Travis County

Travis County, Texas

What does Travis County, Texas include?
Travis County covers about 1,023 square miles around Austin, the county seat. It takes in 22 cities and villages plus three Colorado River lakes: Lake Travis, Lake Austin and Lady Bird Lake.

When most people say "Austin," they mean Travis County. It's home to about 1.29 million people (2020 Census), the State Capitol, downtown's high-rise skyline and the Hill Country lakes to the west. It's also where I've spent most of my career helping clients buy and sell, from Northwest Hills to the shores of Lake Travis.

This guide walks through how the county is laid out, where the different kinds of homes are, and the practical details (taxes, appraisal, school districts) worth knowing before you buy. If you're moving from out of town, my Relocating to Austin guide covers the bigger picture.

Travis County at a glance

Cities and communities in Travis County

Travis County is more than the city of Austin. Here's how the rest of it groups together:

• Central and West Austin: Northwest Hills, Tarrytown, Zilker, Hyde Park, Travis Heights and the downtown condo towers.
• Westlake area: West Lake Hills, Rollingwood and Barton Creek.
• Lake Travis and the Hill Country: Lakeway, Bee Cave, The Hills, Lago Vista, Jonestown, Point Venture, Volente and Briarcliff, plus Steiner Ranch and River Place.
• North and east: Pflugerville, Manor, Webberville and the Travis County portions of Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock and Elgin.
• South: Sunset Valley, San Leanna, Mustang Ridge and Creedmoor.

Homes and lifestyle

The range here is wide. You'll find:

• Downtown high-rises like The Independent, The Austonian and 70 Rainey, for lock-and-leave living near Lady Bird Lake.
• Established central neighborhoods with mid-century homes and new builds on mature lots, like Tarrytown and Northwest Hills (78731).
• Hill Country estates in West Lake Hills, Barton Creek and along Lake Austin.
• Waterfront and lake-view homes on Lake Travis, from Lakeway to Lago Vista.
• Newer construction communities can be found throughout the Austin area, including Southeast Austin, North Austin, West Austin, and many surrounding suburbs. Browse new construction homes.

Looking for a specific setting in Travis County? See Lake Front Homes for Lake Austin and Lake Travis, Luxury Estates for West Lake Hills, Barton Creek and Tarrytown, and Resort-Style Communities and Golf Course Homes for Barton Creek and Lakeway.

Getting around

I-35 and MoPac (Loop 1) run north to south through Austin. Loop 360 connects Westlake and Northwest Austin, SH 71 heads west toward Bee Cave and Lake Travis, and SH 130 runs along the east side of the county. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport sits in southeast Austin.

Property taxes and appraisal

The Travis Appraisal District sets property values each year, and the Travis County Tax Office collects the taxes. Your total tax rate depends on the city, school district and special districts at your address, so two homes a mile apart can have different rates. If you live in the home, file your homestead exemption with the appraisal district. I wrote a short guide: Have you filed your homestead exemption?

School districts

Travis County is served by several school districts, including Austin ISD, Eanes ISD, Lake Travis ISD, Leander ISD, Round Rock ISD, Pflugerville ISD, Manor ISD and Del Valle ISD. District lines don't follow city lines, so 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 Travis County, from Northwest Hills and Westlake to Lake Travis. Schedule a Walk & Talk, request a home valuation or ask about private listings.

Common questions about Travis County

What is the county seat of Travis County?

Austin is the county seat of Travis County and the capital of Texas.

Is Lake Travis in Travis County?

Mostly. The Lower Colorado River Authority lists Lake Travis in Travis and Burnet counties, so a few upstream areas sit in Burnet County.

Who sets home values for property taxes in Travis County?

The Travis Appraisal District appraises every property each year. You can look up any address and file a protest through its website.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census), Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Lower Colorado River Authority, Travis Appraisal District. Albert Allen, REALTOR®, Compass RE Texas, LLC. Information is believed reliable but not guaranteed. Photo: Pennybacker Bridge, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.