Moving to Kerrville? Here are the 10 things you NEED to know!

      Keys to schools, neighborhoods, taxes, and daily life.

Thinking about relocating to Kerrville? This Hill Country town blends river life, small-town pace, and strong housing demand.

Before you pack your bags, here are ten important things to consider—market realities, outdoor perks, dining, climate, costs, and more.

10 Things You Need to Know Before Moving to Kerrville, Texas

By Ryan Rendon · Updated · Category: Moving Guides

Key takeaways:
  • Strong seller’s market with limited inventory; budget carefully for payments and taxes.
  • River-centric recreation: paddling, festivals, and a six-mile trail through town.
  • Diverse local dining for a small city; plenty of burgers, tacos, Italian, and BBQ.
  • Mild overall climate with hot summers; winters brief with occasional cold snaps.
  • Multiple gyms, two H-E-Bs, Walmart Supercenter, and an active traditional mall.
  • Growing craft-beer and wine scene; Fredericksburg’s wine corridor is ~30 minutes away.
  • Small-town population with proximity to San Antonio for big-city amenities.

Table of contents

  1. 1) Strong Real Estate Market
  2. 2) Excellent Fishing and Outdoor Recreation
  3. 3) Diverse Dining Scene
  4. 4) Mild Climate with Hot Summers
  5. 5) Plenty of Gyms
  6. 6) Grocery Options
  7. 7) River Hill Mall
  8. 8) Craft Breweries
  9. 9) Local Wineries
  10. 10) Small-Town Population
  11. Final Thoughts
  12. FAQs

1) Strong Real Estate Market

Kerrville’s housing market is robust. In the first nine months of 2022, 466 single-family homes sold with an average of 87 days on market and a median sales price around $349,000. With only about 1.8 months of inventory, it’s a strong seller’s market. At that price point, a buyer putting 5% down can expect a mortgage of roughly $1,900 per month. Home prices here are higher than in many Texas cities, so be sure to assess your budget and the overall cost of living.

2) Excellent Fishing and Outdoor Recreation

Outdoor enthusiasts will love Kerrville’s rivers and creeks. The Guadalupe River flows through town—Lewis Hays Park offers kayak and paddleboard rentals, festivals, and a six-mile trail. North of town, the Pedernales River meanders toward Fredericksburg. Several creeks provide opportunities to fish for bass, carp, and catfish. You can find bait and tackle at Walmart, Gibsons, and local feed stores.

3) Diverse Dining Scene

Despite its size, Kerrville boasts more than 20 Mexican restaurants, two Italian eateries, six fried-chicken spots, and over 20 burger joints. Local favorites include the Babbs burger at Grape Juice, tacos at Francisco’s, ribeye steak at 1011 Bistro, and smoked meats at Buzz’s Barbecue. If you’re a foodie, you’ll find plenty to explore.

4) Mild Climate with Hot Summers

Kerrville has a hot season from late May to mid-September, peaking around August 5 with average highs near 93 °F. The cool season lasts just under three months from mid-November to late February, with lows around 63 °F. Winter cold snaps are brief; early January is typically the coldest time of year. The area averages about 32 inches of rain annually, though some years see as little as 11–15 inches.

5) Plenty of Gyms

Staying fit is easy thanks to about ten gyms in town. Peak Fitness is a standout with a CrossFit area, conventional gym equipment, a large cardio space, a spin studio, a lap pool, and a sauna. If Peak doesn’t suit you, nine other facilities offer options for every fitness level.

6) Grocery Options

Grocery shopping is convenient with two H-E-B stores—one rebuilt and modern, one older—and a Walmart Supercenter. The newer H-E-B even houses a barbecue restaurant for a quick bite. A small Mexican market rounds out your choices for specialty ingredients.

7) River Hill Mall

Yes, Kerrville still has an active mall. River Hill Mall features JCPenney, Belk, Hibbett Sports, GNC, and Burkes Outlet, among other stores. Locals use it for shopping, morning walks, and coffee. It’s a throwback to traditional mall culture, and it still serves the community well.

8) Craft Breweries

Craft beer lovers will enjoy Kerrville’s growing brewery scene. Pint & Plow brews its own beer and serves a solid menu, while Basement Brewers offers house-brewed beers in a relaxed, board-game–friendly setting with food delivery from nearby restaurants. Two more breweries are on the way: Busted Sandal (from San Antonio) and Ringo’s, a half-brewery, half-sports pub. Brew Dawgz across town provides yet another option.

9) Local Wineries

Kerrville has its own wine culture. Turtle Creek Winery pours selections from Texas, the U.S., and overseas and serves charcuterie boards. Wine About It features wines made entirely from Texas grapes and lets you bring your own food. Grape Juice combines a full restaurant menu with a broad wine list, while Kerrville Hills Winery is just north of town. A 30-minute drive to Fredericksburg opens up more than 60 wineries in one of Texas’ premier wine regions.

10) Small-Town Population

Kerrville’s population is just over 23,000, with about 52,000 residents in Kerr County (including Ingram, Center Point, and parts of Comfort). The town is roughly an hour northwest of San Antonio, offering rural tranquility with city access. Population growth is moderate, so Kerrville is likely to retain its small-town feel for years to come.

Final Thoughts

Kerrville combines a strong housing market, abundant outdoor activities, a diverse dining scene, and a relaxed pace of life. Be mindful of the higher home prices and taxes compared to other Texas regions, and be prepared for a quieter nightlife. If you’re ready to explore the Hill Country lifestyle, reach out to a local expert, watch our next video on Kerrville’s best subdivisions, and subscribe to stay informed about all things Texas Hill Country.

Sources

FAQs

Is Kerrville affordable for first-time buyers?

It depends on your income, down payment, and tax rate. Model the full monthly (PITI + utilities) and compare to local rents.

Where do locals spend weekends?

Along the Guadalupe River and River Trail, at Lewis Hays Park, local breweries, and quick trips to Fredericksburg wineries.

How’s the nightlife?

Quieter than big cities. A handful of bars and dance halls; most places close earlier, so plan for daytime and evening activities.

What’s the nearest big city?

San Antonio is about an hour southeast, with airports, concerts, pro sports, and major shopping.

Moving to the Hill Country?

I’m based in Fredericksburg and serve Kerrville and surrounding towns. Let’s map neighborhoods, budget, and lifestyle fit.

Talk with Ryan
Transcript
Here are the ten things you need to know before moving to Kerrville, Texas. What's going on, guys? Right here. The Renton Realty Group, welcome back to the channel where we teach you everything you didn't know about the Texas Hill Country. It's today's video. We are talking about the ten things you need to know before moving to Kerrville, Texas. Let's get this video started. Okay, so the first thing you need to know about Kerrville, Texas is we have a very, very strong real estate market. So from January 1st through today, which is September 28th, 2022, we've had 466 properties. Single family homes have sold within this time frame, and an average days on market of 87 days. And the median sales price for our area is 349,000. Again, this is going to be single family homes within Kerrville. So and to put it into perspective, with the amount of inventory that we currently have on the market for, again, single family homes is what it is right now. We're sitting at 1.8 months of inventory. So basically, at the rate that we're selling homes each month from January through September, the end of September, and the amount of inventory that we currently have on the market, it would take 1.8 months to basically sell out everything that we currently have. And that's basically an extreme seller's market. 1.8 so anything below six months of inventory, you're starting to get into the seller's market, six to 6 to 7 months of inventory. You're in a balanced market. And anything well over seven months of inventory, you're considered to be a buyer's market. So as of right now, we are sitting in a seller's market here in Kerrville, Texas. And with the median sales price of 349,000. So basically you may ask, what does that mean to me as a buyer when I'm trying to buy a house in Kerrville with that price point? Well, when you look, you want to break it down with your monthly mortgage payment. You're going to you're going to have your principal, you're going to have your insurance, you're going to have your taxes, and then you're gonna have the interest on the property. So basically you want to add all that together. And with the $349,000 house with 5% down, you're looking at around $1,900 a month. So if you're thinking about wondering what the cost of living is, what it is going to cost you to get into a house for Kerrville, really think about that. With the median sales price coming in 349,000 and and determine whether or not you can afford to live in this area because our average sales price or our real estate is a little bit more expensive here in Kerrville, the Fredricksburg, the Hill Country than other areas of Texas. So you really need to take that into account and think about it before moving to Kerrville. Okay. So the second thing you need to know about Kerrville is we do have some great fishing in our area. So not only do we have the Volga River going right through the middle of Kerrville and Lewis, Hays Park, you also have the canals River, which just north of Kerrville going through Fredricksburg. So you had those two rivers. But we also have multiple creeks throughout the county. It gives you great options to do some bass fishing, carp, catfish, wherever your case may be. And as far as getting your supplies in tackle, we do have Walmart. We have Gibsons, and there's multiple feed stores throughout the wrap throughout Kerrville. That gives you the option to get some live bait, some fake worms. Whatever the case may be, there is the option to get your supplies that you need to have a successful day of fishing. Okay, the third thing you need to know is we do have plenty of restaurants here in Kerrville. We we could use a couple more steak joints, but we do have quite a few restaurants. We have over 20 Mexican restaurants alone within Kerrville. Two Italian restaurants, and we have six places you can get fried chicken and over 20 restaurants where you can get a good burger. And just to kind of give you a few of my favorites, if you get the chance to get a Babbs burger over at Grape Juice, that is probably the best burger in town in my opinion. Definitely make your way over there. And after that, we have Francisco. So if you're looking at some great tacos to get at lunch with the little side soup, whatever the soup is of the day, that is probably one of the best places to get tacos in town. And after that, if you're looking for steak, make sure you make your way over to 1011 bistro. I personally like a a steak that's medium rare a ribeye, medium rare steak. They in my opinion, had the best ribeye in town. You need to make your way over to 1011 bistro if you have not yet. And then after that, Buzz's barbecue is probably going to top it off as far as your barbecue joint. So they have some fantastic ribs. I always get their their brisket barbecue sandwich as well, and they've been around for a very, very long time. It's family run. So, if you're looking for a great place to get some barbecue, Fuzzy's Barbecue is the way to go. Okay, so the fourth thing you need to know about Kerrville, and I get asked about it all the time, especially from folks up north, is what is the weather like down there? So our typical hot season lasts about three and a half months, and it starts at the end of May and goes to about the middle of September. And the hottest days of the year. This is what you really need to know. The hottest days of the year are usually around August 5th. That's where it gets the hottest, absolute, hottest and the average high temperature is right around 93 degrees for our area. And then the cool season typically last just under three months. And that usually starts mid November through late late February. And the average temperature low temperature for the cool season is right around 63 degrees. And then the coldest point of that cool season is usually around the first week, January 5th January 6th timeframe. Obviously, we had a much colder February this past year with the Snow Apocalypse deal, but on average, the coldest part of the year is usually that first week of January. And then lastly, when it comes to weather here in Kerrville, we usually get around 32in of rainfall per year. We have had years where we've had maybe 11 to 15in rainfall. Those were, very, very tough when it came to ranchers and farmers in our area and obviously just everybody across the board. But those are the dry seasons. But on average, we usually have around 32in of rain each and every year. Okay. So the fifth thing you need to know is Kerrville has plenty of gems to go to. So we're going through an absolutely crazy time with this coronavirus. And I think one of the very important things that is a must nowadays is getting some kind of physical exercise in. So, we have some options here in Kerrville for that. We have about ten gyms. And to give you my favorite, the one I go to on a daily basis is peak Fitness. And the reason that I go to peak is because they have a CrossFit section. They have your conventional gym, which has all the machines and different ways that you can get your bodybuilding type workouts in. They have a huge cardio space upstairs, and they also have a spin room section with instructors who do classes. I believe live on a daily basis. But then they also have a pool. It's not a Olympic size post just under that, but nonetheless you can get your laps in and also hit the sauna right after you get out of the pool. So it's a great gym. If you get the opportunity to go check them out, definitely do so. But if it's not peak fitness, we have nine other gyms you can go through go to in town to make sure you get your physical exercise on, you know, throughout the week. There is six thing that you may need to know is what kind of grocery stores we have here in Kerrville. So I don't know if you know anything about H-e-b here in Texas. If you're up north or outside of Texas, you actually don't know anything about Texas unless you came to visit friends or family and just happen to go into an H-e-b. But in my opinion, it is probably the best grocery store in the United States. But we actually have two of them here in Kerrville. We have the old H-e-b, which is on, Sydney Baker is where the Albertson's used to be. If you're here local and you're watching this channel, you know exactly where that is. But then we had what actually used to be the original hub was just recently torn down and rebuilt. And, it is absolutely fantastic. And they actually have a barbecue joint inside the H-e-b. So if you're looking for a quick bite to eat before you go shopping, well, there it is. You got your barbecue joint. And we also have a Walmart, of course. And, that's a great place to get all your clothes, groceries, tackle for fishing that I mentioned earlier, hunting gear, whatever the case may be, it is a super center. So, we got those three options, but we also have a small Mexican market where you can get your Mexican groceries for different types of dishes and stuff that you may be interested in cooking. So we do have options when it comes to grocery stores here in Kerrville. Okay. So the seven thing you need to know is we do have an active mall here in Kerrville. Yes, people still do utilize the mall. I know in today's day and age so many people just go online, Amazon, Walmart, online, even order your groceries online through H-e-b. But going to our local mall, River Hill Mall, is actually quite, quite special place. It's been around for a very long time. They have a jcpenney's a belt. They have a Hibbett Sports, they have other stores that I'm not even interested in at all. Just because they're, they really don't fit what I need in life. But, there's all kinds of stores in there that may fit what you're looking for, in your life. So, but there is a GNC supplement store as well. So if you need to get your supplements, for, supplementing your body right after work out at one of our local gyms that we talked about earlier. They do have a GNC in there as well, but, you know, the the mall has been around for a very long time, and a lot of people even utilize it to get their morning walks and get a cup of coffee. Go shop at Jcpenney's right after. And, you know, I actually grew up going to adjacent Penney to get my school clothes at the beginning of each year, and people are still doing that to this day. So another cool thing is there's a Burkes outlet, which they have discounted clothes and all kinds of stuff in there. So if you have not been to our mall here in Kerrville, definitely check it out. And, there's some good stuff in there that to see. Okay, so on to number eight. We have a growing list of breweries here in town. So one of the main reasons why a lot of people moving to the Texas Hill Country is not only for our beautiful rolling hills and creeks and rivers, but also the the industry that's rapidly growing here in the hill country. Had the wine industry, but also the breweries are popping up everywhere. So to start off in Kerrville, we have tightened Plow Brewery. They do they do brew their own beer in-house. Fantastic list of beers. But they also have a great, great menu. If you get the chance to go check out Pint Plow, definitely do that when you can. I need to actually add that to one of my favorites on the list of restaurants here in town. And then right after that we have basement brewers, which they also brew all their their beers in-house, and they have a fantastic environment there. They have live music often they have different board games. You can order food which will be delivered to their location. So if you're there with your friends, family having a good old time, you don't have to actually leave to go get food. You can order it and they'll have it delivered there at that location. So we also have two other, the other breweries that are coming to Kerrville very soon. So you had the busted sandal, which is out of San Antonio. They're in the process of getting the building converted into a brewery just off of City Baker and Water Street. And then after that, we have Ringo's, which if you are here in Kerrville and you're familiar with where Fuddruckers is, that Fuddruckers is being converted into Ringo's, which is going to be half brewery, half a sports pub. So that's a great, great opportunity here in Kerrville. We don't really have anything like that except for Brew Dogs, which is on the opposite side of town. It's a great place, good food, but unfortunately it's is kind of far away from everything. So this new Ringo's place is going to be absolutely amazing. So we do have a growing list of places to drink some good craft beer here in Kerrville. Okay, so the ninth thing you need to know about Kerrville is we have a list of wineries here locally. So the two that are in town or one about it, and Turtle Creek, they both provide, specific things. So Turtle Creek actually has a fantastic charcuterie board. And they have wines from all over the state, all over the country and even some from overseas. But then you have wine about it, which is 100% Texas grown grapes and wine. So if you're looking for a cool spot to bring in your own food, some hamburgers, whatever, they actually allow you to bring in your own food. And it's a really, really cool environment. But if you're looking for some really high end wines and some charcuterie boards, then make your way over to Turtle Creek. So we also have grape juice. I mentioned grape juice earlier. They have a fantastic menu. The bass burger again is to die for. But they also have a great selection of wines, and their wine is from all of the all of the country and all over the world as well. So we have some great spots here in town, but we also have Kerrville Hills Winery, which is just north of Kerrville. So if you're actually looking for a winery, go to that's just minutes away just north of town. But then there's obviously Fredericksburg. So if you're looking to get on over to Franks burg, it only takes about 25 to 30 minutes to get there. And in between Fredericksburg and Johnson City, there's over 60 wineries to go to. So, you know, if you don't want to live in the chaos that Fredericksburg is today, you could live in Kerrville, make it over to Fredricksburg in about 30 minutes, enjoy all the great wineries and wine that, the Texas Hill Country has to offer. Okay, so we finally have our 10th topic for today and that is population. I get asked about our population all the time. What is the population in Kerrville, Kerr County. So I want to give it to you today. So for the city limits of Kerrville, we're sitting at just over 23,000 people. And for the county of Kerr County, we're sitting at over 52,000 people. So that's going to also include Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, and parts of comfort as well. So in the grand scheme of things, you know, we're about an hour from San Antonio. Hit headed northwest. We are a pretty small town. So if you're looking to get away from the city life, get into much more rural areas and still kind of easy access to the city. We're only about an hour northwest in San Antonio. Kerrville is a great spot to be, and more than likely our population is not going to grow in huge amounts over the years to come. Okay, so that's a wrap for the ten things you need to know before moving to Kerrville. And if you are considering moving to our area, make sure you watch my next video, which is the five best subdivisions here in Kerrville. If you liked this video and you want to see more like it, make sure you hit the subscribe button, but also the little bell top so you can get notified anytime I post videos just like this one. We'll see you guys next time.