Cost of Living in Georgetown
Sources genuinely disagree on how Georgetown's overall cost of living compares to the national average -- cited figures range from a headline index of 116.9 (about 17% above the national average, per BestPlaces.net) down to a renter-focused estimate of about 4% below the national average, depending on methodology and whether housing purchase costs or rental costs anchor the calculation. What's consistent across sources: housing is the dominant driver of whichever direction the index points, and Georgetown still runs meaningfully cheaper than Austin proper on the metric that matters most, home prices.
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Learn moreA Real Spread Depending on Methodology
BestPlaces.net cites a cost-of-living score of 116.9 for Georgetown, or about 17% above the national average. A separate calculator cites a lower figure of about 102.5 (roughly 3% above national), while a renter-focused breakdown from a local apartment operator describes overall living costs as about 4% below the U.S. national average and well below the Texas state average. This is a wide spread for supposedly the same underlying question, and it reflects real differences in whether the index weights homeownership costs (which run higher relative to national medians) versus a renter's basket (where Georgetown compares more favorably) -- treat the exact percentage as unsettled and 'housing-driven, with the direction depending heavily on rent vs. buy' as the honest summary.
Housing Is the Dominant Driver, and Georgetown Runs Below Austin Proper
As on the housing-market topic page, Georgetown's median sale price ($429,766 as of June 2026, per Redfin) sits well below Austin city-proper's $577,000 median -- a real, meaningful discount for anyone comparing the two directly. Whichever cost-of-living index figure above you trust most, housing costs are what drive it, and Georgetown's relative-to-Austin discount is the more durable, useful comparison than any single citywide index score.
Household Income: Two Disagreeing Figures
Median household income figures for Georgetown also disagree by source: U.S. News cites $106,427, while a separate Census Bureau American Community Survey-based estimate for 2024 cites $95,062 -- an $11,000+ gap likely reflecting different survey years and methodologies rather than one source being simply wrong. Either figure sits above the Texas statewide median, but the specific number should be treated as directional rather than precise.
No State Income Tax
Texas has no state personal income tax, the single largest structural cost-of-living advantage Georgetown carries relative to income-tax states, applying regardless of which cost-of-living index figure above is used. It does not offset the property-tax burden for homeowners specifically -- see the taxes and insurance-hazard-costs topic pages for that fuller, less favorable side of the ledger.
Key takeaways
- Georgetown's cost-of-living index is genuinely disputed across sources -- cited figures range from about 4% below the national average (a renter-focused estimate) to 116.9, or 17% above (BestPlaces.net) -- treat the exact percentage as unsettled.
- Housing is the consistent driver across every source, and Georgetown's $429,766 median sale price (June 2026) runs well below Austin city-proper's $577,000 -- the more useful comparison than any single index score.
- Median household income is cited at either $106,427 (U.S. News) or $95,062 (a Census ACS-based 2024 estimate) -- a real, unreconciled gap; both sit above the Texas statewide median.
- No state income tax is Georgetown/Texas's biggest structural cost advantage, but it doesn't offset the property-tax and insurance side of the ledger for homeowners -- see those topic pages.
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