Aquilla sits in the rolling hills of Hill County where land prices drop and population density disappears. The unincorporated area attracts buyers seeking maximum acreage for minimum investment and properties where livestock operations, agricultural pursuits, and genuine rural solitude take priority over proximity to major urban centers
Aquilla is a small railroad town in western Hill County, about 9 miles west of Hillsboro, set between Aquilla Lake and the Brazos River. The town itself is only a few blocks, and most of what’s for sale is acreage: lake-edge lots, river tracts, new barndominiums and working ranch land.
Lots from about $17K · homes around $65K when listed
Older homes on in-town lots along Richards, Treadwell and Patton, a short walk from the school, church and post office.
The town covers only about a third of a square mile, so in-town listings are rare and usually modest.
Lots about $84K–$253K
A gated, deed-restricted community of roughly 1.7- to 3.5-acre homesites along the Brazos, with river access through a common area and some lots with frontage.
The only named subdivision confirmed around Aquilla. Read the restrictions and the association dues, reported near $42 a month, before you buy.
Lots from about $40K · homes about $315K–$725K
Small wooded lots and homes on up to 12 acres off HCR 2119, 2126 and 2127 and PR 226, some a short drive from the Old School boat ramp. Many carry a Whitney address.
Next to Corps land you get views and open space that can’t be built on. The lake roughly doubles at flood pool, so check the flood map.
About $180K–$950K
Tracts of 1 to 60+ acres north toward Whitney and along HCR 2200–2224, mixing new barndominiums and 2022-built homes with older farmhouses.
Hilltop tracts can see Lake Aquilla and I-35. Expect co-op water or a well, aerobic septic and co-op electric.
Small tracts from about $129K · ranches into the millions
Pasture, hay and river tracts south and west of town, from 3-acre homesites to 800+ acre ranches, with stock tanks, deer and dove, and Brazos frontage on some.
River tracts sit in the Brazos floodplain. Ag valuation, access and water are the first questions, and some tracts fall in Abbott ISD.
Lots from about $50K · about $265K–$375K with a home
Single- and double-wide homes on anywhere from 1 to 25+ acres, and bare tracts marketed as “bring a manufactured home.”
Many rural tracts have few restrictions, but confirm the deed restrictions and the home’s title status before you count on financing.
Swipe or drag sideways to see them all.
Most homes with an Aquilla, TX 76622 address sit outside the tiny city limits on rural land. Asking prices for 20- to 70-acre tracts mostly run about $8,700 to $16,000 an acre.
Texas A&M’s regional median for rural land sales hit a record $8,040 an acre in spring 2026. Price against closed sales, not asking prices.
Listings here cite city water, the Aquilla Water Supply Corporation, Hill County water co-op service or a private well, often on the same road. No city sewer was found, so plan on septic.
HILCO Electric Cooperative serves much of the area. Confirm every utility for the exact parcel.
Aquilla ISD serves most of the area from a single campus on North Richards, home of the Cougars and six-man football.
Some 76622 tracts fall in Abbott ISD, and lake-edge homes with Whitney addresses may be in Whitney ISD, so confirm the district by address.
Aquilla Lake, about 3,000 acres, is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Corps land around it stays open and unbuilt.
A proposed data center project near the lake has been reported as disputed and in litigation. I watch it and will tell you what I know about any specific parcel.
Area names reflect street clusters and housing types rather than official neighborhoods; Riverside Acres is the only subdivision name confirmed, through multiple MLS listings, and its plat was not reviewed. Listings were observed on Homes.com, HAR.com, Redfin, Trulia, Zillow, Coldwell Banker and Homes & Land in 2026, and some listing dates were unclear. Prices shown are asking prices, not closed sales, and change quickly; ask for a current comparative market analysis. The regional land figure is the Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center’s Region 7 median for the second quarter of 2026. The Riverside Acres association fee is as shown on Trulia. Utility information: the Aquilla Water Supply District is a wholesale provider; retail water may come from the city, the Aquilla Water Supply Corporation, a water supply corporation or a private well; no city sewer system was confirmed; HILCO Electric Cooperative serves Hill County, and the provider for any address should be confirmed on the Public Utility Commission’s maps. School district assignments are from listings; Whitney ISD for lake-edge addresses was not confirmed. Confirm any district through the Hill County Appraisal District. School information is not a recommendation regarding any school, district, neighborhood or property. Lake area figures are from the Texas Water Development Board and the Corps of Engineers; flood pool figures are from a TCEQ report. The data center project is described from KWTX reporting and is not a price comparison. Flood risk is parcel-specific; order a floodplain determination. Search results relating to other places named Aquilla were excluded; every item was verified as Aquilla, Texas. Bobby Franklin, REALTOR®, TREC #0805459, Legacy Realty Group – Leslie Majors Team.
Aquilla doesn’t have a restaurant row. It has a school the whole town turns out for, a lake built for crappie fishing and the Brazos a few miles south. Meals and groceries mean a short drive, and places outside town are labeled so you know which town you are in.
Aquilla ISD · 404 N Richards
Friday-night six-man football at Cougar Stadium is the town’s main weekly gathering. The Cougars also field volleyball, basketball, cross country, baseball and softball.
Can’t make it? Games stream on the NFHS Network.
Nearest: FM 933 toward Whitney, or Hillsboro
No restaurant, grocery store, gas station or feed store was confirmed open in Aquilla. That is the trade for this much quiet.
Most residents shop in Hillsboro, about 9 miles east, or Whitney to the north, and fill up on FM 933 on the way.
200 E Treadwell · (254) 694-2945
A small post office in the middle of town. Listed retail hours are short and mostly mornings, so confirm on USPS.com before you go.
City Hall · 201 Treadwell · (254) 694-5985
City Hall handles town business, and the city rents out its community center for gatherings. Call City Hall for the location and rental terms.
400 E Treadwell
Sunday School at 9:45, worship at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and a Wednesday men’s breakfast and evening gathering.
Lake office (254) 622-3332
Three free boat ramps: Dairy Hill on the east shore near the FM 1947 bridge, Old School and Hackberry Creek. There’s also fishing access with picnic tables below the dam.
There are no campgrounds on Aquilla Lake; the Corps points campers to Whitney Lake.
About 3,000 acres
Anglers know Aquilla for crappie and white bass, with blue catfish and largemouth too. The Corps maintains brush piles, including one across from Dairy Hill.
Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District
Corps land is split into hunting zones, each with a 600-foot buffer from parks and homes. Use the current Fort Worth District hunting guide and maps.
Rules and permits change, so confirm with the Corps before the season.
151 FM 1304
A Texas Parks & Wildlife river access site on the Brazos south of town, for bank fishing and as a paddling take-out. Check TPWD’s access rules before you go.
5303 FM 933, not in Aquilla
A Brookshire Brothers fuel stop on the road between Aquilla and Whitney, the closest fill-up for many homes north of town.
Whitney, not Aquilla
Brookshire’s on North Brazos Street has a pharmacy, deli and fuel, and Brookshire Brothers is on South Bosque. Whitney Lake has the nearest Corps campgrounds.
Hillsboro, not Aquilla
The county seat, with a Walmart Supercenter, Brookshire’s and H-E-B, restaurants, and the courthouse square.
Everything under Community and Lake & Outdoors is in or right around Aquilla. Fuel and groceries are labeled with the town they’re really in.
Two things worth saying plainly. Aquilla has no confirmed restaurant, grocery or gas station, so meals and errands mean a drive. And small-town hours change, so check before a special trip.
What you get instead: Friday-night six-man football, three free boat ramps, crappie on the lake and the Brazos a few miles south.
Verified September 2026. This is a curated list drawn from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Aquilla ISD athletics listings, church and city websites, store locators and the Lake Whitney and Hillsboro chambers of commerce. No restaurant, café, convenience store, gas station, bait shop or feed store was confirmed operating in Aquilla in 2025–2026; businesses listed under the Aquilla name on aggregator sites were found to be located elsewhere and are not shown. A small business may be operating that could not be confirmed online. Post office hours conflict between directories and should be confirmed on USPS.com. The community center’s address and rental terms were not confirmed. Church service times are from the church website. Lake information is from the Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District; the lake area is from the Texas Water Development Board. Fishing descriptions reflect angler reports. Hunting rules, zones and permits are set by the Corps and change each season. Businesses under “Just Outside” are located on FM 933, in Whitney or in Hillsboro, not in Aquilla. The H-E-B address in Hillsboro was not confirmed. Driving distances are estimates. Search results relating to other places named Aquilla were excluded; every item was verified as Aquilla, Texas. Businesses listed are for general local reference and are not endorsements; I receive no compensation from any business named. Bobby Franklin, REALTOR®, TREC #0805459, Legacy Realty Group – Leslie Majors Team.
From a Timber Camp to a Texas Central Rail Town to the Namesake of Aquilla Lake
Settlers came in the 1840s because this was the closest place to Hillsboro where timber could be found.
Settlers came in the 1840s because this was the closest place to Hillsboro where timber could be found, a scarce resource on the surrounding prairie.
The first settlement, near today’s town, was known as Mudtown. It grew up near Aquilla Creek, which rises near Parker in southern Johnson County and flows south about fifty miles through Hill County to the Brazos River in McLennan County.
Aquilla got its post office in 1859. The town and Aquilla Creek were probably named for early settler Aquilla Jones.
Aquilla got its post office in 1859, two decades before the railroad arrived. The Handbook of Texas says the town and Aquilla Creek were probably named for early settler Aquilla Jones.
Local tradition, recorded on the 1968 state marker, ties the name to the Spanish word for “eagle.” Both stories are still told, and the creek, the town and the lake all carry the name.
The Texas Central Railroad was built through southwestern Hill County a few miles from the settlement, and a new townsite was surveyed.
The Texas Central Railroad built 177 miles from Ross, near Waco, to Albany between 1879 and 1882, crossing southwestern Hill County a few miles from the old settlement. A new townsite was surveyed in 1879.
Businesses and families moved south to the tracks, and Aquilla became a main shipping point for the farms and ranches around it. By 1886 the town counted about 175 residents.
Illness traced to drinking creek water led residents to dig a town well for fresh water.
Illness traced to drinking creek water led residents to dig a town well for fresh water in 1897. Growth had been uneven; the Handbook of Texas records about 100 residents in 1892.
Water has shaped Aquilla ever since, from that well to Aquilla Lake, built on the same creek about three miles from town. The safer supply came as the town entered its busiest decades.
One of the first chartered state banks in Texas opened in Aquilla.
One of the first chartered state banks in Texas opened in Aquilla in 1905, during the years when the town was a main shipping point on the Texas Central.
The town also had a health spa in that era, listed on the state marker among the businesses of Aquilla’s peak years. By 1910 the population had passed 200, and the town was heading into its peak decade.
Aquilla had more than 500 residents, thirteen retail stores, three hotels, four churches, a school, a newspaper, a bank and a busy lumber company.
By 1914 Aquilla had more than 500 residents, thirteen retail stores, three hotels, four churches, a school, a newspaper, a bank and a busy lumber company.
The state marker calls 1910–1920 the peak, when ranchers, farmers and “drummers,” or traveling salesmen, filled the streets. The marker describes the town in 1968 as one where a sound farming economy still prevailed.
Rural schools folded into the Aquilla district. The Lebanon school joined Aquilla in 1945, as recorded on the Spivey Crossing state marker.
Rural schools folded into the Aquilla district over the years. The Lebanon school, near the Brazos, joined Aquilla in 1945, as recorded on the Spivey Crossing state marker.
Lebanon had grown up around a Methodist church organized in 1856, and after consolidation the community became known as Spivey Crossing, for an old wagon crossing on the Brazos. Today Aquilla ISD runs a single Pre-K–12 campus on North Richards.
The Katy, which had bought the Texas Central in 1910, received authority to abandon the line as traffic fell. The last Katy train on the line reached Waco on November 29, 1967.
The Katy bought the Texas Central in 1910 but let it operate under its own organization until 1914. As traffic fell, the Katy received authority to abandon the line, and the last train reached Waco on November 29, 1967.
Most of the track was taken up. By the late 1950s the town was already down to about 250 residents and ten businesses, with farming as its economic base.
The state placed the “Aquilla” historical marker that year.
The state placed the “Aquilla” historical marker in 1968, recording the 1879 townsite survey, the 1905 bank and the town’s peak years.
On August 13, 1968, the Flood Control Act of 1968 authorized Aquilla Lake as part of the Brazos River basin flood control program. The project called for an earthen dam on Aquilla Creek about three miles from town to hold floodwater and store a water supply.
The Texas Legislature created the Aquilla Water Supply District to deliver treated lake water to Hillsboro and the surrounding area.
The Texas Legislature created the Aquilla Water Supply District in 1977 to deliver treated lake water to Hillsboro and the surrounding area. It has supplied wholesale treated water since 1984.
Today the district, headquartered in Hillsboro, serves a 513-square-mile area of Hill County and its surroundings through five wholesale customers: the City of Hillsboro and the Brandon-Irene, Files Valley, Hill County and Chatt water supply corporations.
After years of construction, the Corps of Engineers began impounding Aquilla Lake on April 29, 1983, behind an earthen dam more than two miles long.
The Corps of Engineers began closing the dam in March 1982 and completed it in January 1983. Impoundment began on April 29, 1983, behind an earthen dam 11,890 feet long.
The lake was built for flood control, water supply and recreation, with a surface area of about 3,280 acres. Today it’s known for crappie and white bass, along with largemouth bass and catfish.
Aquilla is a small town between the lake and the Brazos, anchored by its school, its churches and its volunteer fire department.
Aquilla is a small town between the lake and the Brazos, anchored by its school, its churches and its volunteer fire department. The 2020 Census counted 101 residents.
The Cougars play six-man football, with more than a dozen playoff appearances. Voters approved a school bond in 2024, and ground was broken in April 2025 on seven new classrooms and a multipurpose space with a theater classroom and stage.
Compiled from the Texas State Historical Association Handbook of Texas, Texas Historical Commission markers, the Historical Marker Database, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District, the Texas Water Development Board, Texas statutes, the Aquilla Water Supply District, KXXV and MaxPreps. Where sources conflict both versions are noted rather than resolved. The name origin has two versions: the Handbook of Texas says the town was probably named for settler Aquilla Jones; the 1968 state marker ties Aquilla Creek’s name to the Spanish word for “eagle.” 1879 is the year the townsite was surveyed; the city’s incorporation date was not confirmed. The railroad was the Texas Central, acquired by the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) in 1910; the removal of track at Aquilla is inferred from the line-wide abandonment. Lake construction start and completion dates differ between the Corps of Engineers and the Texas Water Development Board; the April 29, 1983 impoundment date is consistent across sources. Other rural school consolidation dates were not confirmed. The school expansion was approved as Proposition A in 2024; its completion timing was not confirmed with the district. Playoff appearances are as credited by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. Search results relating to other places named Aquilla were excluded; every item was verified as Aquilla, Texas. Bobby Franklin, REALTOR®, TREC #0805459, Legacy Realty Group – Leslie Majors Team.
The Fire Department’s May Barbecue, Cougars Football on Friday Nights, and Hillsboro Festivals Next Door
The town’s biggest day, running for more than four decades: a brisket meal, car, tractor and motorcycle show, vendor fair, live and silent auctions and a street dance.
Proceeds support the Aquilla Volunteer Fire Department. Check the department’s Facebook page for the year’s details.
Fast, high-scoring six-man football at Cougar Stadium, with district play in October and playoff runs into November.
Homecoming royalty is crowned at halftime of the homecoming football game, and alumni come back to town. The week follows the football schedule.
A newer fire department fundraiser that has sold out before. Confirm the date with the VFD each fall.
Dove season opens in September, and deer and feral hog on Corps land around the lake are archery only. Permits and maps come from the Corps of Engineers.
The county’s youth livestock and creative arts show, ending with the Saturday Sale of Champions. Organizers date it to 1913.
A twice-a-year antiques trail through Hillsboro and neighboring towns.
A downtown festival with a churro contest, vendors and evening concerts on the courthouse square.
An outdoor art festival in historic Bond’s Alley, running for more than 60 years, with Starlight Bar Night the Friday before.
A hometown Independence Day parade through Hillsboro’s historic residential district.
A Czech heritage festival since 1976, with polka bands, kolaches and a big Saturday parade.
Vendors, kids’ activities and evening concerts on the courthouse square, with the Hill County Fossil & Mineral Expo alongside.
Local growers and makers on the courthouse square, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Aquilla’s calendar runs on the fire department’s May barbecue and Cougars football in the fall. Everything else is a short drive away.
What you will not find: a recurring fishing tournament on Aquilla Lake or a cemetery homecoming could not be confirmed as a yearly tradition.
For bigger events, Hillsboro is about 15 minutes east, and West and Whitney are each a little farther.
Timing shown is the usual pattern for each event; exact dates, times and locations change from year to year and should be confirmed with the Aquilla Volunteer Fire Department, Aquilla ISD or event organizers. Event patterns are drawn from The Lakelander, the Hillsboro Reporter, MaxPreps, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District hunting guide, Explore Hillsboro, the Hillsboro Chamber, Westfest, KWTX and Texas Through Time. The VFD BBQ Fundraiser was held for the 44th time in 2024 and the 46th time in 2026. The chili dinner is a newer event and its 2026 date was not confirmed. Homecoming timing follows the football schedule. Hunting seasons follow Texas Parks and Wildlife seasons for Hill County under Corps rules, and permits are sold through Recreation.gov; confirm current rules before hunting. Statements that an event could not be confirmed mean no reliable source was found, not that the event does not take place; local churches and cemetery associations may hold events not published online. Whitney’s Pioneer Days and the Hillsboro and Lake Whitney Christmas parades appear on a 2026 calendar but were not confirmed across multiple years and are not shown. The Hill County Fair’s 1913 origin is the organizer’s statement. Drive times are estimates. Events under “Just Outside” are held in Hillsboro or West, not in Aquilla. Search results relating to other places named Aquilla were excluded; every item was verified as Aquilla, Texas. Bobby Franklin, REALTOR®, TREC #0805459, Legacy Realty Group – Leslie Majors Team.
What to know about Aquilla schools:
The rating: Aquilla ISD earned an A (92) in 2025 and a B (89) in 2026. Review the full results at TXschools.gov.
The perk: About 45 students take dual credit or P-TECH courses, earning college credit before graduation.
Want the full breakdown? Read our complete Aquilla schools guide →
Aquilla ISD runs a single Pre-K–12 campus with about 320 students. It earned an A (92) in 2025, strong enough that the Texas Education Commissioner came to see it, and a B (89) in 2026. A bond-funded expansion is scheduled to open this fall.
404 N Richards · (254) 694-3770
Home of the Cougars, in orange and white. Aquilla ISD runs one school from Pre-K through 12th grade, a few blocks from the post office and First Baptist.
The district accepts transfer students through a Transfer Commitment Form; ask about any tuition.
Classes run about 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the 2026–27 year began in mid-August.
404 N Richards
A single campus for every grade. In fall 2025, more than 120 elementary and junior high students took part in UIL academic competition, and band and media clubs were starting up.
Approved May 2024
Voters approved a $12 million bond for seven new classrooms, a corridor, a multipurpose space with a theater classroom and stage, and new parking. Ground was broken in April 2025.
The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2026. Ask the district for the current status.
High school
Board reports in fall 2025 counted about 45 students in dual credit or P-TECH, earning college credit while still in high school.
The district also runs an agriculture program. Confirm the college partner and pathways with the district.
UIL 1A · Division I
The Cougars have made the six-man football playoffs 15 times. In 2024 they climbed to No. 7 in the state, and in 2025 they won a 63–59 playoff thriller over Milford.
The district also fields volleyball, basketball, cross country, baseball and softball, and games stream on the NFHS Network.
Hillsboro · Waco
Hill College in Hillsboro runs dual credit for area high schools. Aquilla ISD does not appear in the Hill College taxing district, which can affect tuition, so check by parcel.
Baylor, McLennan Community College and Texas State Technical College are in Waco, roughly 25 to 30 miles south.
507 W Spruce St, West
A Catholic school for Pre-K4 through eighth grade in West, the nearest private school to Aquilla.
Rural 76622 addresses
An Aquilla mailing address does not guarantee Aquilla ISD. Some 76622 tracts are in Abbott ISD, and lake-edge homes with Whitney addresses may be in Whitney ISD.
For context, 2026 district ratings: Abbott ISD A (94), Hillsboro ISD B (89), Whitney ISD C (78).
The district is set by the parcel. Check the Hill County Appraisal District record, then call the district.
In town, it’s simple: one district, one campus.
Out on the county roads, a 76622 address can sit in Abbott ISD, and lake-edge homes may be in Whitney ISD. That changes the school and the tax rate.
Check the Hill County Appraisal District record for the school district before you buy.
Aquilla ISD’s latest confirmed rate is about $1.11 per $100, including about $0.36 for bond debt. On a $250,000 homestead that’s about $2,780 before exemptions.
The $140,000 state school homestead exemption brings it to about $1,220. Owners 65 and over or disabled get another $60,000 and a freeze on their school tax.
Aquilla ISD earned an A (92) in 2025 and a B (89) in 2026, one point below an A. Several nearby districts also moved from an A to a B this year.
Ratings change year to year, so review the full results at TXschools.gov.
In September 2025, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath asked to visit Aquilla after hearing about its results, and toured the construction while he was there.
For a one-campus district, that is statewide attention worth knowing about.
Accountability ratings are intentionally not shown on the campus card. They change every year and are described above as district-level context only; use TXschools.gov for current ratings. Ratings referenced: Aquilla ISD A, score 92, in the 2025 ratings and B, score 89, in the 2026 ratings released 14 August 2026, as reported by KWTX and The Lakelander; Aquilla ISD’s 2024 rating was not confirmed. Neighboring district ratings are 2026 district-level ratings as reported by KWTX. Enrollment of about 320 to 335 is from NCES, U.S. News and HAR. The $12 million bond total is as reported by KWTX; the split and results of the separate propositions were not confirmed. Project scope is from the district as reported by KXXV. Completion timing and dual-credit enrollment are from summaries of board minutes and were not confirmed with the district. The commissioner’s visit on 24 September 2025 is as reported by KWTX and KXXV. Playoff appearances are as credited by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football; game results are from MaxPreps, SixManFootball.com and the Waco Tribune-Herald. No state championship is claimed. The transfer policy is from the district registration site; tuition was not confirmed. Hill College taxing district membership is inferred from the Hill County Appraisal District’s 2024 rate list, which does not mark Aquilla ISD as a member; confirm by parcel. The Aquilla ISD tax rate of 1.1107 per $100 (0.7552 maintenance and operations, 0.3555 debt service) is the 2024 adopted rate; 2025 and 2026 adopted rates were not confirmed; tax figures are illustrations, not quotes. The state school homestead exemption is $140,000, with an additional $60,000 for owners aged 65 or older or disabled. St. Mary’s Catholic School grades are as published by the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Austin. College distances are estimates. School district assignment in rural Hill County is determined by parcel. Search results relating to other places named Aquilla were excluded; every item was verified as Aquilla, Texas. School information is provided for general reference only and is not a recommendation regarding any school, district, neighborhood or property. Bobby Franklin, REALTOR®, TREC #0805459, Legacy Realty Group – Leslie Majors Team.
Median Sales Price
What Aquilla homes actually sold for each month. In a market this small, many months record no sales at all, so read the caution beside it before you draw any conclusion.
Aquilla is a very small market, and many months close zero or one home. One recent portal median was built on a single sale. That is sample size, not the market.
A townsite house, a lake-edge lot with a Whitney address and a Brazos River ranch can all land on this one line. The chart is not your comp. Your comps are Hill County sales that match your land, water and septic.
Texas is a non-disclosure state, so portal prices are models. This is MLS. Ask for the actual comparable sales, including acreage, water source, flood pool elevation and any ag valuation.
Days on market survives a tiny sample better than a median does, because it describes how buyers behaved rather than which house happened to sell.
The first two weeks bring the most traffic a listing will ever get. If they pass without an offer, that is pricing information. Acting in week three beats acting in week ten.
Rural homes and land often sit longer than suburban listings, and several Aquilla-area listings have shown price cuts. A listing that has waited a few months is usually where the negotiating room is.
Under 10 showings means buyers are deciding quickly. Rising counts mean people are walking through and walking away, which is a different problem from nobody looking at all.
This separates a pricing problem from a presentation problem. Plenty of showings and no offer usually means something specific is putting people off, and that is fixable without dropping the price.
High showings-to-pending means you can be selective without losing homes. Read it against days on market: low on both is a hot market, high on both means the leverage is yours.
This chart is the key to the other three. Aquilla may record only a handful of closings in a whole year. When the bars are that short, one unusual sale moves every other number on this page.
Low volume cuts both ways. Fewer buyers, but also very few competing listings. Your real competition is acreage around Hillsboro, Whitney and West, so price against that.
Expect thin inventory and patience. The right house may not be listed yet, and land makes up much of what comes up around town, so being pre-approved and ready matters.
Charts supplied by NTREIS via 10K Research and Marketing and update automatically. Data reflects residential activity reported to the MLS and may be revised as late-reported sales come in. Aquilla records very few closings; many months show no sales at all, which is not enough transactions for a monthly median to be statistically reliable. ZIP 76622 extends well beyond city limits, and listings may be filed under the city name Aquilla whether or not the property is inside the city; some lake-area homes carry Whitney addresses and may not appear here. These charts may include rural homes and acreage. These charts do not separate lot size, utilities, agricultural valuation, flood pool elevation, new construction or resale. Market statistics describe the area as a whole and are not a substitute for a comparative market analysis on a specific property. Texas is a non-disclosure state, so publicly available sale prices elsewhere are estimates rather than recorded figures. Search results relating to other places named Aquilla were excluded. Bobby Franklin, REALTOR®, TREC #0805459, Legacy Realty Group – Leslie Majors Team.
Pick a purchase year and the price fills in. If you own here, type over it with what you actually paid. This calculator runs on the Hill County index, because Aquilla sells only a handful of homes a year. The county is up about 139 percent since 2009, with most of that gain coming between 2020 and 2023.
Bought here? Tap the number and enter what you paid.
Federal house price index growth, indexed to the purchase year, where the purchase year equals 100.
The county index rose about 56 percent from 2020 to 2023, including a 20 percent jump in 2022. Since then it has grown about 2 to 3 percent a year, with 3.3 percent in 2025.
A 2009 buyer’s index value is up about 2.4 times; a 2023 buyer’s is up only about 6 percent so far.
It’s an illustrative figure, rounded from a 76622 median of about $249,000, with most homes listed between about $154,000 and $525,000.
One recent town sale closed under $200,000, while acreage and river listings push portal medians far higher. Type in what you paid.
The index is county-wide, built from repeat sales of mortgaged homes. It won’t capture raw land, acreage or all-cash ranch sales precisely.
With so few Aquilla sales, value any specific property from true comparables, not from this chart.
Hill County sits outside the Dallas–Fort Worth metro, so the 2026 FHA limit is the national floor, $541,287, and the conforming limit is $832,750.
Rural addresses may qualify for USDA zero-down loans; check each one on USDA’s map. Homesteads are capped at a 10 percent rise in taxable value a year.
Growth rates are the FHFA All-Transactions House Price Index, annual values 2009 through 2025: Hill County, Texas (FRED series ATNHPIUS48217A, base 2000 equals 100, last updated 31 March 2026), the State of Texas (TXSTHPI) and the United States (USSTHPI). State and national figures are annual averages of published quarters. The Hill County series recorded 138.20 in 2009, 143.07 in 2015, 198.54 in 2020, 272.87 in 2022, 311.65 in 2023, 319.23 in 2024 and 329.65 in 2025: a rise of about 139 percent since 2009 and about 3.3 percent in 2025. FHFA describes county indices as developmental and subject to revision; an earlier vintage showed a different 2024 value. The county series is used because Aquilla’s sales volume is too small for a city-level index. The prefilled dollar figures are derived and illustrative, not published: they apply the Hill County index to a $250,000 anchor rounded from a RealtyTrac median of about $249,000 for ZIP 76622 (undated; range about $154,000 to $525,000). A Redfin median of about $179,000 reflected a single sale, and a Movoto median list price of about $599,000 (December 2025) is dominated by acreage and riverfront listings; neither was used. Zillow and Redfin prices for the same listings conflicted. The index is built from conforming loans and excludes jumbo lending and all-cash purchases. The 2026 FHA one-unit limit of $541,287 is HUD’s national floor, and lender tables show Hill County at the floor; the 2026 conforming limit is $832,750 (FHFA). USDA eligibility is determined by address and household income and was not confirmed for Aquilla. Equity figures assume a 30-year fixed mortgage at that year’s Freddie Mac annual average rate (2025 approximately 6.60 percent), held to today, with no refinancing, no extra principal and no additional borrowing. They exclude closing costs, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, improvements and selling costs. The homestead appraisal cap limits increases in a homestead’s taxable appraised value to 10 percent a year and ends on sale. The state school homestead exemption is $140,000, with an additional $60,000 for owners aged 65 or older or disabled; confirm exemptions and rates with the Hill County Appraisal District. Search results relating to other places named Aquilla were excluded; every figure was verified as Aquilla or Hill County, Texas. This is an illustration for general reference, not an appraisal, a comparative market analysis, a valuation or investment advice. Past appreciation does not predict future appreciation. Bobby Franklin, REALTOR®, TREC #0805459, Legacy Realty Group – Leslie Majors Team.
Aquilla sits on FM 933, about 12 miles southwest of Hillsboro, between Aquilla Lake and the Brazos River. It leans toward Waco, about 35 minutes away, with public boat ramps, archery hunting on Corps land and acreage in every direction.
Estimated Off-Peak Drive Time from Downtown Aquilla
Around Central Texas and Beyond
Estimated minutes off-peak from North Richards and Treadwell. These are estimates, not live-map figures, so check a live map before relying on any of them.
The Corps keeps two public boat ramps at Aquilla Lake, known for crappie and white bass, plus fishing access below the dam.
South of town, Spivey Crossing offers about 750 feet of Brazos River bank for fishing and paddling, and the lake permit opens about 18,000 acres of public hunting land.
Hill County allows ag valuation on more than 5 acres in agricultural use, and most homes here sit on land.
Aquilla was in the path of the April 2024 total solar eclipse, and a Hill College science team observed it from town.
FM 933 is the spine: north to Hillsboro and Whitney, south toward Waco. I-35 is reached at Hillsboro, where it splits toward Dallas and Fort Worth.
Blue Transit offers weekday demand-response rides, $1 in the county and $2 to Waco, booked at 254-292-1873.
No grocery store or gas station was found in town. The nearest ER is Hill Regional Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital in Hillsboro; full-service hospitals are in Waco.
Expect septic, co-op electric and a small water system. Fiber reaches only about 2 percent of locations, so most homes rely on DSL, fixed wireless or satellite.
Outside city limits, Hill County has no zoning and no building permits beyond septic, so neighbors’ land can change.
A proposed 1,235-megawatt data center in the area led to a county moratorium, a lawsuit and a new review checklist in 2026. Its future hasn’t been reported.
Drive times are estimates from North Richards and Treadwell along typical routes; they were not drawn from a mapping or live traffic source and should be checked against a live map before you rely on them. The Handbook of Texas places Aquilla on FM 933, 12 miles southwest of Hillsboro; other distances are estimates. Boat ramp, fishing and hunting information is from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District, Texas Parks and Wildlife and Recreation.gov; Spivey Crossing is a Texas Parks and Wildlife leased access site, and its lease term should be confirmed. Ag valuation minimums are from the Hill County Appraisal District’s 2024 guidelines. The eclipse observation is as reported by The Lakelander. Blue Transit fares and service are from the Heart of Texas Council of Governments. Hill Regional Hospital’s designation is as described by the hospital. Broadband figures are third-party summaries of FCC Broadband Data Collection data and disagree with one another; check a specific address on the FCC National Broadband Map. Cell coverage was not confirmed. The data center description is from KWTX, KERA and The Lakelander; Hill County adopted a moratorium on 12 May 2026, rescinded it on 4 June 2026, and the developer dismissed its lawsuit on 9 July 2026. The county’s zoning and permit position is as stated in court filings reported by KWTX. No crime, fire rating or flood zone claims are made; flood risk is parcel-specific. Search results relating to other places named Aquilla were excluded; every item was verified as Aquilla, Texas. This information is provided for general reference and is not a representation about any specific property, commute or future development outcome. Bobby Franklin, REALTOR®, TREC #0805459, Legacy Realty Group – Leslie Majors Team.
Aquilla keeps a City Hall, a post office, a small water system and a volunteer fire department within a few blocks of Treadwell. Law enforcement, taxes, septic permits and deeds run through Hill County in Hillsboro, and the lake belongs to the Corps of Engineers. Start with the green first-week cards; county offices are in blue, and anything outside town is in purple.
Council meets the second Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., and City Hall posts agendas on cityofaquilla.com and rents out the community center for gatherings. Office hours, trash service and local ordinances are best handled with a phone call, so call before you drive over.
(254) 694-5985 201 E Treadwell · PO Box 190 · call for office hoursThe Aquilla area is in HILCO’s certified territory, so members can’t shop retail providers. The co-op answers around the clock. Confirm HILCO serves the exact address before you set up service.
254-687-2331 Headquarters in ItascaOne, the water provider: the local corporation, a rural WSC or a well. Two, septic feasibility for the lot. Three, HILCO service and internet at the exact address. Four, the lake’s 556-foot flood pool, any Corps flowage easement and the FEMA map. Five, the school district on the appraisal record.
About twenty minutesThe appraisal district (hillcad.org) handles values, homestead and ag exemptions and protests. Filing a homestead exemption is free. The tax assessor-collector (hilltax.org) collects school and county taxes and handles vehicle registration.
CAD 254-582-2508 · Tax office 254-582-4000 CAD: 1407 Abbott Ave, Hillsboro · Tax office: 126 S Covington St, HillsboroThe small local water system, with about 110 member users. Ask about membership, tap fees and wait times before you close. Its most recent state compliance record showed it meeting federal health-based standards.
(254) 694-5707 207 E Patton StThe Aquilla Water Supply District is a wholesaler: it treats lake water and sells it to Hillsboro and to Brandon-Irene, Files Valley, Hill County and Chatt water supply corporations. A rural parcel may be on one of those corporations or a private well. Get the provider for the exact address.
District (254) 582-8947 District: 144 FM 1947, HillsboroNo city sewer was found, so since January 2026 septic permits go through Hill County Development Services, not the Sheriff’s Office, about $325 for a standard system and $475 for a non-standard one. A $100 development permit gets a rural 911 address, after the driveway is staked, and a new well gets registered with the Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District.
County 254-337-1210 · 911 & septic 254-283-6846 · GCD 817-556-2299 Development permits: 218 N Waco St, HillsboroMany homes use propane. If you ever smell gas, leave first, then call 911. Ask City Hall who hauls trash in town; rural owners usually contract their own. Fiber reaches only about 2 percent of locations. Check any address on the FCC broadband map before you count on working from home.
Call 811 before you dig Varies by streetNo city police department was found for Aquilla, so county deputies from Hillsboro answer calls in and around town. For anything urgent, call 911; the non-emergency line reaches the Sheriff’s Office.
254-582-5313 406 Hall St, HillsboroA volunteer department funded in part by Hill County ESD #1. Ambulance service comes through Hill County ESD #2 with CareFlite. In July 2026, ESD #2 approved buying land in the Aquilla area for a future ambulance station. Always call 911 rather than a station number.
Emergencies: 911 201 E Treadwell · [email protected]The nearest ER is Hill Regional Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital with a 24-hour emergency room, about 12 miles away. Full-service hospitals are in Waco, including Baylor Scott & White–Hillcrest (254-202-2000).
Hill Regional 254-580-8500 · Poison Control 1-800-222-1222 Hill Regional: 101 Circle Dr, HillsboroListed retail hours are short and mostly mornings, and directories disagree. Confirm the hours on the USPS locator before you plan around a package pickup.
(254) 694-2945 200 E TreadwellThe Corps runs Aquilla Lake: boat ramps, shoreline rules and hunting zones. The office doesn’t accept cash, and hunting permits are sold on Recreation.gov. Spivey Crossing is a Texas Parks and Wildlife leased Brazos River access site; confirm the lease is current before you go.
Lake office (254) 622-3332 Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District · Spivey: 151 FM 1304Deeds, plats, easements and liens are recorded here. Pull any Corps flowage easement and deed restrictions before you close on land near the lake. Most searches can start online, but older records may need a trip to Hillsboro.
254-582-4030 80 N Waco St, HillsboroOne Pre-K–12 campus in town. Some 76622 addresses fall in Abbott or Whitney ISD, so confirm by address. Aquilla ISD doesn’t appear in the Hill College taxing district, which can affect tuition. Check a specific parcel.
Aquilla ISD (254) 694-3770 · Hill College 254-659-7500 404 N Richards · Hill College, 112 Lamar Dr, HillsboroThe county extension office helps with soil testing, pasture and hay questions, and livestock basics. It’s a good first call before buying acreage, especially if you plan to keep the ag valuation.
254-582-4022 213 Stadium Dr, HillsboroWeekday demand-response rides open to the public: $1 within Hill County and $2 to another county, including Waco. Book ahead; there’s no fixed-route bus.
254-292-1873 Heart of Texas rural transportationVerified September 2026 against the City of Aquilla website, the Aquilla Water Supply District, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District, Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Hill County Appraisal District, the Hill County Tax Assessor-Collector, Hill County offices, Hill County ESD No. 1, HILCO Electric Cooperative and the Heart of Texas Council of Governments. Phone numbers, addresses, hours, fees and providers change; confirm anything you intend to rely on. City Hall office hours, the trash hauler and pickup day, utility deposits, local ordinances, animal control and municipal court were not confirmed. The Aquilla Water Supply Corporation phone number is from a business directory; its member count is from GuideStar, and its compliance record is from EWG’s summary of state data. Tap fees and wait times were not confirmed. Hill County Development Services took over septic (OSSF) permitting from the Sheriff’s Environmental Compliance Unit on 1 January 2026; older county forms listing the Sheriff’s unit are out of date. Septic fees are from earlier county forms and should be confirmed. Development permit, 911 addressing and groundwater district details are from Hill County and Prairielands GCD. Council meeting schedule is from the Texas Municipal League directory. Electric service by address was not confirmed. Broadband figures are third-party summaries of FCC data. Post office hours conflict between directories. The Spivey Crossing lease term appeared differently in two versions of the Texas Parks and Wildlife page. The ESD No. 2 land purchase is as reported by The Lakelander. Hill College district membership is inferred from the appraisal district’s 2024 rate list. Which justice of the peace, commissioner and emergency services district precincts cover a given address was not confirmed. No library or food pantry in Aquilla was confirmed. Drive distances are estimates. Search results relating to other places named Aquilla were excluded; every listing was verified as serving Aquilla, Texas. Listings are for general local reference and are not endorsements; I receive no compensation from any organization named. Bobby Franklin, REALTOR®, TREC #0805459, Legacy Realty Group – Leslie Majors Team.
Answered with verified specifics, from the lake’s flood pool and the two water systems to septic permits, archery hunting and the data center fight.
Locals say uh-KWIL-uh, with the stress on the middle syllable. The Handbook of Texas says the town and Aquilla Creek were probably named for early settler Aquilla Jones, and the lake later took the same name.
A second story comes from the 1968 state historical marker, which ties the creek’s name to the Spanish word for “eagle.” Spanish spells that word águila, so treat the eagle version as local tradition. Both stories are still told.
The name is older than the town you see today. Aquilla got its post office in 1859, near a first settlement known as Mudtown. When the Texas Central Railroad came through in 1879, a new townsite was surveyed and businesses and families moved south to the tracks.
Yes, it’s the same lake. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers calls it Aquilla Lake, you’ll also see Lake Aquilla in listings, and state fishing surveys call it Aquilla Reservoir.
It covers about 3,000 acres on Aquilla and Hackberry creeks, behind an earthen dam more than two miles long. The Flood Control Act of 1968 authorized it, and the Corps began impounding water on April 29, 1983. It was built for flood control, water supply and recreation.
For buyers, what matters more than the name is who runs it. The Corps’ Fort Worth District manages the shoreline, boat ramps and hunting zones, and the Corps land around the lake stays open and unbuilt. Anglers know it for crappie and white bass. The lake office is (254) 622-3332.
You can’t camp there: there are no campgrounds on Aquilla Lake. The Corps points campers to Whitney Lake to the north, which has the nearest Corps campgrounds.
Swimming rules and whether private docks are allowed on Aquilla Lake weren’t confirmed. Corps lakes typically limit private shoreline structures, and the land around this lake is Corps-managed, so don’t assume a lot near the water comes with a dock or water access. Call the lake office at (254) 622-3332 before you count on either.
What you can count on is day use: Corps-maintained boat ramps, including Dairy Hill and Old School, and fishing access with picnic tables below the dam. The lake office doesn’t accept cash for fees. If shoreline access drives your purchase, get the Corps’ answer before you make an offer.
It means land well above today’s shoreline can end up under water in a major flood. The lake normally sits at 537.5 feet above sea level, but the Corps can store floodwater up to 556 feet, and at flood pool the lake roughly doubles in size.
Near Corps land, find out where the lot sits relative to that 556-foot line. Check the elevation, look for a government flowage easement in the title work and review the FEMA map. Easements, plats and deed restrictions are recorded with the Hill County Clerk at 80 N Waco St in Hillsboro, 254-582-4030.
Flood risk is parcel-specific, so order a floodplain determination rather than relying on a listing description. The view and the risk come together here. Ask for comparable sales that note flood pool elevation.
It depends on the parcel. In town, the Aquilla Water Supply Corporation at 207 E Patton St, (254) 694-5707, is the small local retail system, with about 110 member users. Its most recent state compliance record showed it meeting federal health-based standards.
The Aquilla Water Supply District at 144 FM 1947 in Hillsboro, (254) 582-8947, is a wholesaler. Created by the Legislature in 1977, it treats lake water and sells it to Hillsboro and to the Brandon-Irene, Files Valley, Hill County and Chatt water supply corporations.
Rural parcels may be on one of those corporations, city water or a private well. Get the provider for the exact address, and ask about membership, tap fees and wait times before you close. A new well gets registered with the Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District.
No city sewer was found, so plan on septic for any home or homesite. Since January 1, 2026, permits go through Hill County Development Services at 218 N Waco St in Hillsboro, which took over from the Sheriff’s Office. Older county forms that list the Sheriff’s unit are out of date.
Fees from earlier county forms run about $325 for a standard system and $475 for a non-standard one, so confirm current amounts at 254-283-6846. Expect a soil evaluation first.
Some systems need a maintenance contract, which must be signed within 30 days after a sale. On a small lot, get septic feasibility on the calendar early, before it turns into a problem. A $100 county development permit also gets you a rural 911 address once the driveway is staked.
Generally no. The Aquilla area is in HILCO Electric Cooperative’s certified territory, and co-op members don’t shop retail electric providers. You join the co-op and buy power from it.
HILCO is headquartered in Itasca and answers around the clock at 254-687-2331. Electric service by address wasn’t confirmed, so check that HILCO serves the exact parcel on the Public Utility Commission’s maps before you set up service or close on land that needs a new connection.
Don’t assume natural gas out here: many rural homes use propane. Call 811 before you dig, and if you ever smell gas, leave first, then call 911. On raw land, ask early what it will take to bring power to the building site, and budget for it before you make an offer.
Expect DSL, fixed wireless or satellite at most addresses. Fiber reaches only about 2 percent of locations around Aquilla, so a fiber connection is the exception, not the plan.
Most homes can get DSL or fixed wireless, and some fixed-wireless plans reach up to 500 Mbps. Satellite covers everything. These figures come from third-party summaries of FCC data that disagree with one another, and cell coverage wasn’t confirmed.
If you work from home, check the exact address on the FCC National Broadband Map before you write an offer, and ask the seller what service they use today. Treat internet as one of the five pre-offer checks here, alongside water, septic, the flood pool line and the school district on the appraisal record.
A developer proposed “Project Aquila,” a 1,235-megawatt data center on more than 800 acres in unincorporated Hill County. Despite the name, its exact site hasn’t been disclosed.
Hill County adopted a moratorium on May 12, 2026, and the developer answered with a federal lawsuit. The county rescinded the moratorium on June 4 and the same day adopted a new review checklist for major projects. The developer dismissed its lawsuit on July 9, 2026.
The project’s status since then hasn’t been reported, including whether it will be built. The episode shows what no zoning outside city limits means in practice: large projects can surface with little warning. If you’re buying acreage, I watch commissioners court agendas for every tract I show.
Since the county adopted it on June 4, 2026, major projects such as data centers, large batteries and power plants must post signs and notify residents and news outlets.
They must also share projections for water use, traffic, noise and economic impact. The checklist came out of the Project Aquila fight: the county rescinded its data center moratorium the same day it adopted this review process.
It’s a disclosure rule, not zoning. Outside city limits, Hill County still has no zoning and no building permits beyond septic, so the checklist gives neighbors notice and information rather than creating land-use districts.
For buyers, that means two habits. Watch for posted signs on the roads around a tract you’re considering, and check commissioners court agendas before you buy, not after.
Generally no. Hill County has stated in court filings that it has no zoning, no building permit and no certificate of occupancy outside cities, except septic permits.
You still have county steps. Septic goes through Hill County Development Services at 218 N Waco St in Hillsboro, and a $100 development permit gets a rural 911 address once the driveway is staked. A new well gets registered with the Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District, 817-556-2299.
That’s freedom to build, and limited say over what a neighbor builds. Deed restrictions can still apply, as in gated, deed-restricted Riverside Acres, so pull them from the Hill County Clerk before you close. Inside Aquilla’s city limits, call City Hall at (254) 694-5985 about local ordinances.
Yes, with a permit. The Whitney and Aquilla Lakes hunting permit, sold on Recreation.gov, opens about 18,000 acres of Corps land. Permits aren’t refundable, and hunters must carry proof.
Deer and feral hog are archery only, and shotguns are allowed for other game in season. Dove season opens in September, and there’s a spring turkey season. Seasons follow Texas Parks and Wildlife seasons for Hill County under Corps rules.
The land is split into hunting zones, each with a 600-foot buffer from parks and homes. Use the current Fort Worth District hunting guide and maps, since rules and zones change each season, and confirm with the lake office at (254) 622-3332 before opening day.
Your main options are the Corps-maintained Dairy Hill and Old School boat ramps on Aquilla Lake, an estimated 10 minutes from town. Dairy Hill is on the east shore near the FM 1947 bridge, and some lake-edge lots off HCR 2119, 2126 and 2127 sit a short drive from Old School.
Some sources also list a free ramp at Hackberry Creek, so confirm it’s open with the lake office at (254) 622-3332. There’s fishing access with picnic tables at the outlet below the dam, and a Corps brush pile across from Dairy Hill.
The ramps are listed as free, but the lake office doesn’t accept cash for fees. For the Brazos, Spivey Crossing at 151 FM 1304 allows non-motorized launching only.
Spivey Crossing is a Texas Parks and Wildlife leased access site at 151 FM 1304, south of town, with about 750 feet of Brazos River bank. It’s open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Access costs $1 per adult per day, and kids under 12 are free. It’s bank fishing and non-motorized launching only, and paddlers use it as a take-out. Check TPWD’s access rules before you go.
The lease term appeared differently in two versions of the TPWD page, so confirm the lease is current before a trip. If you want Brazos frontage of your own, river tracts south and west of town sit in the Brazos floodplain, so order a floodplain determination on any tract.
Call 911 for any emergency. No city police department was found, so Hill County Sheriff’s deputies from Hillsboro answer law enforcement calls in and around town. The Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line is 254-582-5313.
Fire response comes from the Aquilla Volunteer Fire Department at 201 E Treadwell, funded in part by Hill County ESD #1. The department’s May barbecue, held for the 46th time in 2026, helps fund it. Ambulance service comes through Hill County ESD #2, with CareFlite.
In July 2026, ESD #2 approved buying about 9.8 acres in the Aquilla area for a future ambulance station. Which ESD precincts cover a given address wasn’t confirmed, so ask before you buy rural land. Always call 911 rather than a station number.
Hill Regional Hospital at 101 Circle Dr in Hillsboro is the nearest ER, about 12 miles away and an estimated 18 minutes off-peak. It’s a 25-bed critical access hospital with a 24-hour emergency room; the main number is 254-580-8500.
For full-service care, hospitals are in Waco, about 35 to 40 minutes south. Baylor Scott & White–Hillcrest is an estimated 38 minutes off-peak, at 254-202-2000.
Drive times are estimates, so check a live map. In an emergency, call 911: ambulance service runs through Hill County ESD #2 with CareFlite, and ESD #2 has approved buying land in the Aquilla area for a future ambulance station. Keep Poison Control, 1-800-222-1222, on your list too.
Yes. Aquilla ISD accepts transfer students through a Transfer Commitment Form submitted with registration. Tuition wasn’t confirmed, so ask the district at 404 N Richards, (254) 694-3770.
It’s a single Pre-K–12 campus with about 320 students. Classes run about 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the 2026–27 year began in mid-August. A $12 million bond approved in 2024 adds seven classrooms and a theater classroom and stage, scheduled for completion in fall 2026.
At the district level, Aquilla ISD earned an A (92) in 2025 and a B (89) in 2026, one point below an A. Ratings change yearly, so review TXschools.gov. If you’re buying, note that some 76622 addresses fall in Abbott or Whitney ISD, so confirm by parcel.
It appears not. The Hill County Appraisal District’s 2024 rate list marks neighboring districts as Hill College members, but not Aquilla ISD. That’s an inference from the rate list, not a confirmed ruling.
It matters because being outside the college’s taxing district can affect tuition at Hill College in Hillsboro, about 12 miles away. It also affects which taxing units appear on your bill, so build your escrow on every taxing unit on the parcel.
Check a specific parcel with the Hill County Appraisal District, 254-582-2508, or the tax office at 126 S Covington St, 254-582-4000, then call Hill College at 254-659-7500 about tuition. High schoolers can still earn college credit: about 45 Aquilla students were in dual credit or P-TECH.
Yes. Aquilla was in the path of the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse, and a Hill College science team observed it from town.
The team took part in the Citizen CATE project, and its work was published in the journal Solar Physics, as reported by The Lakelander. For a town that covers only about a third of a square mile, that’s a notable place in the scientific record.
The eclipse adds to a long local story. Aquilla got its post office in 1859, became a Texas Central Railroad shipping point after 1879, and peaked around 1910 to 1920 with more than 500 residents, three hotels and a bank. Its name later went to Aquilla Lake, which began filling in 1983.
There’s no fixed-route bus, but Blue Transit, the Heart of Texas rural transportation service, runs weekday demand-response rides open to the public.
Fares are $1 within Hill County and $2 to another county, including Waco. Book ahead at 254-292-1873; you call to schedule a ride rather than wait at a stop.
For most daily errands, plan on driving. FM 933 is the spine, north to Hillsboro and Whitney and south toward Waco, and I-35 is reached at Hillsboro. Estimated off-peak drives from town: Hillsboro 18 minutes, Waco Regional Airport 30, downtown Waco 35 and DFW Airport about 95. Check a live map before relying on any of them.
Answers were verified as of September 2026 from the Handbook of Texas, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Recreation.gov, the Aquilla Water Supply District, Hill County, the Hill County Appraisal District, HILCO Electric Cooperative, Hill County ESD No. 1, The Lakelander, KWTX, KERA and the Heart of Texas Council of Governments. Rates, fees, providers and rules change; verify anything you intend to rely on. The pronunciation reflects local usage; the name origin is as given by the Handbook of Texas, with the 1968 state marker’s version noted as tradition. Swimming rules and whether private docks are permitted at Aquilla Lake were not confirmed. The Aquilla Water Supply Corporation member count is from GuideStar. Septic permit fees are from the Hill County OSSF permit application package (2018) and should be confirmed. Broadband figures are third-party summaries of FCC data. The data center description and timeline are from KWTX, KERA and The Lakelander; the project’s status after July 2026 was not reported. The county’s permit position is as stated in court filings reported by KWTX. The Spivey Crossing lease term appeared differently in two versions of the Texas Parks and Wildlife page and should be confirmed. The ESD No. 2 land purchase is as reported by The Lakelander. Hill College district membership is inferred from the appraisal district’s 2024 rate list. School ratings are district-level. Drive times are estimates. Flood risk and USDA eligibility are address-specific. Search results relating to other places named Aquilla were excluded; every item was verified as Aquilla, Texas. This is general information, not legal, tax, lending, insurance, environmental or engineering advice. Bobby Franklin, REALTOR®, TREC #0805459, Legacy Realty Group – Leslie Majors Team.
Aquilla is a small town between Aquilla Lake and the Brazos, about an hour south of my Waxahachie office, where most of what sells is land: lake-edge lots, river tracts, barndominiums and ranch acreage. Buying here is about water, septic, the flood pool and what could be built next door. I sort out the details that matter here, and the awkward parts are named.
Two entities share the name. The water supply corporation serves town with about 110 members; the water supply district is a wholesaler. Out of town you may be on another WSC or a well. I confirm the provider, tap fee and wait time before we write an offer.
Aquilla Lake normally sits at 537.5 feet, but the Corps can store floodwater up to 556 feet. Near Corps land, I check the lot’s elevation, any flowage easement in the title and the FEMA map, because the view and the risk come together.
No city sewer was found, so every homesite needs a septic system permitted through the Sheriff’s Office Environmental Compliance Unit, with a soil evaluation first. I get septic feasibility on the calendar early, before a small lot turns into a problem.
Outside city limits, Hill County has no zoning and no building permits beyond septic. That freedom is why a proposed 1,235-megawatt data center could surface here in 2026. I watch commissioners court and the county’s new big-project checklist for every tract I show.
The regional median for rural land sales hit a record $8,040 an acre in spring 2026, while Aquilla-area asking prices run about $8,700 to $16,000 an acre. I price against closed sales, and I estimate any ag valuation rollback before you build.
Aquilla rewards honesty. There is no grocery store or gas station in town, the nearest ER is a small hospital in Hillsboro, and fiber internet is rare. If you need Dallas or Fort Worth every day, the drive is long. If any of that is a dealbreaker, you will hear it from me first.
Confirm the water provider, or plan for a well. Second, confirm septic feasibility for the lot. Third, check internet at the exact address. Fourth, find the 556-foot flood pool line and any Corps easement. And fifth, confirm the school district on the appraisal record, since some Aquilla addresses are in Abbott or Whitney ISD.
Three Aquilla-specific things to raise with all four. Hill County sits outside the Dallas–Fort Worth metro, so the 2026 FHA limit here is the national floor, $541,287. Ask about USDA and check eligibility by address. For raw land, compare a Farm Credit loan, and for a manufactured home on land, ask early how the home must be titled to finance it. And build your escrow on every taxing unit on the parcel. I recommend these lenders based on their expertise and service. I do not receive compensation for referrals.
Either is fine. I answer my own phone, and you will never be routed to a call center or handed to a junior agent. Send me an address and I will tell you who supplies the water, whether septic will work, where the flood pool line sits, and what the tax bill looks like.
Bobby Franklin, REALTOR® · Legacy Realty Group – Leslie Majors Team · 214-228-0003 · northtexasmarketinsider.com
Information on this page is provided for general reference and is not legal, tax, insurance, environmental or lending advice. Water: the Aquilla Water Supply Corporation member count is from GuideStar; the Aquilla Water Supply District’s wholesale role and customers are from its website. Lake elevations are from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas Water Development Board; whether a specific parcel is subject to a flowage easement must be confirmed in title work. No city sewer system was confirmed; septic permitting is as described in Hill County’s OSSF permit application package. The county’s zoning and permit position is as stated in court filings reported by KWTX; the data center description is from KWTX, KERA and The Lakelander, and the project’s status after the developer dismissed its lawsuit on 9 July 2026 was not reported. Hill County’s major-development checklist was adopted on 4 June 2026. Land figures are the Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center’s Region 7 median for the second quarter of 2026 and 2026 asking prices from listing sites; asking prices are not sales. Ag valuation rollback terms reflect Texas law since 2019. The latest confirmed Aquilla ISD tax rate is the 2024 rate of 1.1107 per $100; 2025 and 2026 adopted rates and whether the City of Aquilla levies a property tax were not confirmed. Broadband figures are third-party summaries of FCC data. Hill Regional Hospital’s designation is as described by the hospital. The FHA limit of $541,287 is as published by mortgage lenders and should be confirmed with HUD. USDA eligibility is determined by address and household income. Manufactured home titling requirements are set by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Farm Credit lenders are mentioned for reference, not as endorsements. Flood risk is parcel-specific; order a floodplain determination. School information is not a recommendation regarding any school, district, neighborhood or property. Drive times and distances are estimates. Search results relating to other places named Aquilla were excluded; every figure was verified as Aquilla or Hill County, Texas. All real estate services are provided through Legacy Realty Group. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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16 Northgate Dr. Ste 100
Waxahachie, TX 75165
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