Georgetown vs Round Rock: What's Different About Living in Each?

One of the questions I get asked the most is, "Should we look in Georgetown or Round Rock?"

My answer is always the same.

It depends on you.

They're about ten miles apart on I-35, and they don't live the same. I might be a little biased because I love Georgetown, but I think Round Rock's a great town too. Every area has its own personality.

So here's how I'd compare them, with current numbers and real places you can go see this weekend.

What's the short version?

Georgetown is a small-town square, a river, a lake and a lot of room. Round Rock is closer to Austin, more built out, and it has more jobs right in town.

The size surprises people. As of July 2025, the Census Bureau estimated 141,282 people in Round Rock and 106,907 in Georgetown.

But Georgetown covers about 58 square miles, and Round Rock covers about 38. So Georgetown has fewer people on a lot more map, and I think you can feel that when you drive it.

Do you want to be near the water? Do you want a shorter drive into Austin? Do you want a brand-new home, or a neighborhood that's already grown in?

Those are the questions I'd start with. They'll sort these two towns faster than any price chart, and I'll ask you every one of them.

What does a weekend look like in each?

This is where they feel the most different to me.

In Georgetown, I'd start you on the square. The Williamson County Courthouse has been in the middle of it since 1911, with local shops and restaurants all the way around.

Encantada is one of my favorites for margaritas and patio time. Blue Corn Harvest is right there too, and it's an easy, casual dinner.

Then there's the water. I love being outside, especially anywhere near the water, and Georgetown's full of it.

San Gabriel Park is about 180 acres along the river, and Blue Hole is just off the square. Lake Georgetown has the Good Water Loop, which runs about 26 miles around the lake if you're a hiker.

Garey Park is 525 acres on the west side. And if you're here in the spring, the Red Poppy Festival takes over downtown. The next one's April 23 to 25, 2027.

In Round Rock, I'd start you with a donut. Round Rock Donuts has been at it since 1926, and I'd tell you to get there early.

Downtown Round Rock is growing up nicely. Prete Plaza is on Main Street, and the new public library opened on Liberty Avenue in January 2023.

Old Settlers Park is the big one, and I'd put it on your list.

The city opened a new playground and a tennis and pickleball complex there in April 2026, then a bigger Rock'N River water park in May 2026.

Round Rock calls itself the Sports Capital of Texas, and it leans into it. The Round Rock Express play at Dell Diamond, and Kalahari's indoor water park opened in 2020.

It's also where you'll find IKEA and the Round Rock Premium Outlets. So if I'm being honest, Round Rock wins on big shopping.

And yes, there's a real round rock. It sits in Brushy Creek, and the town's carried the name since 1854.

How different is the drive?

Round Rock's downtown is about 19 miles from downtown Austin. Georgetown's square is about 28. That's the map talking, not the traffic.

I'd drive your real route at your real hours before you pick. I-35 has a mind of its own, and ten miles on it can be ten minutes or forty.

Round Rock has more ways around. It touches the SH 45 toll road, and as of November 2026 the city lists CapMetro routes 50, 152 and 980, with the 980 running to downtown Austin.

Georgetown is more of a drive-yourself town. You've got I-35, and SH 130 picks up on the north side if you're headed toward the airport.

TxDOT is also planning to widen I-35 between Highway 29 in Georgetown and SH 45 in Round Rock. That's about 13 miles, and it held a public meeting on it in August 2026.

There's no construction date yet. But if you buy in either town, I'd expect that stretch to be a work zone someday, and I'd plan for it.

One of the questions I'll ask you is whether traffic bothers you or not. Honestly, it matters more than people think it will.

Where are the jobs?

Round Rock has more of them in town. Dell's global headquarters is there, and the Round Rock Chamber lists more than 13,000 Dell employees as of November 2026.

It also has three hospitals. They're Ascension Seton Williamson, Baylor Scott & White and St. David's Round Rock.

Georgetown's job base is smaller, and I think it's part of why the town feels calmer. You've got Southwestern University, St. David's Georgetown Hospital and the county offices on the square.

So if you work in Round Rock or north Austin, I'd weigh that drive first. If you work from home, I'd weigh the weekend first.

What do homes look like, and what do they cost?

Here's what I pulled from the active listings as of November 2026. These are asking prices on homes for sale, not closed sales.

Georgetown had 1,833 active listings. The median asking price was about $465,000, at about $204 a square foot, and the median home was about 2,400 square feet.

Round Rock had 862 active listings as of November 2026. The median asking price was about $405,000, at about $195 a square foot, and the median home was about 2,125 square feet.

So Round Rock's lower price is mostly a smaller home. Per square foot, they're close.

The bigger difference is what's for sale, and that's what I'd look at with you.

As of November 2026, 721 of Georgetown's listings were new construction. That's about 39%. Round Rock had 170, or about 20%.

Georgetown also had 265 listings on an acre or more, and Round Rock had 25. If you want room for a shop, a casita, a boat or an RV, I'd start you in Georgetown.

Round Rock had more condos and townhomes, 87 of them compared with Georgetown's 59. It's the more built-out town, and it shows.

At the top, Georgetown had 138 listings at $1 million or more as of November 2026. Round Rock had 28.

That fits how I'd describe Georgetown's neighborhoods. If luxury is what you're after, Cimarron Hills is hard to beat. Berry Creek is mature trees, larger lots and golf course living.

If you're looking for a newer master-planned community with great amenities, Wolf Ranch is very popular right now. And if you're 55 or older, Sun City is one of the most sought-after active adult communities in the country.

What about taxes?

I'd slow down here, because the city name on the listing doesn't tell you the tax bill.

Your bill is several rates stacked together. There's the city, the county, the school district, and sometimes a MUD on top.

For the 2026 tax year, the City of Georgetown adopted $0.363167 per $100 of value in September 2026. Round Rock's council approved $0.423 that same month.

Round Rock addresses in Round Rock ISD also pay Austin Community College, which set $0.103643 per $100 as of September 2026. From what I can find, Georgetown ISD isn't in that district.

School rates go the other way. For 2025-26, Georgetown ISD's rate was $1.0506 per $100, and Round Rock ISD's was $0.8931.

Both districts asked voters for a higher rate on November 3, 2026, and both measures failed. So as of November 2026, I'd confirm this year's final school rate before you run your numbers.

My advice is simple. Look up the exact address with the Williamson Central Appraisal District, and I'll help you read it.

What about schools?

These are two different districts, and they're very different sizes.

As of 2026, Round Rock ISD has 59 campuses and about 46,000 students. Its five traditional high schools are Round Rock, McNeil, Stony Point, Westwood and Cedar Ridge.

Georgetown ISD has 22 campuses and about 14,000 students. It has Georgetown High and East View High, and a new high school is planned for 2028.

The Texas Education Agency gave both districts a B in its August 2026 ratings. I'd look up the campus you care about, because it can differ from the district.

Zoning goes by the exact address, not the city name. So I'd confirm any home with the district before you fall in love with it. That's my rule in both towns.

Is now a good time to buy in either one?

If you're ready to buy, then yes, it's a great time to buy.

As of September 2026, I'm seeing more price reductions, seller concessions and even interest rate buydowns. Sellers have a lot of competition out there, so they're willing to negotiate a lot more than in past years.

The numbers back that up. Unlock MLS reported a median sold price of $395,000 across Williamson County in September 2026, down 2.5% from a year earlier, with 5.0 months of inventory.

And as of November 2026, about 3 in 10 active listings in both towns showed a price cut. That's 532 in Georgetown and 266 in Round Rock.

The first step is always talking with a lender and getting pre-approved. It helps you understand your budget, and it lets us shop with a price and with confidence.

Then we get to do the fun part, and that's my favorite.

How I'd decide

I don't think one of these towns is better. I think one of them fits you, and here's how I'd find out.

• Spend a Saturday in each. Walk the Georgetown square and San Gabriel Park. Then do Round Rock Donuts and Old Settlers Park.
• Drive your commute at rush hour. Do it from both towns, in the same week if you can.
• Decide how new you want the house. Georgetown has far more new construction. Round Rock has more grown-in neighborhoods.
• Tell me what has to fit. A shop, a boat, an RV or a guest house changes where I'd take you.
• Look up the tax rate for the address. I'll do that with you before you write an offer.

What I want for you

I live in Georgetown and raise my family here, and I've been doing this since 2013. So you know where my heart is.

But my job isn't to talk you into my town. It's to make sure you feel heard, confident and informed, wherever you land.

I'll give you my honest take on both, and I'll answer my phone. If you're thinking about moving to Georgetown or Round Rock, I'd love to help you find the one that feels like home.

Verification notes

Every listing figure comes from active MLS listings pulled in November 2026. They're asking prices, not closed sales, and they include land, condos and new-construction floor plans.

Lot size was reported on about three quarters of Georgetown's listings, so the acreage count is a floor.

Round Rock's $0.423 city rate is from the city's own budget announcements in September 2026. I'd confirm the final ordinance with the city.

School tax rates for 2026-27 weren't confirmed after both November 3, 2026 elections failed. Confirm with each district or the appraisal district.

Whether a Georgetown address pays Austin Community College wasn't confirmed against the college's own map. Check the address.

The 2026 state school ratings were released in August 2026 and could change on appeal. Dell's employee count comes from the Round Rock Chamber and carries no date.

Drive distances are map distances from each downtown to downtown Austin. My market read is from September 2026, and it'll change.

Sources: Home figures computed from active MLS listings (Realty-in-US), as of November 2026. Census Bureau city population estimates, Vintage 2025. Georgetown profile and Round Rock profile, Census Reporter. Georgetown adopts budget, Community Impact. City of Round Rock budget. Austin Community College property taxes. Georgetown ISD tax rate election, Community Impact. Round Rock ISD budget and tax rate election, Community Impact. November 3, 2026 school election results, Fox 7 Austin. Round Rock ISD and Georgetown ISD, Texas Tribune. 2026 A-F ratings, CBS Austin. Round Rock public transportation. I-35 Georgetown to Round Rock, TxDOT. Major employers, Round Rock Chamber. Rock'N River expansion, City of Round Rock. Round Rock Public Library opening. Downtown plazas, City of Round Rock. Round Rock Donuts, our story. Round Rock, Handbook of Texas. Williamson County Courthouse, Texas Historical Commission. Georgetown destinations, Community Impact. Garey Park, Community Impact. Red Poppy Festival. September 2026 Central Texas Housing Report, Unlock MLS. Accessed November 2026.