The Lone Star State capital is many things: Live Music Capital of the World, University of Texas flagship location, nightlife mecca, barbecue bastion and an outdoor-friendly city with tons of green space. For decades, these multiple identities came together in a famous phrase: Keep Austin Weird. In recent years, the booming tech industry has brought more jobs, more money and more development — and, most significantly, more people. Between 2010 and 2020, the metropolitan population increased by 33%, making Austin the fastest-growing metro area in the country. That’s an additional 567,000 people in 10 years. These days, Austin is a bit less weird and a whole lot bigger, as the tech economy continues to grow and new development builds up a revitalized downtown while also pushing into surrounding cities like Hutto, Round Rock and Pflugerville.
"This was one of the most popular relocation areas during Covid for people from San Francisco or New York who could work from wherever but get paid the same, but still couldn't buy anything in the Bay Area," says Realtor Joaquin Sanchez of the Zell Team for Compass RE Texas. "But here, you can get a four-bedroom house on a third of an acre. So it was an easy choice for them, and it made sense for the employers as well."
UT Tower is one of the most recognizable structures of the university and the city of Austin.
Locals can find food, vendors, live music and more at the Annual Bat Fest in Austin, TX.
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South By Southwest and the Museum of the Weird
Today, the population of Austin sits right below 1 million, while the metro area comes in around 2.5 million people. Amid all the new development and corporate growth, popular honky-tonks and famous barbecue restaurants continue to thrive. Some institutions have even grown to become national chains, like Chuy's, the original location for which is in Zilker . "Everyone always says, 'Back in the '80s and '90s, Austin was way more charming.' Even when I moved here in 2009, it was way more laid-back," says Realtor Adam Zell of the Zell Team for Compass RE Texas. "But the food has gotten way better. And I think the vibe here is still freaking great. And sure, there will always be growing pains, but it's been great for business."
Icons of the city's free-spirited arts scene, like the Museum of the Weird and the Cathedral of Junk, ensure there's still a pop of weirdness, while plenty of murals lend some color to the city. Living in the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin residents are never far from a jam. The Moody Theater has two stages downtown that host world-famous artists and up-and-coming musicians alike. In October, the Austin City Limits music festival — which also runs a weekly television program — takes over the city with a two-weekend jamboree in Zilker Park. In the early half of the year, thousands of fans of film, music and art descend on the downtown convention center for South by Southwest. The Rainey Street Historic District is famous for its gallery of cottages retrofitted as hip bars and restaurants, while Sixth Street remains a principal nightlife, shopping and dining area, dovetailing with the commercial activity on South Congress Avenue. Bars, music halls and restaurants along The Drag on Guadalupe Street are the go-to places for UT students and employees.
SoCo's Allen's Boot offers top-quality Western wear.
Moody Center, conveniently located near Northshore Austin.
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Silicon Hills growing with major employers and Fortune 500 headquarters
Austin has become a major tech hub, earning the city the nickname Silicon Hills. There was a time when the city's main employer was the University of Texas, with more than 23,000 employees. Now, it is closely followed by Tesla, with more than 20,000 employees at its Gigafactory in Southeast Austin. Downtown serves as the regional headquarters for mega companies like Meta, Google, and Indeed. Samsung currently operates a Semiconductor Facility in North Austin, and another is being built in the nearby city of Taylor. Dell is headquartered in Round Rock. Fast-growing Tech Ridge has offices for General Motors, 3M and Qualcomm. "You've got all the software companies mainly on TX-183. Then eastern Austin, near Hutto and east of I-35, is going to be some of the hardware tech jobs, like Samsung," says Realtor LJ Sternberg of LJ Residential LLC. "The software companies are a lot smaller, and the hardware companies are huge."
There are plans to update the city's infrastructure to accommodate the massive growth. Several public and private developments are in the works as well. The Capitol Complex project will include new state offices, a utility plant and a pedestrian mall. In the unincorporated area between Austin and Pflugerville, the EastVillage project will soon bring 2,000 multifamily homes, nearly 500 single-family homes, and retail and restaurant space to a fast-developing suburban area. Southeast of downtown, the 97-acre River Park development will include a mix of affordable housing, offices, shops and hotel space.
Several popular indoor and outdoor shopping malls are scattered throughout the region, including The Domain, which many locals call "a new downtown" for North Austin. The city of Bee Cave offers one of the most extensive shopping areas at the Hill Country Galleria. Meanwhile, in North Lamar, Chinatown Center is anchored by a collection of Asian supermarkets and restaurants, which sit across the street from Latin American flea markets and taco trucks.
Living in the Texas Capital means easy access to bustling business districts.
The Austin HQ of Oracle supports global operations with advanced infrastructure.
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Diverse architecture and growth in North Austin
Historic bungalows and Tudor-style cottages compete with newly built luxury condos and apartment high-rises, whether in downtown neighborhoods like the West End or outer development hotspots like North Burnet . New postmodern homes sit next to Craftsman-style cottages from the 20th century, especially in neighborhoods that surround downtown, like East Austin . South of the Colorado River, a diverse architectural mix is even more prevalent in famously weird South Austin neighborhoods like Barton Hills and Zilker, where tiny ranch-style homes and cottages from the 1950s sit next to new, postmodern homes built by famous architects. North Austin, in particular, has grown in recent years, with several neighborhoods, such as Parmer Lane , featuring large new traditional homes alongside established ranch-style homes. The median cost of a single-family home in Austin is around $560,000, higher than the national median of $420,000, but home prices range dramatically depending on factors including square footage and location.
The Independent is one of the tallest towers in the Market District.
Comanche Trail features million-dollar homes with breathtaking lake views.
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Urban waterfront parks and remote Hill Country attractions
Austin is on the precipice of the Texas Hill Country, a region known for scenic rolling hills, wineries, swimming holes, hiking trails and zipline courses. At the top of Hill Country, Lake Travis remains the most popular place for boating and swimming. The city has 348 parks, many connected by 265 miles of trails — a number that will continue to grow with ongoing projects like the Waller Creek Greenway. Lady Bird Lake, a dammed-off section of the Colorado River, stretches the length of downtown with a string of parks on its shoreline. Of all the beaches, islands and spring-fed pools, Zilker Metropolitan Park is often considered the crown jewel. Located on the southern banks of the river, the 350-acre park is home to 3-acre spring-fed Barton Springs Municipal Pool, a botanical garden, an outdoor theater and several recreational facilities. The Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail also runs through the park, providing 10 miles of scenic trails and connections to the rest of Austin's riverfront parks.
Local Northshore Austin residents can enjoy a night time boat ride under the bridge.
Kayaking at the Colorado River is a popular outdoor activity for Comanche Trail residents.
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A-rated public schools, prestigious private schools and a public Ivy college
The Austin Independent School District receives an A-minus from Niche and serves approximately 75,000 students across 116 schools, including some early college and magnet academies. Despite the large enrollment, the city has an overall student-teacher ratio of 15-to-1, below the national average of 17 students per teacher. However, the district ranks lower than districts in surrounding cities like Round Rock or Leander. Austin is also home to more than 20 public and private universities and colleges, including the University of Texas at Austin, with 52,000 students. High-achieving academics point to it being a "public Ivy," while the athletic program claims 62 national championships since 1949. The Texas Longhorns football team, part of the Big 12 Conference, plays home games in the 100,000-seat Darrel K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, just north of downtown.
Austin High School, a historic and prestigious public high school in Austin, Texas.
Vandegrift High School in Austin is known for academic excellence and leadership.
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Interstate commutes and possible light rail expansion
Austin is the center of a car-dependent region that connects many of the state's biggest cities with major highways like Interstate 35. Dallas is about 3 hours north, San Antonio is about 1.5 hours south, and Houston is roughly 2.5 hours east along State Highway 71 and Interstate 10. Traffic is a daily concern in Austin, where rush hour congestion begins as early as 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. The city has built miles of toll roads for faster commutes, such as Texas State Route 130, making it easier to drive downtown from Pflugerville or Hutto. There are only a few public transit options through Capitol Metro, primarily bus routes, plus a light rail that runs northwestward across the city, connecting downtown with the city of Leander. "It's TBD still, but city residents voted to approve a light-rail plan for Austin," says Realtor Alex Ray of Austin Residence. "Our city is doing so much to invest in more public transit options other than the bus system." Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is one of the country's fastest-growing airports.
Hot summers, heavy rains and declining crime rates
Summer heat in Austin can reach into the 100s, though winters are mild. The city's location in "flash flood alley" can mean heavy rain. "The city is really prone to some intense rainfall from time to time," says John Beachy, downtown division manager for the city's Watershed Protection Department. There is also a risk of wildfires. To mitigate the risk, the City Council approved a new set of building codes for wildfire-prone areas in 2020, making it the first major city in Texas to adopt such a code.
According to data from the FBI, Austin's violent and property crime rates are higher than both state and national averages. The Austin Police Department notes that several crime stats — including assault, robberies and vehicle burglaries — decreased from 2022 to 2023. However, auto theft and homicide saw increases.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
