Georgetown & Round Rock, Central Texas

Retiring to Georgetown & Round Rock — The Honest Review

Sun City Georgetown is not just the largest 55+ community in Texas — at 7,500+ occupied homes, it is one of the largest in the country. That scale is the market's biggest asset and, for some buyers, its biggest tradeoff.

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What 7,500 Homes Buys You

Scale most communities cannot replicate

7,500+ homes occupied out of an approved build-out of 10,550, with 3 championship golf courses, 4 fitness centers, 8 pools, and 100+ clubs. That density fills a social calendar every day of the week if you want it.

The school tax freeze at 65

Georgetown ISD's 2025-26 combined rate is $1.0506 per $100 of assessed value — the largest slice of the tax bill. Filing the over-65 homestead exemption freezes that school tax bill permanently, saving an estimated $4,000–$8,000 over a 10-year hold.

No state income tax on any retirement dollar

Every dollar of pension, 401(k) draw, and Social Security stays untouched at the state level — for a couple drawing $80,000 in retirement income, moving from Illinois or California can mean $3,000–$7,000+/year in eliminated state income tax alone.

A real town center, not just a subdivision

Georgetown's historic square is 10 minutes from Sun City's gate, and Baylor Scott & White and St. David's hospitals sit within city limits — the community isn't isolated from genuine town infrastructure.

The Over-65 Tax Freeze — How It Plays Out

Close
File over-65 exemption within 30 days
Year 1
School tax bill locked at current level
Year 5
Home value may rise 10–15%; school tax unchanged
Year 10
Estimated $4,000–$8,000 saved vs. a non-exempt neighbor

Williamson County adds a $125,000 exemption for 65+ owners on top of the statewide $140,000 homestead exemption — on a $350,000 home, a 65+ owner's rough all-in annual bill lands around $3,200–$3,800, with the school portion never rising again.

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What That Much Scale Costs You

Sun City's scale can feel impersonal

A community of 7,500+ homes is a different social experience than a boutique 300-home neighborhood — buyers who want a tight-knit, everybody-knows-everybody feel may find Sun City's scale overwhelming rather than appealing.

Central Texas summer heat is real

Georgetown sits in Central Texas, with genuinely hot, humid summers — this is not a mild-climate market, and outdoor amenities see less use in July and August.

I-35 traffic is a known regional problem

The corridor between Georgetown, Round Rock, and Austin sees real congestion — the SH 130 toll road is a workaround, not a fix, and it comes with a toll cost.

The tax freeze requires action, not just eligibility

The freeze is not automatic — buyers must file the over-65 exemption with Williamson County Appraisal District themselves, and missing the window means paying non-exempt rates until corrected.

Sizing Yourself Up Against Sun City

Built for the Crowd

You want a large-scale, amenity-dense community with a packed social and golf calendar, you're coming from a high state-income-tax state where the math is decisive, and you're comfortable with Central Texas summer heat.

Built for Quiet

You want an intimate, small-community feel rather than a 7,500-home master plan, or you want to avoid hot, humid summers entirely — a smaller community or a market with a milder summer climate would better fit that priority.

Before you sign anything: Sun City's scale is the whole value proposition — decide if you want that much community around you before you fall for the tax math alone.

Considering Sun City Georgetown?

We can walk through the over-65 school tax freeze math and new-construction vs. resale pricing before you tour.

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Free · No Obligation · Vetted Agents

Ready to move from research to real conversations about this community?

We connect buyers with agents who know this market from the inside — real cost math, honest comparisons, and what's actually happening right now. Every agent is personally vetted by the Nova55Living founder. No scripts, no pressure.

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