Florence is the most rural community in Williamson County and offers retirees something that is becoming exceedingly rare in the Austin metro region: genuine country living at a very affordable price. With a population of approximately 1,200, Florence is a small, quiet town in the northwestern part of the county where the landscape opens up into ranch land, live oak groves, and rolling Hill Country terrain.
Affordability is Florence's strongest advantage. The median home price is approximately $270K, the lowest in Williamson County. Properties often include larger lots or acreage, and the lower cost of entry means retirees can purchase a home outright or maintain very low housing costs. For those relocating from expensive metros, Florence's pricing is particularly striking. Property tax rates are around 2.0%, among the lowest in the county, and senior homestead exemptions provide additional relief.
Florence does not have its own hospital, medical clinics, or significant commercial infrastructure. St. David's Georgetown Hospital is approximately 25 to 30 minutes south, and that is the primary healthcare option for Florence residents. Baylor Scott & White in Round Rock is roughly 40 minutes away. This is the most important consideration for retirees evaluating Florence. Living here requires comfort with driving for virtually all medical care, grocery shopping, and services. The nearest H-E-B grocery store is in Georgetown.
What Florence offers in return is peace, space, and natural beauty. The town sits near the northern reaches of Williamson County, where the land transitions into the Hill Country lake region. Stillhouse Hollow Lake and Belton Lake in neighboring Bell County are within a reasonable drive, offering boating, fishing, and lakeside recreation. The countryside around Florence is popular with birdwatchers, horseback riders, and anyone who simply wants to sit on a porch and watch the sunset over open land.
Florence has a small downtown area with a few local businesses, a post office, and a community center. The Florence Volunteer Fire Department and local civic organizations form the backbone of community life. Neighbors know each other, and there is a genuine sense of mutual support that comes with small-town living.
Florence is not for everyone. It requires independence, comfort with driving, and a willingness to live without nearby urban conveniences. But for retirees who dream of a quiet, rural lifestyle, want to keep costs as low as possible, and find joy in open space and natural surroundings, Florence offers an honest, unpretentious version of the Hill Country retirement that many people romanticize but few places can actually deliver at this price point.