Home › Comal County vs. Hays County
Comal County vs. Hays County for Retirement
New Braunfels vs. San Marcos · Head-to-head on the data · Verified 2026-06-10
Compare Comal, Hays & 28 others for YOUR priorities →Two counties people often weigh against each other for retirement. Here's how Comal County and Hays County stack up on the numbers that matter — taxes, cost, healthcare, and heat — with a plain read on who each one suits.
Side by side
| Measure | Comal County | Hays County |
|---|---|---|
| Avg property tax | $5,828 | $6,208 | (Comal better)
| Cost of living (US=100) | 95 | 99 | (Comal better)
| Median home value | $315,000 | $325,000 | (Comal better)
| CMS hospital rating (/5) | 3.8 | 3.9 | (Hays better)
| Physicians / 100k | 245 | 265 | (Hays better)
| 95°F+ days/yr | 110 | 112 | (Comal better)
Who each one suits
Comal County makes sense if you lean toward New Braunfels and value a lower cost of living and a lighter property-tax bill. Hays County is the stronger pick if nearby healthcare quality matters most. Neither is a clear winner — the "right" answer is whichever lines up with the priorities you'd set in the comparison tool.
Rank both against all 30 counties — free 2-minute tool →Common Questions
Is Comal County or Hays County better for retirement?
Neither wins outright — it depends on your priorities. Comal County (New Braunfels) averages $5,828/yr in property tax with a cost-of-living index of 95; Hays County (San Marcos) is $6,208/yr at 99. On healthcare they run 3.8/5 vs 3.9/5, and on summer heat 110 vs 112 days above 95°F. Run the free comparison to weight these by what matters to you.
Which is cheaper, Comal County or Hays County?
Comal County has the lower average property tax ($5,828/yr vs $6,208/yr), and Comal County has the lower overall cost of living. If you're 65+, the over-65 exemption and school-tax freeze apply in both.