Property tax protest results are rolling in across the Austin area, and the data reveal a significant financial gap between those who protest and those who do not.
This report analyzes protest data for Travis, Williamson, Hays, and Bastrop counties to illustrate the number of homeowners protesting and, more importantly, the amount they have saved thus far during the protest season.
Key 2025 Austin Area Protest Takeaways
Highest Savings: Homeowners in Travis County who protested saw the highest average savings in the metro area at $1,267.
Most Protests Filed: Travis County also had the highest protest rate, with 46% of residential properties filing a protest.
Missed Opportunity: In Bastrop County, a staggering 88% of homeowners did not protest their property valuation, potentially leaving significant savings on the table.
Ownwell's Growth: More Austin area homeowners chose Ownwell than any other property tax company in 2025, with Ownwell representing 91,814 local protests, a 77% increase from 2024.
The 63% Problem: Most Central Texas Homeowners Still Don't Protest
Despite record protest activity, 472,843 Austin-area residential properties (63%) did not file protests in 2025. This represents a massive untapped opportunity for property tax savings.
Austin area protest participation by county:
County | Total Properties | Protested | Protest Rate | Didn't Protest |
Travis | 381,156 | 174,276 | 46% | 206,880 (54%) |
Hays | 97,923 | 35,887 | 37% | 62,036 (63%) |
Williamson | 225,509 | 65,535 | 29% | 159,974 (71%) |
Bastrop | 50,052 | 6,099 | 12% | 43,953 (88%) |
Total | 754,640 | 281,797 | 37% | 472,843 (63%) |
When homeowners don't protest, they accept an appraised value that may be unfairly high.
Travis County: Highest Protest Rate in Central Texas
In Travis County, just under half of all homeowners challenged their property appraisals. Property tax firms handled the vast majority of these protests.
Total Residential Properties: 381,156
Filed Protests: 174,276 (46%)
Who Handled the Protests?
DIY Homeowners: 20,326 (12%)
All Property Tax Firms: 153,950 (88%)
Ownwell's Share: 45,935 (26% of all protests)
Average Savings in Travis County by Market Value
Market Value Bands | Average Savings Thus Far* |
<$250K | $334 |
$250K-$500K | $605 |
$500K-$750K | $988 |
$750K-$1M | $1,397 |
$1M-$3M | $2,513 |
>$3M | $15,556 |
County Average | $1,267 |
Williamson County: High Non-Protest Rate Despite Growth
While neighboring Travis County saw high protest rates, 71% of Williamson County homeowners did not protest their property values in 2025.
Total Residential Properties: 225,509
Filed Protests: 65,535 (29%)
Who Handled the Protests?
DIY Homeowners: 5,873 (9%)
All Property Tax Firms: 59,662 (91%)
Ownwell's Share: 32,186 (49% of all protests)
Average Savings in Williamson County by Market Value
Market Value Bands | Average Savings Thus Far* |
<$250K | $152 |
$250K-$500K | $169 |
$500K-$750K | $242 |
$750K-$1M | $339 |
$1M-$3M | $869 |
>$3M | $12,630 |
County Average | $231 |
Hays County: Balanced Mix of DIY and Firm Protests
In Hays County, over 60% of homeowners accepted their initial property valuation without a challenge.
Total Residential Properties: 97,923
Filed Protests: 35,887 (37%)
Who Handled the Protests?
DIY Homeowners: 9,984 (28%)
All Property Tax Firms: 25,903 (72%)
Ownwell's Share: 10,990 (31% of all protests)
Average Savings in Hays County by Market Value
Market Value Bands | Average Savings Thus Far* |
<$250K | $407 |
$250K-$500K | $662 |
$500K-$750K | $1,074 |
$750K-$1M | $1,425 |
$1M-$3M | $2,676 |
>$3M | $15,070 |
County Average | $1,051 |
Bastrop County: Lowest Regional Protest Rate
Bastrop County had the lowest protest rate in the Austin area, with only 12% of homeowners filing a protest.
Total Residential Properties: 50,052
Filed Protests: 6,099 (12%)
Who Handled the Protests?
DIY Homeowners: 1,354 (22%)
All Property Tax Firms: 4,745 (78%)
Ownwell's Share: 2,703 (44% of all protests)
Average Savings in Bastrop County by Market Value
Market Value Bands | Average Savings Thus Far* |
<$250K | $330 |
$250K-$500K | $553 |
$500K-$750K | $842 |
$750K-$1M | $1,276 |
$1M-$3M | $1,714 |
>$3M | $5,367 |
County Average | $647 |
Ownwell's Austin Area Growth
Ownwell became the most-chosen property tax company by Austin-area homeowners in 2025, representing significantly more protests than any other firm in central Texas.
Ownwell Austin area growth:
2024: 51,778 Ownwell residential protests
2025: 91,814 Ownwell residential protests (+77% YoY)
Market position: Most chosen property tax company in the Austin metro
This growth reflects Austin homeowners' preference for Ownwell's transparent, data-driven approach and its 25% contingency fee, compared to Texas competitors that charge 30-50% and require upfront mandatory fees.
Don't Miss Out on Property Tax Savings in 2026
If you own one of the nearly half a million residential properties that didn’t protest, don’t make the same mistake next year. Whether you own a home or commercial property in Central Texas, protesting your property taxes could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars annually.
Ownwell makes the process simple and risk-free.
Why Central Texans Trust Ownwell:
Average savings of $1,102
86% win rate
No upfront costs or mandatory fees — only a 25% contingency fee, a fraction of competitors'
Transparent, data-driven approach backed by local expertise
Trusted this year by almost 92,000 Austin-area property owners
Ready to stop overpaying? Join the thousands of Central Texans who trust Ownwell.
*Important methodology note: All county average savings calculations are based solely on won protests when savings are achieved and explicitly exclude cases involving assessed value reductions that did not result in a tax liability reduction due to the homestead cap.
All data is based on public county data received or retrieved by Ownwell as of May 14, 2025, and updated from internal Ownwell processes as of September 18, 2025. Incomplete or late postings may alter the totals.
