Burnet County

Burnet County, Texas

What does Burnet County, Texas include?
Burnet County covers about 1,021 square miles northwest of Austin in the Highland Lakes. Burnet is the county seat, and the county includes Marble Falls, Granite Shoals, Meadowlakes, Cottonwood Shores and much of Spicewood.

Burnet County is lake country. Four of the six Highland Lakes on the Colorado River touch the county: Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls. Lake Travis reaches into it too. About 49,000 people lived here at the 2020 Census, and many of my clients know it first as a weekend place before it becomes home.

Marble Falls is about an hour from downtown Austin, which makes the county a realistic option for a second home, a lake house or a full-time move with room to breathe.

Burnet County at a glance

The Highland Lakes in Burnet County

The lakes don't all behave the same way, and that matters when you buy on the water.

• Lake LBJ, Inks Lake and Lake Marble Falls: the Lower Colorado River Authority keeps these within narrow operating ranges, so water levels at the dock stay fairly steady.
• Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis: these are the region's water supply reservoirs, so levels rise and fall with rain and drought.

Before you buy a waterfront home, ask about the dock, the water depth at the shoreline and the lake's history at that spot. I'm glad to help you look at all three.

Cities and communities in Burnet County

• Marble Falls: the county's commercial hub on US 281 and Lake Marble Falls. Marble Falls homes for sale
• Spicewood: Hill Country and lake properties along SH 71 near Lake Travis, mostly in Burnet County. Spicewood homes for sale
• Horseshoe Bay: a lake and golf community on Lake LBJ. Most of the city sits in neighboring Llano County.
• Burnet: the county seat, with a historic square and access to Inks Lake and Lake Buchanan.
• Lake LBJ communities: Granite Shoals, Highland Haven, Meadowlakes and Cottonwood Shores.
• Smaller towns: Bertram and Double Horn.

Homes and lifestyle

• Waterfront homes on Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls, often with private docks.
• Golf and lake communities around Horseshoe Bay and Meadowlakes.
• Hill Country acreage and ranch land around Spicewood, Bertram and Burnet.
• Second homes and lock-and-leave lake houses for Austin owners.
• State parks close by, including Inks Lake State Park and Longhorn Cavern State Park.

For specific lifestyles in Burnet County, see Lake Front Homes for the Highland Lakes, Resort-Style Communities for Horseshoe Bay, Golf Course Homes, and Farm and Ranch and Equestrian Properties for acreage.

Getting around

US 281 runs north to south through Marble Falls and Burnet. SH 71 connects Spicewood and the Horseshoe Bay area to Bee Cave and Austin. SH 29 runs east from Burnet toward Georgetown.

Property taxes and appraisal

The Burnet Central Appraisal District sets property values, and the Burnet County Tax Office collects the taxes. If the home will be your primary residence, file your homestead exemption with the appraisal district. A second home does not qualify for it.

School districts

Burnet County is served mainly by Burnet CISD and Marble Falls ISD, with a few areas served by neighboring districts. Always confirm the district for a specific address with the district itself.

Working with Albert Allen

Albert Allen is an Austin native and Luxury Real Estate Advisor with Compass, with more than a decade of experience helping clients buy and sell across Austin.

Albert represents buyers and sellers across Burnet County and the Highland Lakes, from Marble Falls to Spicewood. Schedule a Walk & Talk, request a home valuation or ask about private listings.

Common questions about Burnet County

What is the county seat of Burnet County?

The city of Burnet is the county seat.

Which Highland Lakes are in Burnet County?

Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls all touch Burnet County, and part of Lake Travis does too.

Is Horseshoe Bay in Burnet County?

Partly. Most of Horseshoe Bay is in Llano County, and a portion lies in Burnet County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census), Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Lower Colorado River Authority, Burnet Central Appraisal District. Albert Allen, REALTOR®, Compass RE Texas, LLC. Information is believed reliable but not guaranteed. Photo: Lake LBJ, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.