Ever find yourself staring at a Texas map wondering why the lines look like a jigsaw puzzle gone wrong? If you're looking at the Austin suburbs, you've likely asked: is Pflugerville in Travis County? The short answer is yes. But honestly, it's kinda complicated.
Most of Pflugerville sits comfortably inside the boundaries of Travis County. However, if you drive far enough north toward Hutto or Round Rock, you’ll actually cross an invisible line into Williamson County while still being within the city limits. It’s one of those "Texas things" that makes local taxes and school zones a bit of a headache for newcomers.
Why the County Line Matters
When people ask if Pflugerville is in Travis County, they usually aren't just curious about geography. They’re usually thinking about their wallet.
Texas doesn't have a state income tax, so local governments get their money from property taxes. If your house is on the Travis County side, your tax bill comes from a different office than your neighbor two miles north who might be paying Williamson County rates.
For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the tax rates look something like this:
- Travis County Side: You’re looking at a combined rate that includes the City of Pflugerville (roughly $0.5350 per $100 valuation), Travis County ($0.3758), and the Pflugerville Independent School District ($1.1069).
- Williamson County Side: The city and school district rates stay the same, but you trade the Travis County tax for the Williamson County rate (around $0.4137) plus their specific road and bridge fees.
It’s a marginal difference, but over 30 years of a mortgage, it adds up.
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The Confusion Over "Pflugerville ISD"
Here is where most people get tripped up. The Pflugerville Independent School District (PfISD) is massive. It covers about 95 square miles.
The city of Pflugerville itself is only about 26 square miles.
This means you can live in the City of Austin, have an Austin address, pay Austin taxes, but your kids still go to a Pflugerville school. Or, you could live in a "Pflugerville" neighborhood that is technically in the unincorporated part of the county, meaning you don't pay city taxes but you also don't get city trash pickup.
It’s a weird middle ground.
A Little History (The German Connection)
Pflugerville wasn't always a sprawling suburb of 66,000+ people. In 1849, a guy named Henry Pfluger brought his family over from Germany. They were farmers. They just wanted good soil.
They found it in northeastern Travis County.
For nearly a century, it was just a tiny farming community. The town didn't even incorporate until 1965. Back then, nobody cared about the county line because there was nothing but cotton fields between Pflugerville and Round Rock.
Everything changed when I-35 and SH-130 turned the area into a commuter haven. Suddenly, the city started growing north and east, pushing right up against—and eventually over—the Williamson County line.
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Navigating the Map Today
If you are moving here, don't just trust a Zillow listing that says "Pflugerville." Check the legal description.
Most of the "fun" stuff—Typhoon Texas waterpark, the Stone Hill Town Center, and the Heritage House Museum—is firmly in Travis County. But as developers keep building north of Kelly Lane and near the 130 toll road, more of the "new" Pflugerville is creeping into WilCo.
Key Takeaways for Residents
- Voter Registration: If you move across the street and cross the county line, you have to re-register with a different county clerk.
- Jury Duty: Travis County residents go to downtown Austin; Williamson County residents head to Georgetown.
- Law Enforcement: Depending on where you are, you might see a Travis County Sheriff or a Williamson County Precinct 1 Constable.
So, while is Pflugerville in Travis County has a "yes" answer for about 90% of the population, that other 10% lives a slightly different bureaucratic reality.
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Next Steps for Newcomers:
If you're buying a home or renting, pull up the Travis Central Appraisal District or Williamson Central Appraisal District website. Type in the address. It’s the only way to know for sure which county is going to be sending you a bill every January. Also, check the specific Emergency Services District (ESD) for your block, as fire protection services are funded differently depending on which side of the line you land on.