Home › Retiring in Texas: Complete Guide
Retiring in Texas: The Complete 2026 Guide
The whole picture, plus county-by-county data · Verified 2026-06-10
Find your best-fit Texas county — free 2-minute comparison →Texas is one of the most popular places in the country to retire, and the reason is simple: no state income tax. But that headline hides a lot of variation. Property taxes are high (though heavily reduced for retirees), summers are hot (but far milder in some regions than others), and healthcare ranges from world-class in the metros to thin in rural counties. The upshot is that which Texas county you choose matters more than the decision to retire in Texas at all. This guide walks through what to weigh, and links to the data for every piece.
No state income tax — the big draw
Texas is one of a handful of states with no personal income tax. For a retiree drawing on Social Security, a pension, or IRA withdrawals, that's real money kept every year, and it's the foundation of the state's appeal.
Property taxes — the offset, and the retiree relief
The trade-off for no income tax is that Texas leans on property taxes, which run high and vary widely — from about $2,300/yr in the cheapest counties to over $7,000 in the priciest suburbs. The crucial part for retirees: at 65 you get an over-65 homestead exemption and a freeze on your school taxes that together wipe out much of the bill. Don't judge a county by its raw tax number without reading the senior property-tax breaks first.
Climate — hot, but how hot depends on where
Every part of Texas is hot in summer, but the gap between regions is a month or more of 95°F+ days. The Panhandle and coast are mildest for heat (with their own trade-offs); the Rio Grande Valley and far west are hottest. See the counties with the mildest summers.
Healthcare — best in the metros
Healthcare is the factor retirees most often underweight. The big metros — Houston, San Antonio, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin — have the strongest hospitals and specialist access; rural counties have far less. Many retirees pick a quieter county that's still a comfortable drive from a metro hospital. See the counties ranked for healthcare.
Explore by what matters to you
Rank all 30 counties for your priorities — free tool →Common Questions
Is Texas a good state to retire in?
Texas is a top retirement destination largely because it has no state income tax, which stretches a fixed income. The main offsets are high property taxes (softened a lot by the over-65 exemption and school-tax freeze) and hot summers. Because those vary enormously by county, where you land in Texas matters more than the fact that it's Texas.
What is the best place to retire in Texas?
There's no single best place — it depends on whether you weight cost, healthcare, or climate most. The Hill Country (Comal, Hays) and Austin suburbs (Georgetown, Round Rock) are the popular picks; border and Panhandle counties are far cheaper; the big metros have the best healthcare. The free comparison tool ranks all 30 major counties for your specific priorities.
Do you pay property tax on your home in Texas after 65?
You may still owe some, but 65+ homeowners get large reductions: an over-65 homestead exemption (now $200,000 off your home's value for school taxes after Proposition 13) plus a freeze on school taxes. Many retirees end up owing little or nothing in school tax; city and county taxes can still apply.