.com/homes/texas/san-antonio/new-braunfels/del-webb-new-braunfels-at-veramendi-211338
- beazer.com/san-antonio-TX/new-braunfels/veramendi2
- mayfairtx.com/
- meyerranchtx.com/
- johnsonranch-tx.com/our-builders/
- vintageoakstexas.com/communities/vintage-oaks
- visitnbtx.com/directory/landa-park
- tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/guadalupe-river/map
- ksat.com/news/local/2021/03/30/army-corps-of-engineers-will-lease-canyon-lake-park-to-comal-county-recreation-organization
- swf-wc.usace.army.mil/canyon/
- schooldigger.com/go/TX/district/14730/search.aspx?level=3
- communityimpact.com/new-braunfels/education/new-braunfels-isd-releases-details-on-opening-of-long-creek-high-school/
- nbcatx.org/page/overview
- sacatholicschools.org/sts-peter-and-paul-catholic-school-new-braunfels
- brackenchristian.com/admissions/welcome
- ownwell.com/blog/texas-proposition-13-homestead-exemption
- nominatim.openstreetmap.org (POI coordinates)