A growing suburban city on the outskirts of Austin development
Leander, a community of 59,000 located 25 miles north of booming Austin, is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. It appeals to homebuyers who want more space than Austin offers, and at a lower price. And with more people comes more development and amenities. "Leander is seeing a ton of growth: new hospitals, lots of restaurants, lots of sports courts, pickleball courts – all kinds of things popping up," says Realtor Urvi Naik of Compass RE Texas. "People love living out here, especially families with kids. It's a great spot for them, because you get a lot for your money, it's got great schools and there's tons of things nearby."
Families thrive in Parkside thanks to its welcoming and friendly atmosphere.
Rancho Sienna residents are close to Cimarron Hills Golf & Country Club’s tennis and pool.
Blue Corn Harvest is a top choice for Larkspur Park residents craving tasty, local meals.
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A buyer's market of new builds aplenty
While there are some established neighborhoods with older homes, most houses are in newer subdivisions and were built within the last 20 years. "There is a lot of new construction going in, so it's impacting the resale market out there because buyers have choices," Naik says. "They can just go buy a brand-new home instead of getting a resale home. Hence, properties in Leander are taking a longer time to sell." The median price of a single-family home in Leander is $475,000, higher than the national median of $417,000, but still less expensive than Austin, which has a median single-family home price of $604,000.
This stunning Parkside house boasts a captivating rounded turret crafted from elegant Spanish brick, adding unique character and charm to its appeal.
Leander's Craftsman Parkside homes offer a captivating array of architectural styles, ensuring something for everyone.
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Commuting to work in the Austin area
Although the CapMetro light rail line reaches its northern terminus in Leander, the city is largely car-dependent. "I haven't heard of my friends or family or clients that have used the light rail to go to work," Naik says. "I think at the most, I've seen people use it to go to downtown Austin if they don't want to deal with parking." Nonetheless, the northern region of the greater Austin area has become a hotspot for major employers over the last decade. That means Dell headquarters in Round Rock, and other employers around Tech Ridge, including Apple and General Motors, are a much shorter commute for Leander residents, who primarily rely on U.S. Highway 183 to commute. Within Leander, major employers include the Cedar Park Regional Medical Center, Firefly Aerospace, OneSource and energy companies like ETS-Lindgren and NOV Inc. The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is the nearest commercial airport, about 30 miles southeast.
Dell's Round Rock headquarters boosts the economies of Round Rock and Leander.
Leander’s workforce is supported by major employers like Cedar Park Medical Center.
Capital Metro Rail provides urban transportation in Larkspur Park.
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A top-tier school district offering early college credits
The city is served by Leander Independent School District, which has an A-plus rating on Niche. The district has over 40 schools that cover grades K-12 and serves a number of cities in Williamson County. Leander High School has an A-minus rating and is the city’s main high school; it’s known for over 80 clubs and activities available for students, including video game clubs, student media and public speaking clubs. Leander is also the location of Austin Community College's San Gabriel campus, featuring a 150-seat "ACCelerator" room designed for personalized and interactive learning experiences. All high schools within Leander ISD also offer a dual credit partnership with Austin Community College, allowing students to earn early college course credits.
Leander High School in Cedar Park offers a comprehensive well-rounded curriculum.
Students from Leander can attend Austin Community College at the San Gabriel campus.
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Bluegrass festivals and Independence Day fireworks
The Leander Parks and Recreation Department hosts a variety of events throughout the year. Leander has hosted the Bluegrass & Folk Festival every fall since 2003, featuring twangy tunes, food and drink. Liberty Fest, the city's Fourth of July extravaganza, features fireworks, watermelon seed spitting and pie-eating contests. The city also hosts a variety of seasonal events, like the Old Town Christmas Festival and the Tricks & Treats Spooktacular.
City parks and nearby Hill Country recreation
The city has seven municipal parks including the 45-acre Devine Lake Park, popular for fishing and hiking. Crystal Falls Golf Club is an 18-hole public course that hosts regional tournaments. It's a 20-mile drive to the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, which offers hiking and a safe habitat for a variety of bird and mammal species.
Devine Lake Park offers Benbrook Ranch residents great fishing spots.
Crystal Falls Golf Club is conveniently situated only 8 miles from Parkside, making it an ideal destination for your next round of golf.
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Shopping and dining along U.S. 183
Bars and restaurants can be found along U.S. 183, but most local options are concentrated in Old Town Leander, a small historic district between South Street and Hero Way. It features red-brick crosswalks, stylized streetlamps and preserved historic buildings that are common with rail towns in the southwest, like false front car service stations, Prairie-style beer gardens and Puebla Revival restaurants. Old Town Leander has also seen some modern upgrades in the past few years as a master plan for the area reaches conclusion.
The Gateway Shopping Center on U.S. 183 is anchored by a Lowe's Home Improvement. The Lakeline Mall in Cedar Park, about 8 miles away, has more retail options and a movie theatre.
Locals in Benbrook Ranch rave about the exceptional freshness of the produce at HEB.
The residents of Benbrook Ranch have a great fondness for Casa Costa Bake Shop.
Experience the convenience of Lakeline Mall, located just minutes from Anderson Mill.
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Flooding and crime in Leander
With Leander at the base of Texas Hill Country, the escarpment of rolling hills to its west spells some shared environmental hazards for the city. In particular, there are several flood zones that cut across town, with the most significant being along the north and south forks of Brushy Creek. The city also has a heightened risk of wildfires, with most developed areas being in an ember zone and areas with high vulnerability immediately adjacent to town.
Crime rates in Leander are below the national average, and crime has remained at a similar level after a rise between 2019 and 2021. According to FBI statistics, there were 43 violent crimes and 510 property crimes across the city in 2021. Leander has less violent crime than nearby Austin or Waco.
Arlene Maze brings success as a real estate investor and unique knowledge gained from more than 25 years as a CPA and business owner to ensure comprehensive real estate services for her buyers and sellers. She began her real estate career with Dochen REALTORS® and works diligently for clients in neighborhoods all over the Austin area.
She is committed to continuing education and has received her Broker’s license, Accredited Buyer Representative, Certified Negotiation Expert, Senior Real Estate Specialist and GREEN designations. She has been licensed in the State of Texas since 2006 and is a member of the National Association of Realtors®.
Arlene has received many notable real estate accolades including eight-consecutive Platinum Top 50 REALTOR® awards, recognition as a Texas 5 Star Professional and Top Producer in Residential Real Estate by Austin Business Journal since 2009.
Community involvement is a driving force for Arlene, and she currently serves on the Board of Texas A&M Hillel and is an active member of Congregation Agudas Achim, where she currently serves as co-chair of its Caring Community. She is also a weekly driver for Meals on Wheels.
Arlene is a Central Texas native and graduate of Texas A & M University. She and her husband, Lawrence, have lived in Austin since 1983, where they raised their two sons.
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.
