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Taylor vs Round Rock: retirement compared

Taylor and Round Rock are both Williamson County cities in the Austin & Central Texas region, and they share an appraisal district, a county tax office and many state rules. That shared framework makes the differences easier to see. Taylor is a small city east of the Interstate 35 corridor with a historic downtown, a critical access hospital and a noticeably older age profile. Round Rock is a much larger suburb north of Austin with three acute care hospitals, a city-run 50+ center and a younger population.

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Taylor and Round Rock at a glance

Figures come from each place page and name their own period; sources are listed on those pages.

MeasureTaylorRound Rock
Population (ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimate)16,767124,288
Residents aged 65 and over (ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimate)19.4%10.9%
Median age (ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimate)4136.2
Median home value (owner-occupied) (ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimate)$246,800$383,700
Median gross rent (ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimate)$1,181 per month$1,713 per month
Median household income (ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimate)$71,665$97,187
Property tax context (tax year 2024)Williamson County table rates per $100 of taxable value: City of Taylor 0.591368; Taylor ISD 1.100000; Williamson County 0.355670 plus 0.044329 road levy (units overlap; rates are not added)Williamson County table rates per $100 of taxable value: City of Round Rock 0.360000; Round Rock ISD 0.893100; Williamson County 0.355670 plus 0.044329 road levy (units overlap; rates are not added)
Hospital accessBaylor Scott & White Medical Center - Taylor, at 305 Mallard Ln, is the hospital in the city, with emergency care available 24 hours a day (hospital system page read October 2026)CMS lists three acute care hospitals with emergency services at Round Rock addresses: Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Round Rock, Ascension Seton Williamson and Round Rock Medical Center (CMS hospital file read October 2026)
Airport access (airport page read October 2026)Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, a City of Austin airport, is the commercial airport named for Taylor; the city publishes no drive timeAustin-Bergstrom International Airport, owned and operated by the City of Austin, is the commercial airport named for the area; Round Rock's page does not publish a drive time
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Taylor vs Round Rock: the short answer

Taylor and Round Rock are both Williamson County cities in the Austin & Central Texas region, and they share an appraisal district, a county tax office and many state rules. That shared framework makes the differences easier to see. Taylor is a small city east of the Interstate 35 corridor with a historic downtown, a critical access hospital and a noticeably older age profile. Round Rock is a much larger suburb north of Austin with three acute care hospitals, a city-run 50+ center and a younger population.

The comparison turns on scale and services. Taylor offers a lower survey home value and a small-city senior check-in program, but a higher city rate in the county's 2024 table, a smaller hospital and live development questions. Round Rock offers hospital depth, a large parks system and a 50+ center, at a higher price level and with a floodplain that the city itself says is understated by current maps. Neither is a golf or lake market.

Two cautions apply. The property-tax figures below come from three different sources and years: the Williamson County table for tax year 2024, the Comptroller's 2025 rate files and 2026 city announcements. They are shown to explain how each city publishes its taxes and are not a like-for-like bill comparison. The county table's text layer also does not separate the exemption columns reliably, so local exemption amounts are left for the appraisal district to confirm. For the statewide rules, see property taxes and appraisal districts and homestead and age-65 exemptions.

Full profiles: Taylor and Round Rock.

Which one fits you

Choose Taylor if

  • You want the lower survey home value, $246,800 median owner-occupied value against $383,700 in Round Rock, and a historic downtown with a Main Street program and weekly farmers market.
  • You would use a free police-run check-in service for seniors who live alone, and the city's accessibility grants of up to $18,200 for eligible households.
  • You are comfortable with a critical access hospital in town and acute care hospitals in Round Rock and Cedar Park for larger needs.
  • You will read the city's news about a proposed technology campus, a second proposed data center and a planned 345 kV transmission line before choosing a neighborhood.

Choose Round Rock if

  • You want three acute care hospitals with emergency services inside the city and a city-run 50+ center with a weight room, billiards and day trips.
  • You prefer a large parks system, with 37 developed parks on more than 2,305 acres, and a larger menu of recreation, retail and services.
  • You value a city that is direct about flood risk and publishes its water source, watering standards and budget rate decisions.
  • You can accept a higher price level and a younger neighborhood mix, with 10.9 percent of residents aged 65 and over in the survey.

Taylor and Round Rock: best for, and think twice if

Taylor

Best for

  • Buyers who want a hospital in town at a lower price point: Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Taylor, a critical access hospital with a swing-bed service, is in the city, and the ACS median home value is $246,800.
  • If a check-in service for seniors living alone matters: the police department runs the S.O.S. Serving Our Seniors program, and downtown has a Saturday farmers market and an active Main Street program.

Think twice if

  • Think twice about the tax burden: the 2025 Comptroller files list the City of Taylor at 0.585 and Taylor ISD at 1.0638 per $100, and the sources call the combined rate higher than in larger suburbs.
  • Buyers with complex medical needs should note the local hospital is a critical access hospital, a smaller designation than the acute care hospitals in Round Rock and Cedar Park on the same CMS list.
  • Older houses raise roof questions in this hail-exposed area, and low-lying lots should be checked against the city's Drainage Master Plan; a drainage utility fee appears on monthly utility bills.

Round Rock

Best for

  • Buyers who want several inpatient hospitals in one city: CMS lists three acute care hospitals with emergency services at Round Rock addresses, and Ascension Seton Williamson says a new tower adds 96 inpatient beds.
  • If a city-run 50+ center matters: the Allen R. Baca Center reports more than 1,300 members and lists 50+ memberships from $30 to $110 a year.

Think twice if

  • Think twice about flood maps: the city says FEMA's current maps do not yet reflect heavier rainfall and that the 500-year floodplain is a better estimate of the 100-year one, so check a property against both.
  • Taxes stack by address: the city is listed at 0.372, Round Rock ISD at 0.8931 and MUDs such as Round Rock MUD #1 at 0.68, and the council adopted a maximum rate of 42.3 cents for fiscal year 2027, up from 37.2.
  • Buyers wanting a retiree concentration should note that 10.9% of residents are 65 or older, and only 56.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied, a large rental share for a city this size.

Each point restates facts from that place's own page and sources. It is not a rating.

Taylor and Round Rock side by side

DimensionTaylorRound Rock
Scale and age profileTaylor is estimated at 16,767 residents with a median age of 41.0 and 3,248 residents aged 65 and over, which is 19.4 percent. The city describes a historic downtown, a weekly farmers market, a hospital within the city and a daily check-in service for seniors who live alone. No age-restricted community is documented in the city, and it is not a golf or lake market. These are 2019-2023 survey estimates with margins of error.Round Rock is estimated at 124,288 residents with a median age of 36.2 and 10.9 percent of residents aged 65 and over. It is much larger than most places retirees consider in the region and is better described as a working-age suburb with a deep hospital base and a city 50+ center. For a neighboring city with an age-restricted community, see Georgetown. The older profile in Taylor and the larger service base in Round Rock are the core of the choice.
Survey housing cost, tenure and incomeThe survey estimates 7,102 housing units in Taylor, a median owner-occupied home value of $246,800 and median gross rent of $1,181. Owners with a mortgage have median monthly owner costs of $1,754, 72.4 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied and the median household income is estimated at $71,665. The same survey vintage puts the median value in Round Rock at $383,700, so Taylor is the lower-cost entry point among these Williamson County cities.The survey estimates 49,133 housing units in Round Rock, a median owner-occupied value of $383,700 and median gross rent of $1,713. Owners with a mortgage have median monthly owner costs of $2,240, 56.2 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied and the median household income is estimated at $97,187. The city's FY 2026 budget page states a median taxable value home of $395,240, and its FY 2027 maximum-rate figures a median taxable value home of $370,288. Taxable value is after exemptions and caps, so it is not the same as market price or the survey median.
Property-tax units, rates and the year problemTaylor is appraised by Williamson Central Appraisal District as of January 1 each year, and the City of Taylor contracts with Williamson County for billing and collection. The Williamson County table for tax year 2024 lists Williamson County at 0.355670 per $100 of taxable value plus 0.044329 for the farm-to-market and road levy, the City of Taylor at 0.591368 and Taylor ISD at 1.100000. The Comptroller's 2025 files, a different tax year, list the city at 0.585 and Taylor ISD at 1.0638. Taylor's home page reports that on September 10, 2026 the city adopted a rate that raises more maintenance and operations tax than the previous year's rate.Round Rock is appraised by the same district and taxed by the same county. The 2024 table lists the City of Round Rock at 0.360000 and Round Rock ISD at 0.893100, plus Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 9 at 0.097704 and municipal utility districts such as Round Rock MUD #1 at 0.680000 and #2 at 0.511000, which apply only inside those districts. The Comptroller's 2025 files list the city at 0.372 and Round Rock ISD at 0.8931. The city's budget page records a rate of 37.2 cents per $100 adopted on September 11, 2025 for fiscal year 2026 and a maximum rate of 42.3 cents adopted on August 13, 2026 for fiscal year 2027. A maximum rate is a ceiling set before the final vote, not the rate that will necessarily be charged.
Over-65 exemptions, ceilings and the local tableThe Texas Comptroller states that Tax Code Section 11.13(b) requires school districts to provide a $140,000 exemption on a residence homestead and Section 11.13(c) an additional $60,000 for homeowners aged 65 or older or disabled. Williamson Central Appraisal District says a homeowner qualifies for the age-65 exemption in the year of turning 65, applying through the homestead application, with a regular filing period of January 1 through April 30. The 2024 county table marks entities that have adopted a local-option freeze ceiling: Williamson County carries the mark and the City of Taylor row does not. The amount that belongs to the City of Taylor is left for the appraisal district to confirm.The same appraisal district rules, filing period and county table apply in Round Rock. In the 2024 table Williamson County carries the freeze mark, while the City of Round Rock, Round Rock ISD and Round Rock MUD rows do not. The state school-tax ceiling is a separate mechanism with conditions. Because both cities use the same table, a buyer can ask one office, the appraisal district or county tax office, for the amount that applies to each city, and should verify the current ceiling status before relying on it, since ceilings and rates change by budget year.
Hospitals and designationsBaylor Scott & White Medical Center - Taylor, at 305 Mallard Ln, is the hospital in the city. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services lists it as a critical access hospital with emergency services, a smaller designation than the acute care hospitals in Round Rock. The system says its emergency care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and describes a skilled nursing, or swing bed, service for recovery after surgery or a severe illness. Williamson County's CMS list also includes acute care hospitals in Round Rock and Cedar Park.The CMS hospital list for Williamson County includes three acute care hospitals with Round Rock addresses and emergency services: Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Round Rock, Ascension Seton Williamson and Round Rock Medical Center. Baylor Scott & White lists a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, Ascension Seton Williamson describes certification as a Level II Trauma Center, Primary Heart Attack Center and Primary Stroke Plus Center and says a new patient tower adds 96 inpatient beds, and St. David's Round Rock Medical Center lists a Level II Trauma Center. Which hospital a household can use depends on its physicians and its Medicare or private plan network, which changes annually.
Flood, drainage and storm exposureFlood risk in Taylor is address specific and insured separately. The City of Taylor funds drainage work through a municipal drainage utility fee in monthly utility bills and maintains a Drainage Master Plan, which is useful reading for anyone considering a low-lying lot. Hail is the weather hazard most tied to home insurance, and the Texas Department of Insurance explains that some policies pay replacement cost on a roof while others pay actual cash value. Roof age and material matter when buying an older Taylor house. Premiums are not quoted here.Round Rock's floodplain page says FEMA's Williamson County flood maps took effect on 12/20/19 and cover a significant portion of the city, that NOAA's Atlas 14 rainfall study shows heavier rainfall in Central Texas flash floods than previously assumed, and that the current FEMA maps do not yet reflect it. The city states that a more accurate estimate of the 100-year floodplain near Round Rock is the current FEMA 500-year floodplain, and it recommends that owners and renters check both and seriously consider flood insurance. The same hail guidance applies, and no single risk label fits a city of this size.
Water, drought and utilitiesTaylor's city site describes a wastewater treatment plant and says it serves over 17,779 sewer customers; a buyer should confirm water service and utility rates with the utility billing office. Drought recurs in Central Texas, and the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio office maintains a drought page. Both cities use the Austin Bergstrom Airport station as a regional climate reference, with a normal daily high averaging 96.1 degrees F in July and 97.0 in August, so summer heat does not separate them.Round Rock says it serves its own customers and several MUDs outside the city limits, and that its primary water source is Lake Georgetown, supplemented by Lake Stillhouse Hollow, the Edwards Aquifer and Lake Travis through the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority. The city's page listed year-round watering standards as the current drought stage on October 8, 2026, with outdoor watering allowed on designated days before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Confirm the water provider, the school district and any special district for any address before making an offer.
Senior services and everyday amenitiesThe Taylor Police Department runs the S.O.S. Serving Our Seniors program, a free service for elderly, disabled and homebound residents who live alone: enrolled residents get scheduled phone calls, and if there is no answer after a second call an officer is sent for a welfare check. The Amy Young Barrier Removal Program provides grants of up to $18,200 for accessibility modifications and repairs for eligible low-to-moderate income residents. The city has taken part in the Main Street movement since 1983, runs the Heritage Square Farmers Market on Saturdays and describes more than eight miles of hike and bike trails in three major parks.The Allen R. Baca Center is the clearest retiree-oriented public amenity: the city describes programming for the active 50+ population, a weight room, billiards room and aerobics and dance room, service since 2005 and more than 1,300 members. An annual 50+ membership is listed at $30 without the weight room and $60 with it, and rates change, so confirm with the center. The parks department reports 37 developed parks on more than 2,305 acres, including the 670-acre Old Settlers Park.
Airports and getting aroundTaylor Municipal Airport, on Highway 79 west of downtown, is classified by the Texas Department of Transportation as a general aviation business service airport, and the city's page lists a ride-on-demand transit service and a rental car company near the airport. Commercial air service is available at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, a City of Austin airport whose Barbara Jordan Terminal is at 3600 Presidential Blvd. The city publishes no drive time, so test the route yourself.Round Rock relies on the same airport. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport publishes a monthly list of nonstop destinations, and its page applies to June 2026 and says airline service changes regularly. Round Rock's own page publishes no drive time to the airport, so test the route at the hours you would actually travel. The two cities therefore share the same commercial airport, and the difference is what is near home rather than where flights depart.
Local development and land-use changeTaylor's own home page reports a proposed development agreement for a technology campus formerly called Project Mustang, a second proposed data center that the city says has drawn significant attention because of the property's history and concerns from nearby residents, a petition about the data center, and a planned Oncor 345 kV transmission line that the city says is expected to go through or around Taylor and is still in early planning. None of these is decided, but they bear on noise, power infrastructure and land use around a home.Round Rock's published decisions concentrate on its budget and tax rate, with the FY 2027 maximum rate described above, and on floodplain and water-stage updates. Newer subdivisions, municipal utility districts and older neighborhoods near downtown coexist, and the tax and utility arrangements differ among them. A buyer should confirm the county, school district and any special district for each address and read the city's current notices before an offer.

Sources and review date

Last reviewed . Facts on this page come from the sources below; where a rule or figure can change, check the linked source before relying on it.

  1. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP05 Demographic and Housing Estimates, Taylor city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  2. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP04 Selected Housing Characteristics, Taylor city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  3. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics, Taylor city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  4. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP04 Selected Housing Characteristics, Round Rock city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  5. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP04 Selected Housing Characteristics, Liberty Hill city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  6. 2024 Tax Rates and Exemptions by Jurisdictions — Williamson County Tax Assessor-Collector (accessed 2026-10-08)
  7. 2025 City Rates and Levies (Williamson County rows) — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (accessed 2026-10-08)
  8. 2025 County Rates and Levies (Williamson County rows) — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (accessed 2026-10-08)
  9. 2025 School District Rates and Levies (Williamson County rows) — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (accessed 2026-10-08)
  10. Exemptions (frequently asked questions) — Williamson Central Appraisal District (accessed 2026-10-08)
  11. Property Tax Exemptions — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (accessed 2026-10-08)
  12. Property Taxes — City of Taylor (accessed 2026-10-08)
  13. City of Taylor home page (news and events) — City of Taylor (accessed 2026-10-08)
  14. Drainage and Waterways — City of Taylor (accessed 2026-10-08)
  15. Parks and Trails — City of Taylor (accessed 2026-10-08)
  16. Heritage Square Farmers Market — City of Taylor (accessed 2026-10-08)
  17. Moody Museum — City of Taylor (accessed 2026-10-08)
  18. Downtown (Main Street Program) — City of Taylor (accessed 2026-10-08)
  19. S.O.S. - Serving our Seniors Program — City of Taylor (accessed 2026-10-08)
  20. Housing — City of Taylor (accessed 2026-10-08)
  21. Water and Waste Water Utility System — City of Taylor (accessed 2026-10-08)
  22. Airport — City of Taylor (accessed 2026-10-08)
  23. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Taylor — Baylor Scott & White Health (accessed 2026-10-08)
  24. Hospital General Information, Texas, Williamson County — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (accessed 2026-10-08)
  25. About Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) — City of Austin, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (accessed 2026-10-08)
  26. U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, Austin Bergstrom AP, TX (monthly) — NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (accessed 2026-10-08)
  27. Hail damage to your home or car? What to do next. — Texas Department of Insurance (accessed 2026-10-08)
  28. Insurance and your roof: What to know when buying a policy or filing a claim — Texas Department of Insurance (accessed 2026-10-08)
  29. Flood Maps — Federal Emergency Management Agency (accessed 2026-10-08)
  30. National Flood Insurance Program — Federal Emergency Management Agency (accessed 2026-10-08)
  31. Drought Information, NWS Austin/San Antonio — National Weather Service (accessed 2026-10-08)
  32. Wildfire & Other Disasters — Texas A&M Forest Service (accessed 2026-10-08)
  33. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP05 Demographic and Housing Estimates, Round Rock city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  34. American Community Survey 2019-2023 DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics, Round Rock city, Texas — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-10-08)
  35. 2025 Special District Rates and Levies (Williamson County rows) — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (accessed 2026-10-08)
  36. Budget and tax rate (FY 2026 and FY 2027) — City of Round Rock (accessed 2026-10-08)
  37. Floodplain — City of Round Rock (accessed 2026-10-08)
  38. Water (water restrictions and drought stage) — City of Round Rock (accessed 2026-10-08)
  39. About Your Water — City of Round Rock (accessed 2026-10-08)
  40. Parks and Recreation — City of Round Rock (accessed 2026-10-08)
  41. Allen R. Baca Center — City of Round Rock (accessed 2026-10-08)
  42. St. David's Round Rock Medical Center — St. David's HealthCare (accessed 2026-10-08)
  43. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Round Rock — Baylor Scott & White Health (accessed 2026-10-08)
  44. Ascension Seton Williamson — Ascension (accessed 2026-10-08)
  45. Nonstop flights out of AUS — City of Austin, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (accessed 2026-10-08)
  46. Come to Life at Heritage at Vizcaya (builder blog, April 10, 2019) — Taylor Morrison (accessed 2026-10-08)
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