Houston County Schools has said it expects roughly 1,000 homes to be built inside the Centerville Elementary attendance zone over the next few years, and it has proposed moving about 125 students from Centerville Elementary to Eagle Springs Elementary before that growth arrives. The statement came as part of the district's 2027 attendance zone proposal, which is scheduled for a Board of Education vote on October 6, 2026. The district described the number as what it has been told to expect, and it did not identify specific subdivisions.
For a city of about 8,200 people, a figure of that size is significant. Centerville is a compact 4-square-mile city wedged between Warner Robins to the east and south and neighboring Byron to the west, with Watson Boulevard forming its southern edge and U.S. 41 running through its west side toward I-75 at Exit 146. Its commercial core is the Houston County Galleria at 2922 Watson Boulevard, which has been listed for sale since May 2025 at $26.65 million and already carries 156 apartments built on its former parking lot.
A school district plans enrollment years ahead, which is why its growth estimates tend to surface before builders make public announcements. The district's statement is the first public signal of the scale of residential development expected on the north side of Houston County, and it lands in a market where Centerville homes currently sell inside the Warner Robins MLS reporting area rather than under their own market summary.
Where Would 1,000 Homes Go in Centerville?
The district's statement refers to the Centerville Elementary attendance zone, which is a school boundary rather than the city limits, and the two do not match. The zone can include unincorporated Houston County parcels north and west of the city and portions of Warner Robins, and residential growth counted toward the zone may land outside Centerville's corporate boundary. That distinction matters for taxes and services, since a home inside Centerville pays a city levy and receives city water, sewer and trash service, while a home just outside it is on county services.
Centerville itself has limited undeveloped land inside its 4 square miles, which is why the city adopted a Town Center Master Plan in 2016 aimed at developing the land around the Galleria into a denser mixed-use core rather than spreading outward. The 156-unit Abbington at Galleria, built on the mall's back parking lot, is the first residential product of that plan. Larger single-family subdivisions counted toward the elementary zone are more likely on the unincorporated land around the city, and those would come through the Houston County Planning Commission rather than the city.
How Centerville Compares Across Houston County
Community | Government | City property tax | August 2026 market |
Centerville | Incorporated city | Yes | Reports inside Warner Robins MLS area |
Warner Robins | Incorporated city | Yes, 10 mills proposed | 69 sold, $228,000 median |
Bonaire | Unincorporated | No | 43 sold, $359,154 median |
Kathleen | Unincorporated | No | 24 sold, $376,000 median |
Perry | Incorporated city | Yes | 35 sold, $290,000 median |
Neighboring Byron | City in Peach County | Yes | 25 sold, $275,000 median |
Should I Sell My Centerville Home Before the New Construction Arrives?
New construction changes the competitive set for a resale listing, because a buyer comparing a 20-year-old home to a new one at a similar price weighs warranty, finishes and incentives against lot size, mature trees and an established street. When a large volume of new homes enters an attendance zone, resale sellers in that zone compete with builder pricing and builder incentives for the same buyers. The district's 1,000-home estimate is spread over several years, so that pressure builds gradually rather than arriving in a single season.
My read is that a Centerville owner who was already planning to sell within two years has a reason to move sooner rather than later, and an owner who plans to stay has no reason to act at all, because a larger neighborhood also brings the retail and services that raise long-term demand. The mistake is pricing a resale as though the new homes are not coming. Price to what the house offers that new construction cannot, which in Centerville is usually location inside the Watson Boulevard corridor and lot size.
Is Centerville a Good Place to Buy Before the Growth?
Centerville offers the shortest commute to the Houston County Galleria and the Watson Boulevard retail corridor of any community in the county, sits within about 3 miles of I-75 at Exit 146, and shares the Houston County School District with Warner Robins, Bonaire and Kathleen. Its housing stock skews older than Bonaire and Kathleen, which keeps price points closer to Warner Robins levels. A buyer who wants an established neighborhood on the north side of the county with a short drive to Macon has historically found it here.
From my side, the growth estimate is a reason to look now rather than a reason to wait. If 1,000 homes are coming to the zone, a buyer who purchases an existing home before they arrive is buying at pre-growth pricing and will have the new retail and infrastructure that follows. A buyer who waits for the new homes will be paying builder pricing for a lot in a subdivision that is still under construction around them. Both are legitimate choices, but they are different choices, and the school district just told everyone which way the zone is heading.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many new homes are expected in Centerville, GA?
Houston County Schools has said it expects roughly 1,000 homes to be built inside the Centerville Elementary attendance zone over the next few years. The figure was stated as part of the district's 2027 attendance zone proposal and reflects what the district says it has been told to expect. It is an estimate, not a count of approved subdivisions, and the district has not named specific developments.
Why is the school district the source for a housing number?
School districts plan enrollment years in advance and routinely receive development projections from planning agencies and developers so they can size schools and draw attendance zones. In this case the district cited the expected growth as the reason for moving about 125 students from Centerville Elementary to Eagle Springs Elementary, so the housing estimate surfaced publicly through the rezoning proposal.
Is the Centerville Elementary attendance zone the same as the city limits?
No. School attendance zones are drawn by the district and do not follow municipal boundaries. The Centerville Elementary zone can include parcels inside the City of Centerville, unincorporated Houston County land around the city, and portions of Warner Robins. Growth counted toward the zone may be built outside Centerville's corporate limits.
What is the population of Centerville, GA?
Centerville had a population of 8,228 at the 2020 census across approximately 4 square miles. It was incorporated in 1958 and is bordered to the east and south by Warner Robins and to the west by neighboring Byron in Peach County.
When is the Centerville Elementary rezoning meeting?
The district scheduled a meeting for families affected by the Centerville Elementary change on September 29, 2026 at 6 p.m. at the Eagle Springs Elementary School cafeteria. The Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the full attendance zone proposal on October 6, 2026 at 1 p.m. at the district office in Perry.
Does Centerville have its own city property tax?
Yes. Centerville is an incorporated city and levies a municipal property tax in addition to the Houston County and Houston County Board of Education rates. The city provides curbside trash pickup, water and sewer service within its limits, and has a senior tax exemption program for qualifying residents age 70 and over, according to the city.
Where do Centerville homes show up in MLS market reports?
Central Georgia MLS does not publish a separate Centerville reporting area. Centerville closings are included in the Warner Robins reporting area, which recorded 69 residential sales at a $228,000 median in August 2026. Buyers researching Centerville pricing should ask for a pull limited to Centerville addresses rather than relying on the citywide Warner Robins figures.
What is happening with the Houston County Galleria?
The Houston County Galleria at 2922 Watson Boulevard, Centerville's commercial center, has been listed for sale since May 2025 at $26.65 million. The listing describes the mall as 94 percent occupied with roughly 60 tenants and notes that a 156-unit apartment community, the Abbington at Galleria, was built on the former parking lot. No sale had been publicly reported as of September 2026.
Will 1,000 new homes lower Centerville home values?
New construction increases the supply of homes in an area and gives buyers an alternative to resale listings, which can slow price growth on resale homes that compete directly with new product. It also tends to bring retail, services and infrastructure that support long-term demand. The net effect on any specific home depends on its price point, condition and how directly it competes with what gets built, and it plays out over years rather than months.
Which builders are building in Centerville?
The school district's estimate did not identify builders or subdivisions, and no development list accompanied it. Approved and pending residential projects on unincorporated land are handled by the Houston County Planning Commission, while projects inside the city limits go through Centerville's own planning process. Buyers should check those public records for the current pipeline.
Is Centerville in the Houston County School District?
Yes. Centerville is served by Houston County Schools, the same district that serves Warner Robins, Bonaire, Kathleen and Perry. Neighboring Byron is served by the separate Peach County School District.
How far is Centerville from Robins Air Force Base and Macon?
Centerville sits on the north side of Houston County along Watson Boulevard, roughly 3 miles east of I-75 at Exit 146, with U.S. 41 running north about 17 miles to Macon and south about 12 miles to Perry. Robins Air Force Base is reached by continuing east on Watson Boulevard through Warner Robins.
About the Author
William Walton-Dean is a licensed REALTOR® with Walton Dean Realty, operating under Real Broker LLC, serving buyers and sellers across Houston County, Georgia, including Perry, Warner Robins, Bonaire, Kathleen, Byron, and the surrounding Middle Georgia housing market. Known for a data-driven, hyper-local approach and deep expertise in the military and PCS relocation market around Robins Air Force Base, he helps buyers and sellers at every price point make clear, confident decisions backed by real market insight.
📱 478-371-7069
Walton Dean Realty | Real Broker LLC
Buying or Selling in Centerville? Let's Talk
If you own on the north side of Houston County, the school district just told you what the next few years look like. Reach out and we can look at what your home is worth today against what the growth means for your timing, or find the right house before builder pricing sets the market.
William Walton-Dean | Walton Dean Realty
📱 478-371-7069
A More Strategic Approach to Real Estate
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute real estate, legal, tax or financial advice. Figures reflect the reporting periods, sources and reporting areas stated and are subject to change. Public meeting dates, proposals, votes and project timelines are subject to revision by the governing bodies involved and should be confirmed directly with the applicable agency before relying on them. Consult a licensed REALTOR®, attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation. Walton Dean Realty operates under Real Broker LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.
