Hillsboro, Texas
Hillsboro is a city in Hill County, situated on Interstate 35 in the Blackland Prairie of North Central Texas, about 32 miles north of Waco. Its downtown square is defined by the Hill County Courthouse, an ornate Second Empire building that was rebuilt after a fire, and the city is home to Hill College. Its position at the junction of major highways between the Dallas–Fort Worth area and Central Texas has long shaped its role as a travel and commercial stop.
Property here runs through the Hill Central Appraisal District and the county tax office — the homestead exemption, the appraisal cap, protests, and any MUD, PID, or special districts all sit at the parcel level. The Hill County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Hill County notes
What to know around Hillsboro
Property Tax Basics
Two offices handle your property taxes in Hill County
Hill County has two separate offices for property taxes: one that values your property and one that collects your bill.
Homestead Exemption
A homestead exemption can lower your tax bill in Hill County
If you own and live in your home in Hill County, you can apply for a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value of your property.
Tax Protest
You can protest your property value in Hill County
Hill County property owners can challenge the appraised value set by Hill CAD each year before the Appraisal Review Board.
Agricultural Valuation
Farmland in Hill County can be taxed on what it produces, not what it sells for
Texas lets qualifying farm and ranch land be appraised at its agricultural productivity value, which is usually much lower than market value.
Flood Risk
FEMA released preliminary flood maps for Hill County in 2025 for public comment
In January 2025, FEMA invited Hill County property owners to review and appeal preliminary updated flood hazard maps before they take effect.
Vehicle Registration
Registering your car in Hill County: what changed in 2025
As of January 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles in Hill County no longer need a safety inspection before registration, though commercial vehicles still do.
Nearby
Places near Hillsboro
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Johnson County
32 local notes · DFW / North Texas
Ellis County
27 local notes · DFW / North Texas
Bosque County
8 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
McLennan County
35 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Navarro County
24 local notes · DFW / North Texas
Somervell County
6 local notes · DFW / North Texas
Next steps for Hillsboro
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Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
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