Living in Georgetown, Texas

Georgetown is one of those rare places that manages to feel both historic and new at the same time. It’s known for its beautifully preserved downtown square. One of the most beautiful downtown squares in Texas. It is also known for being home to Sun City, a massive 55+ active adult community that helped put Georgetown on the map as a retirement destination. But Georgetown has been changing fast. In the last decade, it’s grown into a full-fledged suburb of Austin with new master-planned communities, a growing school district, and a lot more families moving in alongside the retirees.

It’s about 30 miles north of downtown Austin, which makes it a longer commute for those still heading into the city every day. But for remote workers, retirees, or anyone who only needs to head into Austin once in a while, the trade-off is worth it: scenic parks, peaceful neighborhoods, and less daily chaos. The city has also been forward-thinking on infrastructure—it was one of the first in Texas to run entirely on renewable energy, and city services are generally responsive and well-organized.

What to watch out for? Growth pains. Traffic can get snarled on I-35, especially at rush hour. And while the town square still has that small-town charm, sprawl on the outskirts is changing the feel of Georgetown quickly.

People move to Georgetown for the lifestyle as much as the housing. The San Gabriel River winds through town and is flanked by a huge network of parks and trails. [Blue Hole Park](Small-Town Feel with Big-Time Greenspace)—a local favorite—is a spring-fed swimming hole surrounded by limestone bluffs, and you can access miles of hike-and-bike trails right from the downtown area.

The historic downtown square isn’t just a tourist stop. It’s an actual hub of local life, with coffee shops, a retro soda fountain, boutiques, restaurants, and live music. The Palace Theatre puts on a full season of community shows, and there’s a year-round farmers market just off the square.

It’s a great town for those who love to be outdoors but don’t want to be isolated. Most neighborhoods have parks, splash pads, or clubhouses built in, and the city hosts events and festivals nearly every month.

Georgetown ISD is still catching up to the top-tier districts like Leander or Round Rock ISD in terms of test scores and reputation, but it’s improving quickly and investing heavily in facilities and advanced programs. The district earned a “B+” grade overall from Niche.com, with some standout schools in both academics and extracurriculars.

Two schools that consistently perform well include:

Ford Elementary School: A-rated, with strong parent reviews and good student-teacher ratios.

East View High School: Offers strong arts, athletics, and college-prep programs.

Families looking for stronger school options also sometimes opt for nearby private schools or live near the Leander ISD boundary for access to higher-rated districts.