Austin Property Taxes by City: Cedar Park vs Round Rock vs Leander vs Georgetown (2025–2026)

Two similarly priced Austin-area homes can have different property-tax bills because their taxing entities and exemptions differ. This guide uses selected 2025 rates to explain the calculation. It is a historical comparison, not a 2026 tax quote or a citywide guarantee. The tables below show a clearly defined subtotal; the parcel’s other entities must still be added.

Why Property Taxes Hit Hard in Texas (and How They Work)

Texas has no state property tax; local taxing units levy property taxes. A bill can include a school district, county, city, community college, hospital district, and special districts. Other government revenue sources also exist. The useful buyer question is which entities actually tax this parcel.

Calculate each entity separately: its taxable value after applicable exemptions multiplied by its rate per $100, divided by 100. Add those dollar amounts. Adding rates and applying them to one value is only a simplified comparison when every entity uses the same tax base.

Market value, appraised value, and taxable value are different numbers. A lower rate can still produce a higher bill if the applicable taxable value rises. Read the property’s own notice rather than assuming the purchase price or a county average is the exact tax base.

The 2025 Comparison Table: 5 Cities, Real Numbers

For a hypothetical $400,000 value, this table adds only the listed city, county, and school rates from tax year 2025. It excludes college, hospital, MUD, ESD, and other applicable entities. The last column applies only the $140,000 school homestead exemption, which applies for tax year 2025 following voter approval. Local exemptions are deliberately excluded so the comparison remains transparent; neither dollar column is a complete parcel tax estimate.

Sources checked for this correction: Williamson County’s 2025 rates-and-exemptions table, Austin ISD’s tax history, Travis County’s tax-rate records, and Austin’s November 2025 ordinance reducing its adopted rate to $0.524017 after the tax-rate election. The Williamson school table distinguishes Leander ISD (1.0869%) from Liberty Hill ISD (1.2389%) and Georgetown ISD (1.0506%) from Granger ISD (1.2093%). These districts are not interchangeable.

School District Rates Are One Part of the Bill

School rates can materially affect the comparison, but they do not establish a universal city ranking. The 2025 rates here are 0.8931% for Round Rock ISD, 1.0869% for Leander ISD, and 1.0506% for Georgetown ISD. Verify which district actually serves and taxes the home.

For two parcels with the same school, county, and taxable values, the city rate can explain part of the difference. For parcels with different school or special-district assignments, comparing only the city rate misses important costs. A mailing address does not establish the full combination.

Compare the exemption for each taxing entity as well as its rate. For example, Georgetown’s 5% city exemption on a $400,000 home removes $20,000 from that city’s tax base. At its 2025 rate of 0.353%, the saving is $70.60, not $706.

How the Homestead Exemption Changes the Math

The school exemption and local exemptions reduce different parts of the bill. Here are examples using the 2025 rules; eligibility and the property’s own record still matter:

• School District Exemption ($140,000): The general school exemption increased to $140,000 for tax year 2025 following voter approval. At Leander ISD’s 2025 rate of 1.0869%, it reduces the school tax by $1,521.66 when the full exemption applies and sufficient taxable value remains.
• Williamson County Optional Exemption (5%): Williamson County’s 2025 table separates the general county rate from the farm-to-market road rate. The 5% general-county exemption on a $400,000 home saves about $73.89 at 0.369447%; the road component has its own exemption. Do not apply one exemption to both components without checking.
• Georgetown City Exemption (5% of value): On $400,000, the 5% city exemption is $20,000 of value. Multiplying by the 0.353% city rate gives $70.60 of annual savings. An exemption is a reduction in the tax base, not the tax bill itself.
• Cedar Park and Leander City Exemptions (1%): The 2025 table lists 1% with a $5,000 minimum. On a $400,000 home, the minimum applies: $5,000 × 0.36% saves $18 in Cedar Park, and $5,000 × 0.417282% saves about $20.86 in Leander.
• 10% Annual Assessment Cap: The limitation generally starts January 1 after the first qualifying tax year. It limits appraised-value growth under the statutory formula, with new improvements added separately. Tax rates, exemptions, and insurance can still change your total payment.

Apply through the appraisal district for the parcel using the official residence-homestead application when you qualify. Save confirmation and verify the effective year. Filing and late-application deadlines depend on the exemption and facts; use the district’s current instructions rather than assuming a missed date permanently eliminates relief.

What This Looks Like Month-to-Month

Dividing the annual subtotal by 12 shows its monthly scale. The figures below repeat the same three-entity comparison; they exclude other taxing entities and local exemptions. Your escrow calculation must use the complete parcel estimate, plus insurance and any servicer shortage adjustment.

In this limited example, the Round Rock and Leander subtotals differ by about $956.33 annually before exemptions, or $79.69 monthly. That difference is worth comparing, but an additional district or a different exemption can change the result. It is not a forecast of the next 10 years of taxes.

The MUD Factor: What Isn’t Shown in the Table

Special-district taxes can materially change the result. A hypothetical 0.60% MUD rate on $400,000 adds $2,400 annually before any applicable exemption. Some districts use a tax rate, while a PID may impose a separate assessment. Identify the actual entity and charge before adding it to the worksheet.

This is one of the most common surprises for out-of-state buyers who are used to relatively simple tax structures. Before you go under contract on a new build or a home in a master-planned community, ask specifically: does this property sit within a MUD? What is the current MUD rate? When is the MUD debt expected to retire? A good buyer’s agent will pull this from the property’s tax certificate before you close.

How to Verify Your Actual Rate Before You Buy

The comparison tables here give you a reliable starting point, but your exact rate depends on the specific parcel — its precise taxing jurisdiction overlaps, any special district memberships, and the current assessed value versus your purchase price. Here’s how to verify before you close:

• Williamson County properties (Cedar Park, Round Rock, Leander, Georgetown): Search by address at wcad.org to see all taxing entities, current rates, and existing exemptions on the property.
• Travis County properties (Austin city limits): Search at tcad.org for the same breakdown.
• Ask for the tax certificate: Review the tax statements or certificates required by the contract and identify unpaid amounts and taxing entities. The documents report the property account; they do not guarantee the buyer’s future taxable value or exemption eligibility.
• Run the math on your target price: Calculate each entity’s tax using its own expected taxable value, exemption, and adopted rate. Add the amounts and divide by 12. Then add principal, interest, insurance, HOA, and other ownership costs to test the full monthly budget.

Bottom Line: Which City Is the Best Deal on Taxes?

Round Rock has the lowest three-entity subtotal in this specific equal-value 2025 illustration. That does not make every Round Rock home the cheapest to own. The difference between 0.8931% and 1.0869% is 0.1938 percentage points, not 35 percentage points. The complete parcel bill and purchase price decide the useful comparison.

A city ranking can reverse when the school district, special districts, taxable values, or exemptions differ. Keep the school-and-county match explicit, and compare the total dollar cost for two actual homes before choosing an area.

Taxes belong beside the commute, home condition, insurance, and available space. A home with a slightly higher tax bill may still fit better if other costs are lower or its location saves time. Use the calculation to understand the tradeoff rather than choose by a city label.

Next Steps

If you’re comparing cities and want to understand what specific neighborhoods within each area actually cost — taxes included — I’m happy to run the numbers for your target price range. I track this data because it’s the kind of thing that changes your monthly payment by hundreds of dollars and rarely shows up clearly in a listing.

• Check the current Austin Metro Market Snapshot — inventory, days on market, and price trend data updated regularly.
• Browse homes for sale in Round Rock — compare the actual parcel’s taxes and ownership costs.
• Browse homes for sale in Georgetown — verify the district and exemption combination.
• Browse homes for sale in Cedar Park — great retail access, balanced lifestyle costs.
• Browse homes for sale in Leander — compare the home, route, and full tax statement.
• Read the Round Rock Neighborhood Guide for a full lifestyle and commute breakdown.
• Read the Georgetown Neighborhood Guide to understand what makes this city different from the rest.
• Read the Cedar Park Neighborhood Guide for school ratings, walkability, and what buyers typically prioritize here.
• Read the Leander Neighborhood Guide if you’re considering this rapidly expanding corridor.
• Get a free home valuation if you already own in the area and want to know where you stand.
• Talk to Vlad directly — I’ll walk you through the full tax picture on any property before you make a move.