4 Best Towns Near Austin For Retirees
Austin draws a steady stream of retirees with its music scene and top-tier healthcare. But the city itself is no longer cheap. The median home price now sits over $520,000. Smaller towns nearby offer the same easy access to amenities at a fraction of that price. Texas sweetens the deal with no state income tax and property tax exemptions for residents 65 and older. The four towns below all sit within easy reach of Austin and each one earns its spot on this short list.
Bastrop
Just 30 miles southeast of Austin, Bastrop was established in the 1830s and is one of the oldest towns in Texas. With a population of around 10,000 and a median home price of $363,000, it offers an appealing mix of affordability and small-town character. Downtown Bastrop is so nice, in fact, that it has been designated a Distinctive Destination by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, with over 130 architectural landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bastrop’s Main Street Historic District runs along the Colorado River and is the natural starting point for a day in town. Most of the buildings here were rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1862, with notable survivors including the Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center (circa 1850), R.A. Green Mercantile (1891), and the Bastrop Opera House (1889), which still stages live theater.
The June Hill Pape Riverwalk follows the Colorado River between Fisherman’s Park and Ferry Park, a level, shaded route that’s easy on the knees. Speaking of the visitor center, it offers a great self-guided walking tour map, so pop in and get acquainted. For a longer walk just outside of town, Bastrop State Park has seven miles of trails, a seasonal swimming pool, and a forested scenic road connecting it to neighboring Buescher State Park.
On the healthcare front, Ascension Seton Bastrop provides 24-hour emergency services, with the larger Ascension Seton facilities in Austin and Round Rock a 30-minute drive away. For longer-term needs, Bastrop Lost Pines Nursing and Rehabilitation Center operates a large skilled nursing facility.
Lockhart
Located around 30 miles south of Austin and officially designated as the Barbecue Capital of Texas, the town of Lockhart is a strong contender for the most affordable town on this list. Median home prices here run around $270,000, below the Texas state median of $300,000. And given its population of 15,300, the town has managed to retain the kind of small-town character that’s increasingly hard to find this close to a major metro area.
As for healthcare, retirees are well-provided for. Ascension Seton Lockhart Health Center Colorado is the local resource for emergency and general care (don’t be put off by the name, it’s in Texas), while full-service hospitals in San Marcos and Austin pick up the slack.
Town attractions include the Caldwell County Courthouse in the downtown core. Completed in 1894 with a classic four-way clock tower, the lawn of this carefully restored and elegant building is used to host Courthouse Nights, a popular summer music series. The nearby Caldwell County Museum, housed in the county jail built in 1909, is home to a fascinating collection of artifacts connected to Susanna Dickinson, the only adult Anglo survivor of the Alamo.
As for the town’s famous barbecues, pit-smoke institutions are situated within walking distance of the courthouse: Kreuz Market, which traces its lineage to a meat market opened in 1900; Smitty’s Market, using the same pit Edgar "Smitty" Schmidt smoked on after buying the place in 1948; Black’s Barbecue, the oldest joint in Texas owned by the same family since 1932; and Chisholm Trail Bar-BQ, which opened in 1978.
Marble Falls
Marble Falls is located 50 miles from Austin in the heart of Texas Hill Country. Founded in 1887 on the banks of the Colorado River, the population of this lake town makes it easy to navigate (it’s a little over 7,000), while median home values of $338,000 make it affordable for most retirees. And the choice of homes is extensive, with everything from older ranch-style homes near downtown to newer communities such as Thunder Rock.
The town also serves as the regional retail and service hub for the surrounding Highland Lakes area, ensuring everyday shopping and other needs are close at hand. Healthcare is taken care of by Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Marble Falls, a 46-bed acute-care hospital that opened in 2015 with adjacent specialty clinics and a joint replacement center.
Now for the fun stuff. Recreational highlights include Lake Marble Falls, a reservoir on the Colorado River, with direct lake access, boat ramps, and picnic areas. Lakeside Park also comes with a seasonal swimming pool.
Marble Falls is also surrounded by no less than five Texas state parks within an hour’s drive. The closest is Longhorn Cavern State Park, yet Inks Lake State Park is worth going those extra few miles for its pink granite hills, paddle-friendly waters, and birdwatching. Pedernales Falls State Park and Colorado Bend State Park round out the options for hiking.
Back in town, the Sculpture on Main outdoor exhibit is fun to include on daily walks, as is the Falls on the Colorado Museum. Set within an old granite school building from 1891, notable displays include regional history, farm and ranch artifacts, geology displays, and a sizeable Native American collection. Admission is free, and the museum has a popular volunteer program.
Fredericksburg
At 80 miles west of Austin, Fredericksburg is a little further to travel to and from the big city, but its retirement appeal is strong. Founded in 1846 by German immigrants, the town has a population of just over 11,000. Housing here is pricier with a median property value of $460,000, but that hasn’t stopped the share of residents aged 65 and over from growing to a sizable 32% of the population.
The increased housing cost is a trade-off that works for many, with the town’s character, amenities, and climate all sweetening the deal. And it is a pretty town. Much of Fredericksburg is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the German heritage is evident throughout, including at the Pioneer Museum. Here, several restored 19th-century buildings, including a one-room schoolhouse, a Sunday house, a log cabin, and the original Vereins Kirche community building, paint a fascinating picture of the community’s early years.
Another attraction that offers volunteer opportunities is the National Museum of the Pacific War. Spread across a vast six-acre downtown campus, this expansive museum was built around the home and family hotel of Fredericksburg-born Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
There’s also plenty of fun to be had outdoors, too. Fredericksburg is considered the heart of Texas Wine Country, with more than 60 wineries and tasting rooms in and around town. Kuhlman Cellars, Grape Creek Vineyards, and Signor Vineyards are just three that are worth visiting; retire here, take your time, and visit them all.
As for healthcare, Methodist Hospital Hill Country provides acute care, joint replacements, and general health needs. Several retirement communities are dotted across the region, too, including Heritage Place of Fredericksburg. As you might expect, given the higher retirement income bracket of those attracted to Fredericksburg, this high-end facility offers pet-friendly apartments, prepared meals, and even a concierge service.
Whatever your retirement goals, these four Texas towns provide a useful cross-section of options near Austin. They’re all rock-solid candidates in terms of housing, healthcare, and all-around resident happiness. And with Austin’s airport, healthcare specialists, and cultural experiences all just an easy drive away, the choice basically becomes one of lifestyle priorities rather than logistics.
