If you’re a music enthusiast, Austin is likely on your radar as a top retirement destination, alongside vibrant cities like Memphis, Nashville, and New Orleans. Known for its dynamic atmosphere, warm climate, and thriving cultural scene, Austin offers lively nightlife, abundant outdoor activities, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the arts. For those seeking a more secure and private lifestyle, the city also boasts a variety of gated communities in Austin that combine comfort and exclusivity.
With a population of almost two million, the state capital of Texas is also centrally located between San Antonio (a 75-minute drive), Dallas (a three-hour drive), and Houston (two-and-a-half hours). If you’re into music, museums, restaurants, and the other benefits of urban living, Austin is a city you should look at. Proximity to the major airports in Dallas and Houston also makes it a good choice for keen travelers, whether nationally or internationally.
Austin Climate
The climate is another attraction. In winter it’s generally mild, with temperatures averaging 40 to 60 degrees. Summer temperatures average around 70 to 100 degrees. Summers can get a bit humid, and the average rainfall is around 33 inches, spread evenly through the year. Overall, Austin lacks the extremes of many other retirement destinations and is a good choice if you’re keen on outdoor activities.
Austin Cost of Living
In terms of affordability, Austin’s cost of living is 29% higher than the national average. However, much of this is accounted for by a recent boom in property prices. But if you can find that gated community within your budget, then Austin and Texas score reasonably well as places to retire to.
Groceries, health care, the cost of utilities, and property taxes are all slightly higher than the national average, but not outrageously so. To balance that, Texas is one of only a handful of states that has no state income tax. It also has no estate or inheritance tax, so it’s a case of financial swings and roundabouts.
Austin Health Care
Austin also offers good health care facilities, such as the St David’s Medical Center. There are also several other hospitals within the city limits, and Austin embraces a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing. If your gated community lacks these facilities onsite, you will have no trouble finding nearby fitness centers and yoga studios.
With a better understanding of this Texas city, let’s take a look at some gated communities in Austin for active adults.
Kissing Tree – San Marcos, TX
Low $400ks – Low $800ks
Kissing Tree is in San Marcos, about a forty-minute drive southwest of Downtown Austin. It’s a city in its own right, with a population of about 70,000 people, and Kissing Tree is about a ten-minute drive from the center. This large, gated community is made up of 3,200 single-family homes and has a 55+ age restriction.
Kissing Tree has a 20-acre campus called The Mix, which includes a clubhouse, a biergarten and an indoor/outdoor bar, a demonstration kitchen, a community classroom, billiards tables, a live-music stage, fire pits, and Sam’s Cafe. Outside, there are courts for bocce and pickleball, horseshoe pits, an 18-hole putting course, and a semi-private 18-hole golf course, plus 15 miles of walking and biking trails. There are also dozens of clubs, groups, classes, and activities, ranging from art classes to Zumba, via book clubs, craft beer events, holiday parties, and yoga.
There are 27 home models, with many more options and configurations. The smallest are just over 1,000 square feet and provide one bedroom, one-and-a-half bathrooms, and a one- or one-and-a-half-car garage. The largest offer 3,513 square feet, four bedrooms plus a den, three bathrooms, and a three-car garage.
Regency at Santa Rita Ranch – Liberty Hill, TX
High $400ks – High $700ks
Regency at Santa Rita Ranch is about a 45-minute drive north of Downtown Austin. Liberty Hill is a small city of around 10,000 people, and the community is a 15-minute drive from the city center. Regency at Santa Rita Ranch is a gated community of 150 single-family homes.
Amenities at Regency at Santa Rita Ranch itself include a clubhouse, an amphitheater, an outdoor pool with seating and deck space, and cabanas. Residents also have access to the facilities of the wider Santa Rita Ranch development, which include a fitness center, a dog park, additional greenspaces, and several nature trails. There are also plenty of amenities available including community events, fitness classes, and fishing and hiking groups.
There are 15 models of varying sizes and configurations. The smallest offers 1,599 square feet with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage. Models then go up to 3,568 square feet with three bedrooms plus a den, three-and-a-half bathrooms, and a three-car garage.
Gardens at Teravista – Round Rock, TX
Mid $300ks – High $300ks
Gardens at Teravista is located in Round Rock, a city of 120,000 people that’s a 30-minute drive north of Downtown Austin. This gated community of 81 single-family homes has no age restriction.
Amenities include a clubhouse, a fitness center, a social gathering room with a big-screen TV, and two outdoor pools. There’s also access to the 18-hole championship Terra Vista Golf Club, and facilities for tennis, volleyball, and basketball. Additionally, there are plenty of clubs, activities, and classes including card games, wine tastings, ladies’ nights out, Zumba, scrapbooking, Bible study, and holiday parties.
The smallest of the eight models is 1,432 square feet and has two bedrooms, a den, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage. The largest models provide 2,750 square feet with three bedrooms, a den, three bathrooms, and a three-car garage.
Ready to Start Your Austin Home Search?
If you want to explore more gated communities in Austin or you’re ready to take a tour of one of the above communities, we’re here to help! Contact 55place.com today and we’ll connect you with a local real estate expert. They’ll help you along every step of your homebuying journey in Austin.
