Craftsman bungalow with a deep front porch under fall trees, typical of historic Ellis County towns

Ellis County · North Texas · County seat: Waxahachie

Ellis County, TX homes, land & communities

Victorian Waxahachie, Midlothian and Red Oak — historic homes and new neighborhoods south of Dallas.

County seat
Waxahachie
Towns we serve
15
Population
240,867Census estimate, July 2025
Main routes
I-35E, I-45, US-67, US-287
Best for
Historic homes, New construction, Acreage

Living in Ellis County

Is Ellis County a good place to live?

Ellis County, just south of Dallas, grew about 25% from 2020 to roughly 240,900 residents in July 2025. Waxahachie, the “Gingerbread City,” is known for its Victorian homes and 1897 courthouse, while Midlothian and Red Oak have added new neighborhoods along US-67 and I-35E.

Buyers find historic homes, new construction and acreage, with Bardwell Lake near Ennis for weekends on the water.

Historic homesNew constructionAcreage

Why people move here

  • Historic Victorian homes in Waxahachie
  • New construction in Midlothian and Red Oak
  • Acreage and country homes across the county
  • I-35E and US-67 access to Dallas

Buying land

Buying land & acreage in Ellis County

Outside city limits, county land is mostly unincorporated, so the rules come from the county, the deed and the utility providers rather than a city. That makes due diligence before you make an offer especially important.

Texas counties generally can’t zone land outside city limits, so deed restrictions, HOA rules, floodplain maps, septic permits and nearby cities’ ETJ subdivision rules decide what you can build.

  • Survey and boundary lines
  • Legal, recorded road access
  • Water: city, water supply corporation or well
  • Septic suitability (OSSF permit)
  • FEMA floodplain
  • Deed restrictions and HOA
  • Mineral rights
  • Ag or wildlife valuation

Rural electric: HILCO and Navarro County Electric co-ops serve parts of the county.

Our land & acreage guide

Taxes & schools

Property taxes & school districts

Your total property tax rate is the sum of the county, city (if inside city limits), school district and any special districts (MUD, PID, hospital or college district). The county rate itself is$0.273992 for tax year 2025 per $100 of value.

Look up any property’s value, exemptions and taxing units at the Ellis Appraisal District.

School districts

Midlothian ISDWaxahachie ISDRed Oak ISDEnnis ISDFerris ISDPalmer ISDMaypearl ISDItaly ISDMilford ISDAvalon ISD

Lakes & outdoors

  • Bardwell Lake, about 3,300–3,600 acres (Corps of Engineers)
  • Lake Waxahachie, about 650 acres

For sale now

Homes & land for sale in Ellis County

See all

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Why is Waxahachie called the Gingerbread City?

Its many pre-1900 Victorian homes have gingerbread trim, and the annual Gingerbread Trail home tour celebrates them.

Is Ellis County growing?

Yes. It grew from 192,455 people in 2020 to an estimated 240,867 in 2025, about 25%.

What towns are in Ellis County, Texas?

Ten Twenty Realty serves the whole county, includingBardwell, Cedar Hill, Ennis, Ferris, Garrett, Glenn Heights, Italy, Maypearl, Midlothian, Milford, Oak Leaf, Ovilla, Pecan Hill, Red Oak and Waxahachie. Some towns straddle the county line, so we confirm the county, school district and tax rate for every address.

What is the county seat of Ellis County?

Waxahachie is the county seat. The courthouse, appraisal district and most county offices are there.

Can I buy land or acreage in Ellis County?

Yes. It is one of the areas our land buyers ask about most. Before you buy, we check the survey, legal access, water, septic, floodplain, deed restrictions and ag valuation. See our land & acreage guide.

Which Ten Twenty agents serve Ellis County?

Shayla Eadler works the county regularly, and every inquiry is answered by a local agent, usually within the hour during business hours.