What it's like to live in Austin
Austin is a major city in Texas with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, a highly educated workforce, and several well-rated hospitals. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Austin deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Highly educated workforce
- Several well-rated hospitals
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Hot summers
How Austin compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Austin
Based on Austin's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,458
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $69,160 a year
- 46% of Austin renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$111,060
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $55,530
- Homes cost 5.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 22% above US
$1,729/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,729 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $555,300. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $555,300 · 46% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 23% below US
3.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.3%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 28% above US
422 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 3099/100k · Austin Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 31% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 96°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 44°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
15 hospitals
There are 15 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 66% above US
60% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
224 public schools inside the boundary
There are 224 public schools inside the boundary and 67 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail (29 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Austin's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,729/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, remote workers (31% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals.
Other places near Austin
All Texas guides →Moving to Steiner Ranch →
10 mi away · pop. 18,619
Rent $1,955/mo · Income $190,523
Compare with Austin →Moving to Hornsby Bend →
11 mi away · pop. 12,367
Rent $2,147/mo · Income $89,614
Compare with Austin →Moving to Wells Branch →
11 mi away · pop. 13,523
Rent $1,544/mo · Income $66,656
Compare with Austin →Not sure Austin is the one?
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