Hood County · North Texas community guide

Living in Granbury

Granbury pairs a picture-perfect historic square with life on Lake Granbury, under an hour southwest of Fort Worth.

Overview

About Granbury

Granbury is the county seat of Hood County and is named for Confederate General Hiram B. Granbury. Many buildings on its courthouse square are historic landmarks, including the Granbury Opera House, which still hosts live theatre. The railroad reached town in 1887.

The Brazos River flows past the east side of the city within Lake Granbury, and the city had 10,958 residents at the 2020 census.

Who Granbury suits

Granbury suits buyers who want lake living, a charming downtown, golf and gated communities, as well as retirees and second-home buyers drawn to the scenery and pace.

At a glance

Granbury by the numbers

Typical home value$374,260Zillow ZHVI, September 2026; +0.3% year over year
Population10,9582020 U.S. Census
CountyHood County
Drive to downtown Fort Worth~51 minabout 38 miles (OSRM estimate, no traffic)
School rating (TEA 2026)B (81)Granbury ISD
ZIP codes76048, 76049

Figures are sourced below with their dates. Market values change; confirm current numbers with Jamie before making decisions.

Housing

Homes & neighborhoods

Options include historic homes near the square, waterfront and lake-access homes on Lake Granbury, and established gated lake and golf communities nearby such as Pecan Plantation and DeCordova Bend Estates. Lakefront homes call for checks on flood elevation, docks and bulkheads.

Homes for sale

Homes for Sale in Granbury

MLS search coming soon

Search Homes in Granbury

Live MLS listings for Granbury (ZIP 76048, 76049) are coming to this page soon. In the meantime, Jamie will happily send you current listings that match what you are looking for, including new and coming-soon homes.

Schools

Granbury school districts

DistrictTEA 2026TEA 2025Notes
Granbury ISDB (81)B (83)Serves Granbury and much of Hood County.
Tolar ISDA (90)B (85)Serves the Tolar area west of Granbury.
Lipan ISDB (83)B (85)Serves the Lipan area northwest of Granbury.

High school campus ratings

  • Granbury High School: B (89) in 2026
  • STARS Accelerated High School: A (94) in 2026

Ratings are Texas Education Agency A–F accountability ratings (overall score in parentheses), released August 2026. See campus details on TXschools.gov. School boundaries change and don't follow city limits; confirm the assigned schools for any address with the district.

Market notes · as of September 2026

Granbury home prices

Zillow's Home Value Index puts the typical Granbury home at $374,260 as of September 2026, roughly flat 0.3% from a year earlier. The index is a smoothed, seasonally adjusted measure of mid-tier single-family homes and condos, not a sale price for any one house.

For comparison, Zillow's Fort Worth index was $292,949 in the same month.

More local numbers (September 2026)

List prices (Realtor.com) and sold prices (MLS) measure different things and aren't directly comparable. Small markets can swing sharply month to month.

Values vary widely by street, lot size, age and condition, especially where acreage, waterfront or new construction is involved. Before you buy or list, ask Jamie for a free comparative market analysis built from current active, pending and sold listings in the NTREIS MLS.

Property taxes

Granbury property tax rates

2025 adopted rates per $100 of taxable value, from the Texas Comptroller:

Taxing unitRate per $100
Hood County$0.2797
City of Granbury$0.4200
Granbury ISD$0.9296
Combined (before special districts)$1.6293

Example only: on a home appraised at the typical Granbury value of $374,260, the combined rate works out to about $6,098 a year before exemptions. A homestead exemption lowers the school-tax portion (school districts must exempt $140,000 of a homestead's value, with an additional $60,000 for owners 65 or older or disabled, per the Texas Comptroller). Your actual bill depends on the appraised value, exemptions and any special districts.

Special districts (hospital, college, emergency services, MUD/PID and others) are not included and vary by property. Appraisal district: Hood County. This is general information, not tax advice.

Getting around

Commute & roads

US 377 connects Granbury to Fort Worth and Stephenville, SH 144 runs south toward Glen Rose, and FM 51 runs north toward Weatherford.

  • Downtown Fort Worth: about 51 minutes / 38 miles
  • Graford: about 80 minutes

Drive times are routing estimates from OSRM without traffic; rush hour and highway construction can add significant time.

Outdoors

Lakes & recreation

Lake Granbury, a Brazos River Authority reservoir, is the center of recreation, with boating and paddling. Dinosaur Valley State Park, with its famous dinosaur tracks, is a short drive southwest in Glen Rose.

Things to do

Notable attractions near Granbury

Everyday life

Shopping, dining & amenities

The historic square is full of shops, restaurants and seasonal events; everyday retail and healthcare are along US 377.

Due diligence

Utilities, internet & flood checks

  • Electricity: parts of this area are open to retail electric choice (compare plans at PowerToChoose.org), while many rural and some city areas are served by an electric cooperative or municipal utility with no choice. The provider depends on the exact address.
  • Water & sewer: inside city limits, service usually comes from the city or a water supply corporation. Outside city limits, homes often rely on a water supply corporation or a private well plus an on-site septic system (OSSF). Ask for well and septic inspections before closing.
  • Internet: options range from fiber and cable in town to fixed wireless and satellite in the country. Check any address on the FCC National Broadband Map.
  • Flood risk: look up the property on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and ask your insurance agent about flood coverage, even outside a mapped flood zone.
  • Groundwater: Hood County is in the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, which has well registration and permitting rules.

Map

Granbury on the map

Use the layer button (top right of the map) to show TEA school district boundaries or FEMA flood hazard zones around Granbury.

Map of Granbury loads here…

School district and flood layers are for general reference only. Verify districts with the TEA School District Locator or the district, and flood zones with the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and a survey or elevation certificate. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Keep reading

More on Granbury

Local FAQ

Granbury questions

Is Granbury a good place to live?

It depends on what you need. Granbury suits buyers who want lake living, a charming downtown, golf and gated communities, as well as retirees and second-home buyers drawn to the scenery and pace. Jamie is happy to tour Granbury with you and talk through schools, commute, taxes and lifestyle.

How far is Granbury from Fort Worth?

Granbury is about 51 minutes (38 miles) by car to downtown Fort Worth without traffic, based on OSRM routing estimates.

What school districts serve Granbury?

Granbury ISD (B, 81 in 2026); Tolar ISD (A, 90 in 2026); Lipan ISD (B, 83 in 2026). Ratings are TEA 2026 A–F accountability ratings. District boundaries do not follow city limits, so always confirm the school district for a specific address.

What is the property tax rate in Granbury?

Using 2025 adopted rates from the Texas Comptroller, the combined county, city and school-district rate is about $1.6293 per $100 of taxable value (Hood County$0.2797; City of Granbury$0.4200; Granbury ISD$0.9296). Special districts such as hospital, college, emergency services or MUD/PID districts can add to this. Check the exact property with its appraisal district.

What county and appraisal district is Granbury in?

Granbury is in Hood County. Property values are set by the appraisal district for the county where the property sits.

What is the typical home value in Granbury?

Zillow's Home Value Index for Granbury was $374,260 as of September 2026 (+0.3% year over year). For a specific home, ask Jamie for a comparative market analysis.

Is Granbury a good place to retire?

Many retirees choose Granbury for its historic square, lake and golf communities. Consider healthcare access, the over-65 school homestead exemption ($60,000 additional, per the Comptroller) and flood and insurance costs for lake homes.

Is Lake Granbury a constant-level lake?

No reservoir is perfectly constant; levels change with rainfall, drought and releases. The Brazos River Authority publishes current and historic levels for Lake Granbury. Check how the dock and shoreline of a property fare at different levels.

How do BRA dock permits work on Lake Granbury?

Lake Granbury is a Brazos River Authority reservoir, and docks and shoreline improvements are permitted by the BRA. See the BRA Lake Granbury resident FAQ and confirm permits transfer before closing.

Is Lake Granbury safe to swim in? What about golden alga?

Conditions vary by location and season. Check the BRA's water-quality and golden alga information before swimming in a particular area.

Does Granbury flood, and how do I check a property?

Flood risk is property-specific, often tied to creeks, rivers and low areas. Look up the address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, ask for the seller's disclosure and any elevation certificate, and get a flood-insurance quote even outside a mapped flood zone.

What internet service is available?

It varies by address, from fiber and cable in town to fixed wireless and satellite in rural areas. Enter the exact address on the FCC National Broadband Map and ask the seller what they use before you buy.

How do I file a homestead exemption in Granbury?

File with the Hood County appraisal district once the home is your principal residence; there is no fee. School districts must exempt $140,000 of a homestead's value, plus an additional $60,000 for owners 65 or older or disabled (Texas Comptroller). The general deadline is before May 1. Find the district's contact information in the Comptroller's county directory.

Sources

Where these facts come from

This content is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and deadlines change. Confirm details with the appropriate agency, attorney, CPA or lender.

Explore nearby

Thinking about Granbury?

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