Relocating from California to the Texas Hill Country
This site is the definitive resource for California buyers relocating to the Texas Hill Country, covering property taxes, cost of living, school districts, water infrastructure, and relocation logistics with real data and no sales pitch. Dive into our latest guides on special taxing districts, first-time buyer programs, and new construction versus resale.
Watch: Your California to Texas Move
Bill Ross walks through the key considerations — taxes, timing, cost differences, and the logistics of coordinating a cross-state home sale and purchase.
Transcript and more videos on the Hill Country Homesteads YouTube channel.
What Do California Buyers Need to Know Before Moving to the Texas Hill Country?
Prop 13 vs Texas Property Tax
Side-by-side comparison of California's assessment caps versus Texas rates. Real millage rates for Kendall, Bexar, and Comal counties.
Cost of Living
Housing, insurance, utilities, groceries, fuel, and the zero state income tax advantage. Savings calculator with real numbers.
City Comparison
Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, and San Antonio compared for families, retirees, and remote workers. Tradeoffs and fit.
Hill Country Communities
Detailed profiles of Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, Comfort, Pipe Creek, Spring Branch, New Braunfels, and San Antonio neighborhoods. Who each area suits.
School Districts
Boerne ISD's six-year A-rating streak, Northside ISD, Comal ISD. Programs, ratings, and enrollment.
Water & Infrastructure
Wells vs municipal water, Edwards Aquifer rules, septic systems, and well water testing guidance.
Healthcare
Hospitals, primary care, specialists, insurance, and telehealth for Hill Country relocators.
Relocation Checklist
A 90-day countdown from listing your California home to closing in Texas, including synchronized coordination.
Settling In
Driver's license, vehicle registration, homestead exemption, address changes, and voter registration — deadlines and documents.
What to Expect
Climate specifics, cultural adjustment, community integration, healthcare, and travel logistics.
Who Wrote This Relocation Guide, and Why?
By Bill Ross, Hill Country Homesteads Group — Certified Probate Expert, Texas Affordable Housing Specialist
Bill Ross is the founder of Hill Country Homesteads Group, a Texas real estate practice serving Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, San Antonio, and the surrounding Hill Country communities.
After nearly four decades in high-tech sales and marketing, Bill built a direct professional network of over 1,000 California real estate agents to coordinate seamless coast-to-coast transitions. He has been recognized in USA Today and The Washington Post for his relocation expertise, and holds both the Certified Probate Expert designation and Texas Affordable Housing Specialist training.
"A California household earning $200,000 and relocating to the Texas Hill Country can expect to save $30,000 to $50,000 annually in housing, taxes, and living expenses."
— California to Texas Relocation Guide research
With median home prices in Boerne around $425,000 compared to over $1.5 million in the Bay Area, zero state income tax versus California's top rate of 13.3%, and property tax rates that balance higher percentages against significantly lower home values, the financial case for relocation is substantial. Bill built this guide because every week, someone in California searches for honest, specific information about moving to Texas.
Sources
- $0 state income tax (Texas is one of nine states with no personal income tax) — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, "Texas Taxes." comptroller.texas.gov
- $140,000 Texas homestead exemption and additional $60,000 for age-65 or disabled homeowners — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, "Homestead Exemptions." comptroller.texas.gov
- Proposition 13 assessment caps and 2% annual increase limit — California Legislative Analyst's Office. lao.ca.gov
- Boerne ISD six-year A-rating streak (2020–2025) — Texas Education Agency, School District Rating Reports. tea.texas.gov
- Median home prices (Boerne ~$425K, Bay Area ~$1.5M) — Zillow Home Value Index, 2025. zillow.com
- California top marginal income tax rate (13.3%) — California Franchise Tax Board, Individual Income Tax Rates. ftb.ca.gov
Last reviewed: June 2026. Sources verified for accuracy.
Your Relocation Specialist
Meet Bill Ross
Founder, Hill Country Homesteads Group
Nearly four decades in high-tech sales and marketing. Certified Probate Expert. Recognized in USA Today and The Washington Post for relocation expertise.
Get Personal Guidance
Planning your move? Reach out for a no-pressure conversation about your specific situation. Bill will respond within one business day.
What Are the First Steps When Planning a California to Texas Move?
The tax guide breaks down exactly what happens when a California home sells and you buy in the Hill Country. No guesswork.
Frequently Asked Questions from California Transplants
Is the Texas Hill Country humid?
It's noticeably drier than the Texas Gulf Coast or East Texas, and dramatically drier than coastal California. Summer humidity in the Hill Country typically sits in the 40–55% range — comfortable by Texas standards. You'll feel it during monsoon-season afternoon thunderstorms, but it's nothing like Houston or the Deep South. Winters are mild and very dry.
How hot are Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch in summer?
Summer highs average 93–97°F from June through August, with overnight lows in the low 70s. The Hill Country sits 600–1,000 feet higher in elevation than San Antonio, so Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch typically run 3–5 degrees cooler. The trade-off: the sun is intense, and UV index regularly hits 10–11 in July. Most homes have central air conditioning, and outdoor activities shift to early morning or evening.
What do California transplants miss most?
Based on what Bill's relocation clients consistently report: the beach (there's no ocean nearby, though Canyon Lake and the Guadalupe River fill the gap), certain produce and grocery options (Trader Joe's and H-E-B are different shopping experiences), diverse ethnic cuisine outside San Antonio, and the overall density of restaurants and entertainment within a 10-minute drive. Most transplants say they adjusted within 6–12 months and stopped missing things once they found their local routines.
Is San Antonio airport convenient for California travel?
San Antonio International (SAT) has direct flights to Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK), and San Diego (SAN) on major carriers. Flight times are roughly 3–3.5 hours westbound. The airport is 35–45 minutes from Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch. For more route options, Austin-Bergstrom (AUS) is about 75 minutes north and serves as a larger hub.
What surprises California buyers after moving to Texas?
The property tax bill — Texas has no state income tax but property taxes run 1.8–2.5% of assessed value depending on the county. The homestead exemption helps ($140,000 general + $60,000 additional for over-65/disabled), but total tax bills still surprise most Californians. Other surprises: H-E-B is a legitimately excellent grocery store, the winter weather is genuinely mild (rare hard freezes), and the sense of community in Hill Country towns is stronger than what most California suburbs offer.