Living in Gun Barrel City, Texas

Gun Barrel City is a small East Texas town built around Cedar Creek Lake, and its appeal to residents comes down to a practical combination: an affordable cost of living, no municipal property tax, water recreation at the doorstep, and a metro area within an hour's drive when you need it.

With about 6,190 residents as of the 2020 U.S. Census, Gun Barrel City is small enough to feel familiar and large enough to serve as the retail and commercial hub for the entire Cedar Creek Lake area. That combination shapes everyday life here. You get the quiet of a lakeside community, but you don't have to leave town for groceries, local dining, or routine services — most of what the region needs runs along State Highway 334, the main commercial strip.

No city property tax

One of the most striking features of living in Gun Barrel City is that the city levies no property tax. This is unusual and genuinely meaningful for household budgets. It's important to understand exactly what it means: the city does not assess a municipal property tax, but homeowners still pay other taxing entities such as the county and the school district. Even so, removing the municipal layer keeps the overall tax picture lighter than in many comparable Texas towns, which is a large part of why the community draws budget-conscious families and retirees alike.

A Certified Retirement Community

In 2008, Gun Barrel City earned designation as a Texas Certified Retirement Community. That status reflects a deliberate mix of advantages retirees look for: a mild climate, abundant lake recreation, a low cost of living, and — again — no city property tax. Roughly 21% of residents are 65 or older, and the median age sits around 43.8, so newcomers who are retiring or approaching retirement tend to find neighbors in a similar stage of life. That said, the town is far from a retirement-only enclave; families and working residents live here too.

The Cedar Creek Lake lifestyle

Life here is organized around the water. Cedar Creek Lake is one of the largest lakes in Texas, with more than 220 miles of shoreline, and it draws residents into boating, fishing, and lakeside gatherings. The population swells past 10,000 during boating season — from Memorial Day through Labor Day — which brings energy and seasonal commerce to town. Choosing between a waterfront home and an inland one is one of the first real decisions new residents weigh, and it affects everything from price to maintenance to how often you'll actually be on the water.

Cost of living and proximity to Dallas

A lower overall cost of living is a recurring reason people move to and stay in Gun Barrel City, and it works hand in hand with location. The city sits roughly 55 miles southeast of Dallas, so the full resources of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro — major medical centers, an international airport, professional sports, and specialized services — are within reach without paying big-city housing costs. Athens, the Henderson County seat, is only about 15 miles away for county business and additional services.

The lay of the land

Gun Barrel City covers about 6.63 square miles at an elevation near 364 feet, sitting on the eastern shore of the lake in Henderson County. Two state highways organize everyday travel: State Highway 198 — the original "Gun Barrel Lane," the two-mile stretch locals said ran straight as a gun barrel — and State Highway 334, the main retail and commercial strip through town. Neighboring lake communities fill out the wider area, including Mabank, Seven Points, Payne Springs, and Tool, with Athens (the Henderson County seat, about 15 miles away), Kaufman, and Corsicana all within a reasonable drive. That compact footprint is a big part of the appeal: most daily errands stay close to home, while the broader Dallas-Fort Worth region is an easy trip when you need it.

Explore living here

Whether you're relocating, retiring, raising a family, or planning a move for work, the pages below cover the practical details of settling into Gun Barrel City.