Penelope, Texas
Penelope is a small town in Hill County, in the Blackland Prairie country of Central Texas, about 25 miles northeast of Waco. The surrounding land is given over to farming and open cropland, and the community remains a quiet rural settlement well off the region's larger highways.
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 Penelope
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 Penelope
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
McLennan County
35 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Limestone County
7 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Navarro County
24 local notes · DFW / North Texas
Ellis County
27 local notes · DFW / North Texas
Falls County
6 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Bosque County
8 local notes · Austin / Central Texas / Hill Country
Next steps for Penelope
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Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
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