
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.
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
Towns & cities
Towns in Ellis County
Open a community guide for schools, neighborhoods, taxes and commute times, or jump straight to homes for sale in any town.
Community guides
In-depth Ellis County guides
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 guideTaxes & 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
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
MLS# 21427614
Keller Williams City-View
MLS# 21427595
Keller Williams City-View
MLS# 21425522
Oliver Realty
MLS# 21427371
Nu Home Source Realty, LLC
MLS# 21415639
Redfin Corporation
MLS# 21419744
Fritz Realty Group LLC
Keep exploring
More ways we help North Texas buyers and sellers
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.
Neighboring counties we serve






