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Retirees Come to Lush Central Texas' Victorian Hamlet of Georgetown for its High Quality of Life, Charming Downtown, Moderate Cost of Living and Warm Climate
Cost of Living: Meets the National Average
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Quaint and friendly, Georgetown (population 42,000) is located along the San Gabriel River in the central part of Texas, just off of I-35 and about 25 miles north of Austin, the capital city (population 750,000). Snuggled between the Blackland Prairie and the lush Hill Country, it started as a farming and ranching community in the mid-19th century and became a bustling cattle and cotton transportation hub with the arrival of the railroad in 1878. Soon Texas University, known today as Southwestern University and the state's oldest institution of higher learning, was established here, setting the stage for a prosperous future as academics and people seeking a better life decided to make this pretty town their home.
With an average cost of living and a low crime rate, Georgetown is still attracting new people today, and its population has mushroomed by 45% over the last decade.
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A real estate dollar buys quite a bit in Georgetown, and prices have been holding steady the last year or so. The median home price of $185,000 will purchase a very comfortable 2,000 sq. ft. ranch-style brick residence with three bedrooms, two baths and an attached 2-car garage on a wooded lot in an established, leafy neighborhood. Relatively new construction homes with 1,600 sq. ft. and stone exteriors in newer subdivisions are for sale for $125,000. In established neighborhoods such as Seranada, sturdy older homes on large lots can be found in the low to mid-$100,000s. Residences in the $300,000s are mostly stunning and palatial. Beautifully restored Victorian residences from Georgetown's pioneer days are sprinkled around town as well, but most of these are located within one of the three historic districts.
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Much of Georgetown's recent growth has been fueled by retirees - 40% of residents are age 45 or better - thanks in large part to Sun City Texas, a popular Del Webb retirement community for people age 55 years and better. Started in 1995 and currently home to 11,500 residents, this development is still being built and will have 7,500 or more homes on 5,300 acres at completion. Three golf courses, 86,000 square feet of recreation centers and clubhouses, resort-style pools, a fishing lake and a nearly endless menu of activities create an appealing lifestyle. Single family homes and duplexes are for sale with prices starting in the low-$100,000s and topping out in the $600,000s. Two other 55+ retirement communities, Oaks at Wildwood and Heritage Oaks, are much smaller but also popular with retirees.
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Georgetown also has a number of planned, all ages developments that are retiree favorites. Berry Creek is a master-planned golf and tennis community featuring 1,000 single family homes in the high-$100,000s to $750,000 price range. Georgetown Village is designed to resemble an old-fashioned village, with parks, quiet streets, a town center and houses with front porches. Prices start in the mid-$100,000s.
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There are some very reasonably-priced manufactured home communities as well, although none are specifically geared toward seniors. Prices begin at around $13,000 for a one bedroom, one bath home and go as high as $75,000 for two bedrooms and two baths. Communities include Pecan Branch, Meadow Rest and Vista Ridge. A number of apartment complexes are also here, and the average one bedroom price is around $600 per month. Two bedroom prices average $750 per month.
Property is taxed at $2.13 per $100 market value, and homes are assessed at 100%. There is a $15,000 homestead exemption for all owners and another $10,000 for residents over age 65. Texas has no state income tax, and retirement income is not taxed. And for retirees interested in starting a business, Georgetown has been rated one of the best places to do so thanks to its business friendly tax rates.
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One of the best reasons to live in Georgetown is its appreciation of its past. During the 1970s and 1980s, town leaders decided to revitalize the downtown and restore its buildings to their former glory. Victorian and pre-WWI structures were renovated and refurbished, and soon Georgetown was boasting a wonderful streetscape of colorful historic storefronts, brick sidewalks and elegant residences. In 1997, the town won a Great American Street Award for this thriving old town district where 200 buildings look just as they did a century or more ago. A variety of businesses, including gourmet chocolate shops, cafes, banks, clothiers and some very good restaurants now reside in these beautiful structures.
During the spring and fall, this picturesque town bursts with color as wild flowers and red poppies bloom with abandon, creating a festive atmosphere. To celebrate this time of year, the Red Poppy Festival takes place and draws attendees from around central Texas. In October, Georgetown celebrates its local art scene with Art in the Square, a two day juried arts fair with 150 artists displaying their work. The Christmas Stroll each December turns the downtown into a fairy book scene. There are also a two farmers' markets, five city golf courses, fourteen parks, tennis courts and walking trails. The new Georgetown Public Library has a good menu of services, from clubs, art exhibits and live music presentations to book discussion groups and Internet-accessible computers. Outside of town, Lake Georgetown provides opportunities for hiking, camping and boating and bicycling.
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St. David's Georgetown Hospital is the primary medical center and has 98 beds, a small intensive care unit and a 24 hour emergency room. It is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and has won both the Texas Health Care Quality Improvement Award of Excellence and the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award from Healthgrades. Medicare patients are accepted. Round Rock (population 95,000) is 5 miles away and has three hospitals and clinics. Austin has a dozen medical centers and hospitals, including the excellent St. David's North Austin Medical Center. Military retirees will be glad to know that Fort Hood is located in Killeen, roughly 40 miles north. Sun City Texas has its own medical center.
The Georgetown Recreation Department has a strong seniors program that includes everything from defensive driving classes and yoga classes to pilot lessons and country western dance lessons. Georgetown also has two senior centers that offer congregate meals and a variety of services and activities.
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More than forty churches and synagogues are located here, and Southwestern University, the small liberal arts college (population 1,300 students), offers the opportunity for ongoing education. Sun City Texas residents can also take advantage of Sun City's Senior University where visiting professors present classes and workshops.
There are many ways to volunteer. Georgetown Hospital has a dedicated program for this and recruits senior volunteers (as well as others) for everything from its gift shop to offering support services to acting as a greeter. Volunteer opportunities are also available at Sun City, the library, the schools, the chamber of commerce and the Parks and Recreation Department.
CARTS (Capital Area Rural Transportation System) provides curb to curb van service throughout Georgetown and to surrounding towns, including Austin. Most rides are between $2 to $4 one way.
This is Texas so it gets hot in the summers. July temperatures reach the high-90s during the day and dip into the mid-70s during the evening. Winters are mild with highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s. Morning humidity is around 90% and dips to 70% by afternoon. The area receives 2 to 5 inches of rain a month, with spring and fall receiving the most. Tornados can occur, but they are usually not as violent as ones farther north. The sun shines 230 days of the year. The air quality is below the national average, but the water quality is above the national average.
Retirement in Georgetown has some drawbacks. Infrastructure has not entirely kept pace with the rapid growth, and there is talk of needing more medical facilities. Not all locals are happy with the large influx of newcomers, or with the fact that large box retail stores, including WalMart, have opened up on the edges of town. Some grumble that Georgetown, for so long a rural hamlet, is growing up, becoming self-sufficient and losing a bit of its charm.
And yet, Georgetown still entices. It may be growing up, but it still has plenty of small town ambiance, friendliness and civic pride, enough to make it a great retirement spot indeed.
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