I get this question a lot from people moving to Temple, TX:
Should I look in South Temple or West Temple?
So I hopped in the car, on one of our infamous 107-degree Central Texas days no less, and drove through both sides of town to break down what actually makes them different. Because South Temple and West Temple can offer very different versions of living in Temple. One tends to put you closer to the medical district, established neighborhoods, and the South 31st corridor. The other has seen a lot of newer growth, subdivisions, restaurants, and development pushing toward Belton and Belton Lake. Neither one is automatically better. It really comes down to where you work, what kind of home you want, and what you want your everyday life to look like.
South Temple: Location and Everyday Convenience
One of South Temple’s biggest advantages is location. South 31st Street is one of the major corridors through this part of Temple, putting you close to grocery stores, shopping, restaurants, medical facilities, and other everyday needs. You’ve got H-E-B and Walmart along the corridor, along with convenient access to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple and McLane Children’s Medical Center. For buyers working in healthcare, that can make South Temple especially worth considering. I also work with medical residents and other healthcare professionals relocating to Temple, and commute time to Baylor Scott & White is often one of the first things we talk about. If that’s you, I always recommend looking at the actual drive from a property instead of assuming every Temple address gives you the same commute.
What Are the Neighborhoods Like in South Temple?
South Temple generally gives you more of that established-neighborhood feel. For example, the Stonegate subdivision around Sarah’s Way has homes built in the 2000s while still sitting close to the South 31st corridor. As you move through South Temple, you’ll also find older and more established neighborhoods, mature trees, traditional residential streets, and homes from a wider range of ages. That can appeal to buyers who aren’t necessarily looking for a brand-new subdivision. You may care more about an established lot, mature landscaping, proximity to the hospital, or simply being closer to the center of Temple. That’s where South Temple can make a lot of sense.
South Temple and the Medical District
Temple is a major healthcare city, and South Temple puts you close to a big part of that. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple is located directly on South 31st Street, and Temple’s broader medical district is one of the biggest reasons I see buyers pay close attention to this side of town. That doesn’t mean you have to work in healthcare for South Temple to make sense. It simply means that if being close to the hospital, medical offices, shopping, and established parts of Temple matters to you, location becomes a strong selling point.
West Temple: Newer Growth and More Development
West Temple feels different. This side of town has seen substantial growth over the years, with newer subdivisions and residential development extending farther west. That means buyers looking for newer construction in Temple often end up spending a lot of time over here. You’ll still find established homes in West Temple, so I don’t want to make it sound like everything west of town was built yesterday. But as you move farther west along corridors like West Adams, you start seeing more of Temple’s newer growth. That can mean newer homes, newer neighborhoods, and a different overall feel from some of the more established parts of South Temple.
Shopping and Restaurants in West Temple
West Temple has also developed a pretty strong collection of restaurants and everyday conveniences. You’ll find local spots like La Riv Kitchen & Bar and Big Chew Chew’s Burgers and Shakes, along with familiar chains and plenty of shopping along the West Adams corridor. Both local restaurants are currently located on West Adams in West Temple. So if having restaurants, newer retail, and other conveniences close by is high on your list, West Temple gives you quite a bit to work with. And yes, I corrected the name here.
It’s Big Chew Chew’s, not “Big Choo Choos.” 😂
West Temple Puts You Closer to Belton and the Lake
Another advantage of West Temple is where it puts you geographically. As you move west, you’re heading toward Belton and the Lake Belton area. If you spend a lot of time in Belton, want easier access toward the lake, or simply like being on that side of Bell County, West Temple may fit your routine better. Temple Lake Park, for example, is accessed from FM 2305 on the east side of Belton Lake. Again, I wouldn’t choose a house based on a map alone. Drive it. See what the trip to work looks like. See how long it takes to get to the places you actually use. Those little things matter a lot more once you live somewhere every day.
One Thing Temple Buyers Should Know About the 2024 Tornado
If you’re buying a home in either part of Temple, the May 2024 tornado is worth knowing about. An EF2 tornado moved through the west side of Temple, damaging homes and infrastructure, while severe straight-line winds also caused damage elsewhere across the city. I was actually with my mom in South Temple during the storm, and it was genuinely one of the wildest things I’ve experienced living here. Why does that matter when you’re buying a house now? Because as you tour homes, you may come across properties that had roof, window, fence, or other storm-related repairs around that time. That isn’t automatically a bad thing.
It just gives us another question to ask:
What happened to this particular home, and what work was done afterward?
That’s much more useful than assuming every house in an area had the same experience.
What About Traffic?
There are two roads that come up constantly when you live in these parts of Temple:
West Adams Avenue and South 31st Street.
Both are heavily used corridors, and traffic can feel very different depending on the time of day. My advice is the same thing I tell buyers when we’re talking about commute times anywhere in Central Texas:
Drive it when you would actually be driving it.
If you leave for work at 7:30 in the morning, don’t test the route at 1:00 on a Sunday afternoon and assume that’s your commute. The same thing applies when you’re deciding between South and West Temple. Convenience on a map and convenience in real life are not always the same thing.
South Temple vs. West Temple: Which One Fits You?
Here’s how I generally think about the two.
South Temple might fit you if:
- Being close to Baylor Scott & White and the medical district matters
- You prefer established neighborhoods
- Mature trees and older residential areas appeal to you
- You want quick access to the South 31st corridor
- You aren’t specifically looking for a newer subdivision
West Temple might fit you if:
- Newer construction is high on your list
- You like newer subdivisions and growing areas
- You want easy access to restaurants and shopping along West Adams
- Being closer to Belton matters
- You spend time around Belton Lake or want easier access in that direction
Those aren’t hard rules. There are newer homes in South Temple and established neighborhoods in West Temple. That’s why I don’t like reducing Temple to a simple map where one side means one thing and another side means something completely different. These are just useful starting points.
The Better Question Is What Fits Your Routine
When someone asks me:
“Should I live in South Temple or West Temple?”
I usually answer with more questions. Where are you working? How important is commute time? Do you want newer construction? Do you prefer an established neighborhood? How often are you going to Belton? Do you want to be close to Baylor Scott & White? Do you care about being near restaurants and newer retail?
Those answers usually make the decision a lot easier. A house can look perfect online and still be in the wrong place for how you actually live.
Moving to Temple, TX?
If you’re moving to Temple, TX and trying to decide between South Temple, West Temple, or another part of town entirely, I’d be happy to help you work through it. We can look at the neighborhoods, commute, home styles, nearby development, and the everyday stuff that doesn’t always show up in a listing. You can also visit movewithmallory.net/temple for my full local Temple guide. No sign-in required.
What area should I cover next: North Temple, or Temple vs. Belton? Let me know in the comments and subscribe for weekly Central Texas real estate videos.