Texas
Snapshot
Texas retirement guide
Texas gives you no state income tax and a huge range of places to land. You pay for it in heat, high property taxes, and a long record of disasters.
Could fit
You want no state income tax, mild winters across much of the state, and your pick of big cities, Hill Country, or the coast.
Look closely at
You worry about high property taxes, brutal summer heat, or the steady run of hurricanes, storms, and grid strain.
$4,850/mo
Using the same $5,000 national monthly example, Texas comes out near $4,850 a month.
#27 of 50 for lowest everyday cost, using the same BEA index shown here.
Texas runs about 3% below the national average on everyday prices.
104
Our index of how Texas's estimated annual hobby costs compare with the rest of the country.
#23 of 50 for lower estimated recreation cost, using the same hobby-cost model shown here.
Texas's modeled hobby costs run about 4% above the national average. The modeled average is about $1,091 a year across the activity basket.
Est. Our own measure from 8 modeled hobbies. It uses published state fees where we have them, then adds recurring hobby assumptions like gear, trips, memberships, and upkeep. 100 = national average.
How the plan models Texas
Start here for the whole state picture. The quick math sits beside the things that change daily life: taxes, home costs, care costs, towns, weather, and what Texas actually feels like.
Tax and Medicare
Estimate how Texas treats Social Security, pension income, IRA/401(k) withdrawals, city income tax, and Medicare premium tiers before you build the full journey.
Social Security
Not taxed
Pension
Not taxed
IRA / 401(k)
Not taxed
Cost of living
$4,850/mo
Using the same $5,000 national monthly example, Texas prices translate to about $4,850 a month.
BEA Regional Price ParitiesState income tax
None
Texas has no broad state income tax, but property tax, insurance, sales tax, vehicle costs, and local prices still belong in the plan. AARP lists Texas among states that do not tax IRA and 401(k) distributions in the summary used here.
Tax FoundationSocial Security
Not taxed
Texas does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here.
AARP / IRS Pub. 915Property tax
1.8%
Property tax is local, but the Texas state-level planning rate used here is 1.8% of home value. On a $350,000 home, that is about $6,300 a year before county detail.
Tax FoundationSales tax
8.2%
Tax Foundation puts Texas's 2026 average combined state and local sales tax near 8.2%, ranked 14 among states in that table.
Tax FoundationVehicle costs
Registration line
Vehicle costs still belong in the budget, but the vehicle-tax source used here does not flag Texas as a state where value-based vehicle property tax is the main planning issue.
FreeTaxUSA vehicle-tax guideTexas tax note
Texas has no broad personal income tax in this summary. The state page keeps property tax, sales tax, insurance, utilities, and local housing visible because those lines can carry more of the cost story.
Long-term care in Texas
CareScout and Genworth 2025 median costs, compared with the national median. Long-term care is a separate planning layer from ordinary Medicare costs.
Assisted living
$5,666/mo
About $67,992 a year, 9% lower than the national median.
Nursing home (semi-private)
$5,627/mo
About $67,525 a year, 41% lower than the national median.
Home caregiver
$5,720/mo
About $68,640 a year, 14% lower than the national median.
Activities & recreation in Texas
How the things people retire for actually look in Texas. Each links to the full activity guide.
Austin's GolfATX system operates six public courses including Lions Municipal Golf Course, where senior green fees (age 60+) are $27 on weekdays. Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Fort Worth each operate large municipal golf systems with senior rates, and Texas's year-round mild climate makes the sport accessible in all seasons across the southern half of the state.
Estimated annual hobby cost
24 public rounds per year, plus equipment refresh, range balls, carts, and other course extras.
Published input
Houston resident weekday 18-hole greens fee at Memorial Park Golf Course (municipal); rates vary by season and tee time
Published range: $30 to $38.
Memorial Park Golf Course - Houston Muni Golf · as of 2025Where to go
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension operates one of the largest Master Gardener programs in the country with thousands of active volunteers across all 254 Texas counties. Growing seasons vary widely by region, from the near year-round conditions of the Rio Grande Valley to a shorter April-through-October window in the Panhandle, and community gardens are common in urban areas statewide.
Estimated annual hobby cost
Seeds, soil, tools, replacement plants, water, and a modest home or community-garden setup.
No state-published fee is attached to this activity, so the estimate uses the recurring-cost assumption only.
Where to go
Texas Parks and Wildlife issues fishing licenses for freshwater and saltwater angling across the state's 191,000 miles of rivers and streams, 600 public lakes, and 367 miles of Gulf Coast. Residents 65 and older pay a reduced resident fishing license fee, and the agency runs a free fishing day each year when no license is required.
Estimated annual hobby cost
One resident annual license, plus tackle, bait, simple access trips, and replacement gear.
Published input
Texas resident freshwater fishing package (annual, valid to Aug 31); senior 65+ resident freshwater package $12; born before Jan 1, 1931 exempt
Published range: $12 to $40.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Fishing Licenses and Packages · as of 2025-08Texas has over 100 public lakes with TPWD-maintained boat ramps, and lakes Texoma, Sam Rayburn, Livingston, and Travis host large marinas with rental facilities. The Gulf Coast offers saltwater boating from Galveston to South Padre Island, and TPWD maps hundreds of public water access points for motorized and paddle craft across the state.
Estimated annual hobby cost
A modest owned boat, including registration, insurance, storage, maintenance, fuel, and basic upkeep.
Published input
Texas vessel registration (Class 1: 16 to less than 26 feet); Class A (under 16 ft) $32; Texas registration valid for 2 years; per-year equivalent shown
Published range: $32 to $150.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Fee Chart for Boats and Outboard Motors · as of 2026-02Where to go
Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio have each added dozens of dedicated public pickleball courts at city parks over the past several years. Austin Parks and Recreation offers senior pickleball drop-in sessions at multiple recreation centers, and USA Pickleball affiliates operate leagues across major Texas metro areas.
Estimated annual hobby cost
30 court visits per year, plus paddle replacement, balls, league fees, and small club costs.
Published input
Austin Parks and Recreation outdoor dedicated pickleball courts are free and open to the public during park hours; no drop-in fee charged
City of Austin Parks and Recreation - Pickleball · as of 2026Where to go
Texas cities support major cultural institutions including the Dallas Museum of Art, Houston Museum of Natural Science, San Antonio Museum of Art, and Fort Worth's museums district. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute operates at multiple Texas universities including UT Austin and UT Dallas, offering noncredit courses in arts, history, and science for adults 50 and older.
Estimated annual hobby cost
8 museum, theater, or cultural visits per year, plus a modest membership or ticket budget.
Published input
San Antonio Museum of Art general admission; senior 65+ admission $19; MFAH (Houston) permanent collection always free on Thursdays
Published range: $19 to $24.
San Antonio Museum of Art - Visit · as of 2026Where to go
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission funds 28 Area Agencies on Aging across the state, each operating senior centers, nutrition programs, and volunteer coordination for residents 60 and older. The state's RSVP program connects older adults with volunteer placements in schools, food banks, hospitals, and disaster preparedness organizations throughout Texas.
Estimated annual hobby cost
Senior-center, club, class, trip, or program costs beyond any published membership fee.
No state-published fee is attached to this activity, so the estimate uses the recurring-cost assumption only.
Where to go
Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and dozens of Texas State Parks offer hiking trails ranging from paved accessible boardwalks to multi-day backpacking routes. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area near Fredericksburg and Pedernales Falls State Park in the Hill Country draw day hikers from across central Texas.
Estimated annual hobby cost
12 trail or park visits per year, plus footwear, basic gear, parking, and local travel.
Published input
Texas State Parks Pass (individual, annual); covers unlimited free entry to 88 state parks for one year; senior 65+ partial passport gives 50% off per-entry fee at no charge to obtain
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Park Passes · as of 2026-01Where to go
Things to do in Texas
The state's parks run from desert to hills to forest to coast, from Colorado Bend out to the Gulf. Many have easy trails, fishing, and campgrounds, and one parks pass covers entry.
Big Bend National Park and the state park next door give you desert mountains, the Rio Grande, and some of the darkest night skies in the country. Scenic drives and overlooks let you take in the views without a hard hike.
West of Austin and San Antonio, the Hill Country runs on spring-fed rivers, wineries, and small towns that draw a lot of retirees. Many parks here have swimming holes and gentle riverside trails.
What to know about Texas
Texas has no state income tax, so the state takes nothing from your retirement income. The catch is property tax. Rates here run among the highest in the country, and that bill lands hard on a fixed income.
Texas Comptroller of Public AccountsBetween 1980 and 2024, 190 billion-dollar weather disasters hit Texas, more than any other state. That count includes 16 tropical cyclones and a long run of severe storms. Hurricanes on the coast, hail and tornadoes inland, and the 2021 winter freeze that buckled the power grid are all on the record.
NOAA National Centers for Environmental InformationAcross much of Texas, summer runs long and hot, with stretches above 100 degrees in many areas. Air conditioning is not optional here, and it shows up on your summer electric bill.
Things to do in Texas
14 tracked categories across Texas. Each card opens the search filtered to that activity.
Public, resort, and municipal courses near retirement towns.
243 places tracked
Boat ramps, piers, lakes, and shore access.
1,061 places tracked
Named trails, parks, and nature reserves for a real walk.
261 places tracked
Marinas, ramps, and launches for getting on the water.
79 places tracked
Courts and public places to play.
356 places tracked
Community gardens, botanical gardens, and places to dig in.
132 places tracked
Museums, galleries, theaters, and cultural stops.
654 places tracked
Senior centers, community centers, and places to meet people.
501 places tracked
Where to roll a few games on a sunny afternoon.
13 places tracked
Top-rated birding hotspots from the eBird community.
2,786 places tracked
Off-leash parks for the four-legged member of the household.
114 places tracked
Federal campgrounds, RV parks, dispersed sites, and horse-friendly camps.
396 places tracked
Wildlife and whale viewing, scenic drives, hot springs, stargazing spots.
57 places tracked
Tasting rooms and winery tours nearby.
33 places tracked
Tastings
2 p.m.
Somm Space, Westgate, Austin · Austin, TX
Somm Space, Westgate, Austin
You can test your palate in a blind deductive wine-tasting workshop at Somm Space.
Lifelong learning
Mcallen Public Library · Mcallen, TX
Mcallen Public Library
In Observance of World UFO Day. Discover the UFO folklore of South Texas in this seminar featuring local paranormal experts.
Theater & film
Mcallen Public Library · Mcallen, TX
Mcallen Public Library
Relax, hang out with friends, and enjoy a movie on the big screen.
Theater & film
7 PM
Punch Line Houston · Houston, TX
Punch Line Houston
Doors will open one hour prior to show time. This show is 18 & over with valid, government-issued photo ID. There is a two beverage minimum per person. Cameras and video/audio recording devices are not permitted. $.25 per each ticket sold for a majority of events at Punch Line benefits Comedy Giv...
Music & concerts
6:30 PM
Sam's Burger Joint · San Antonio, TX
Theater & film
7 PM
Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club · San Antonio, TX
Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
Retirement towns in Texas
Weighing two states?
Compare cost of living, taxes, Social Security treatment, property and sales tax, and long-term-care costs side by side.
Common questions
Texas does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here. AARP lists Texas among states that do not tax IRA and 401(k) distributions in the summary used here. Texas has no broad state income tax, but property tax, insurance, sales tax, vehicle costs, and local prices still belong in the plan.
AARP: how states tax retirement incomeBEA regional price parities put Texas about 2.9% below the U.S. average cost level. That price level is the first reason a national retirement number needs a Texas translation.
BEA Regional Price ParitiesIn the CareScout and Genworth 2025 medians, Texas assisted living runs about $67,992 a year (9% lower than the national median) and a semi-private nursing-home room about $67,525 a year (41% lower than the national median).
CareScout / Genworth Cost of CareTexas has 9 researched town guides: Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Georgetown, Houston, McAllen, San Antonio, The Woodlands. Each one breaks down local costs, services, and things to do.
No. Texas has no state income tax, so your Social Security, pensions, and retirement withdrawals go untaxed by the state. The trade-off is property tax, which runs among the highest in the country, so the local rate matters a lot.
Texas Comptroller of Public AccountsSources
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