New Homes by Suburb
New Construction Homes in Jarrell
Far north of Austin on I-35, Williamson County. A buyer-side guide to new construction in Jarrell, with live listings, the builders and communities here, schools, taxes, and the honest tradeoffs.
The short answer
Jarrell is the most affordable new-construction market in the northern Austin metro and one of the fastest-growing, about 45 miles north of downtown on I-35 in Williamson County. Once a tiny farm town, it has exploded around the 1,400-acre Sonterra master plan and a wave of value builders, with brand-new homes commonly starting in the low $200s as of 2026. It is where buyers priced out of Georgetown and Round Rock go for a new home and a yard, trading a longer commute for the lowest sticker in the north.
Live from the MLS
181 new homes for sale in Jarrell
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New ConstructionAt a glance
Jarrell new construction, by the numbers
- County
- Williamson County
- School districts
- Jarrell ISD, Georgetown ISD
- Price range
- As of 2026, new construction is among the cheapest in the metro, commonly starting in the low $200s (some Sonterra and value-builder plans from around $205,000 to the $260s) and running into the low $400s for larger homes, with a new-home median near $285,000. Value builders compete hard here with aggressive rate buydowns and low-monthly-payment promotions.
- Commute
- Jarrell sits far north on I-35, roughly 45 miles and about 45 to 60 minutes from downtown Austin off-peak, and longer during the multi-year I-35 Capital Express construction through central Austin. Georgetown is about 15 minutes south, and Round Rock and the Dell campus are roughly 25 to 35 minutes. This is a place you buy for the price and the space, best suited to Williamson County or Georgetown-area jobs, remote work, or a household willing to trade drive time for a much lower payment.
- Location
- Far north of Austin on I-35
Where to buy
Communities in Jarrell
- SonterraCentex, Century Communities, Starlight Homes, D.R. Horton
- Eastern WellsD.R. Horton
- The Villages at Schwertner RanchD.R. Horton
- Hunters GlenDRB Homes
Who builds here
Active builders
- D.R. Horton
- Lennar
- LGI Homes
- CastleRock Communities
- Dream Finders Homes
- Centex
- Century Communities
- Starlight Homes
- DRB Homes
Before the base price
Jarrell's big master-planned communities, Sonterra chief among them, are financed through MUDs that layer extra taxes on top of city, county, and Jarrell ISD taxes, commonly pushing combined effective rates into the mid-to-high 2 percent range versus roughly 1.8 to 2.1 percent for property without a district. In a market this price-sensitive, that MUD rate can erase much of the low-sticker advantage, so confirm the exact combined rate for the specific lot with the Williamson Central Appraisal District.
How MUD and PID taxes work →Honest tradeoffs
The case for and against Jarrell
No suburb is right for everyone. Here is how I would frame it for a client.
The case for
- The lowest new-home prices in the northern metro, commonly starting in the low $200s
- A huge, still-growing selection led by the 1,400-acre Sonterra master plan and many value builders
- New homes with real yards and space at prices long gone from Georgetown and Round Rock
- Straight I-35 access north and, via Georgetown, into the Williamson County job base
- Aggressive builder incentives and low-monthly-payment promotions as value builders compete
The case against
- A long, I-35-dependent commute to central Austin and the main tech corridors
- Sonterra and the other master plans carry high MUD taxes that offset the low sticker
- Jarrell ISD is small and growing fast, with schools and capacity still catching up
- Limited shopping, dining, and amenities compared with the established suburbs to the south
- Standardized value-builder product means many similar homes and little structural flexibility
On your side of the table
What a buyer’s agent watches for in Jarrell
- +Run the all-in monthly cost with the Sonterra or community MUD rate included, since the low sticker can be misleading once the district tax is added
- +Jarrell has a history of severe Central Texas storms, so weigh insurance costs and construction, not just the price
- +Confirm Jarrell ISD attendance and campus capacity in writing, since the small district is growing faster than it can build schools
- +With standardized value-builder inventory, negotiate hardest on standing spec homes and the low-monthly-payment rate buydowns near a builder's quarter-end
- +Verify the specific section's MUD and any remaining bond authorization, since a district can raise the rate as it builds out
- +Weigh resale honestly: Jarrell is a price play, so buy where the commute and community would still make sense if incentives dry up
On new construction the builder pays your representation, so all of this costs you nothing. Updated August 31, 2026.
Good to know
Jarrell new construction, answered
- Is Jarrell, TX a good place to buy a new home?
- For a budget-focused buyer who wants a brand-new home with a yard and can accept a long I-35 commute, yes: Jarrell has the lowest new-home prices in the northern metro, commonly from the low $200s, led by the huge Sonterra master plan. The tradeoffs are the drive to central Austin, high MUD taxes in the master plans, and a small, fast-growing school district.
- Why are new homes in Jarrell so affordable?
- Jarrell is far north on I-35, about 45 miles from downtown Austin, so land is cheaper and value builders compete hard on price and monthly payment. The savings are real, but much of the master-planned inventory carries a MUD tax that adds to the effective rate, so compare the all-in cost, not just the sticker.
- How far is Jarrell from Austin?
- Downtown Austin is roughly 45 miles and about 45 to 60 minutes south on I-35 off-peak, and longer at rush hour or during the I-35 construction. Georgetown is about 15 minutes away, and Round Rock and the Dell campus are roughly 25 to 35 minutes, which is why Jarrell works best for northern Williamson County jobs or remote work.
Related
Keep exploring
- 01New Homes by SuburbCompare new construction by Austin suburb: price, commute, taxes, and schools.
- 02Search New Construction HomesLive new-build MLS listings across the Austin metro, filterable by price and build status.
- 03New Home Cost CalculatorSee the real monthly cost of a new Austin home, MUD and PID taxes included.
- 04New Homes by BudgetNew construction under $300K, $400K, and $500K, with the suburbs that fit each.
- 05Do You Need a Buyer's Agent?Why the builder's on-site agent is not on your side, and why your agent is free.
- 06New Construction InspectionsWhy a new home still needs an inspection, and the three that catch the costly defects.
Free buyer representation
Thinking about Jarrell?
Before you tour a builder in Jarrell, get your representation registered so it stays free, and get the real tax rate, the current incentives, and honest builder notes. Luke replies personally.
Luke Allen
Licensed Texas REALTOR, TREC #788149
Austin Marketing + Development Group