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Living in
Austin.
About
Life in Austin
If you're thinking about moving to Austin, forget the "live music capital" clichés and focus on what actually matters: this is a booming tech hub where Fortune 500 companies like Apple, Google, Oracle, and Tesla have major operations, so the job market is genuinely strong with a 3.3% unemployment rate. The median household income sits at $93,658, but here's the real trade-off—housing costs have exploded, with median home values around $555,300 and rent averaging $1,729 monthly, so your paycheck needs to stretch further than it would in many other cities. The heat is relentless and non-negotiable: you're looking at 123 days per year hitting 90°F or hotter, with average July highs around 95°F, though winters are mild enough that you'll occasionally wear shorts in January.
Austin at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Foreign-Born
18.7%
Broadband Internet
93.8%
of households
Population Growth
+4.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics18.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Austin: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Austin, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (25.9%), and 20.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.0%
of residents
65 and Older
10.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.7%
of households
Married Couples
35.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.10
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 23% above TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Austin
In Austin, rent runs 23% above the TX average, and home values are 96% above the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,024
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
43.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $491,960 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below TX average
Unemployment in Austin and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Austin is 0.9 percentage points lower than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Austin Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Austin-Round Rock, TX metro area
Commute23.7 min avg
How Austin residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Austin, most residents drive alone to work (56%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
Major hub10.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 28% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Austin runs 28% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
421.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,099.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Austin Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Travis County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Travis County, which includes Austin, the most common type is drought, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Drought | $5.0M |
| 2024 | 16 | Drought | $5.0M |
| 2023 | 28 | Hail | $355.6M |
| 2022 | 23 | Drought | $113,000 |
| 2021 | 20 | Hail | $1.2M |
| 2020 | 15 | Hail | $1.0M |
| 2019 | 12 | Flash Flood | $27,000 |
| 2018 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.1M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
15 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Travis County, county-wide
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Travis County, which includes Austin, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
159
per year
Moderate Days
200
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Travis County, county-wide
Climate96°F summers, 44°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Austin has hot summers (avg high 96°F) and mild winters (avg low 44°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
80°/59°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
96°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
82°/60°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
64°/44°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.2"
Hot Days/Year
123
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
12
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
86
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°F | 42°F | 2.64" |
| Feb | 67°F | 46°F | 1.89" |
| Mar | 73°F | 52°F | 2.88" |
| Apr | 80°F | 59°F | 2.42" |
| May | 87°F | 67°F | 5.04" |
| Jun | 93°F | 73°F | 3.68" |
| Jul | 97°F | 75°F | 1.96" |
| Aug | 98°F | 75°F | 2.74" |
| Sep | 91°F | 70°F | 3.45" |
| Oct | 83°F | 61°F | 3.91" |
| Nov | 72°F | 51°F | 2.92" |
| Dec | 64°F | 43°F | 2.72" |
Healthcare15 hospitals, avg 3.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Austin
Austin has 15 hospitals, averaging 3.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
15
within city limits
Uninsured
12.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.5 / 5
Dell Seton Med Center at the University of Tx
Acute Care Hospitals
St David's Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Ascension Seton Northwest
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin · 1201 W 38th St
- Hospital campus: Seton Shoal Creek Hospital · 3501 Mills Ave, Austin
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Pflugerville
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.3 mi away · Pflugerville
Round Rock Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.8 mi away · Round Rock
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education14.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Austin
Austin's student/teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 59.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
224
within city limits
Private Schools
67
within city limits
College Degree Rate
59.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Austin
The University of Texas at Austin
Public · 4-year · 42,855 students · in-state tuition $11,656 · 85% graduate · median earnings $81,694 (10 yrs after entry)
Austin Community College District
Public · 2-year · 30,189 students · in-state tuition $2,550 · 18% graduate · median earnings $47,658 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,493 students · in-state tuition $51,890 · 63% graduate · median earnings $64,695 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,185 students · in-state tuition $25,000 · 47% graduate · median earnings $64,677 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,005 students · in-state tuition $26,709 · 35% graduate · median earnings $46,645 (10 yrs after entry)
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin
Private for-profit · 2-year · 305 students · 63% graduate · median earnings $38,659 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 211 students · in-state tuition $18,145 · 26% graduate · median earnings $39,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail, 29 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Austin
Austin has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail (29 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
29 mi awayLyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
National Historical Park
51 mi awaySan Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
79 mi awayWaco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
97 mi awayPublic Libraries in Austin
Austin Public Library
710 W CéSar CháVez St, Austin
Austin History Center Library
810 Guadalupe St, Austin
Carver Branch Library
1161 Angelina St, Austin
Daniel E Ruiz Branch Library
1600 Grove Blvd, Austin
Eustasio Cepeda Branch Library
651 N Pleasant Valley Rd, Austin
Howson Branch Library
2500 Exposition Blvd, Austin
Little Walnut Creek Branch Library
835 W Rundberg Ln, Austin
Menchaca Road Branch Library
5500 Menchaca Rd, Austin
Milwood Branch Library
12500 Amherst Dr, Austin
North Village Branch Library
2505 Steck Ave, Austin
Old Quarry Branch Library
7051 Village Center Dr, Austin
Pleasant Hill Branch Library
211 E William Cannon Dr, Austin
Compare Austin
Popular side-by-side matchups
Cities Near Austin
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Austin?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Austin FAQ
Is Austin, Texas affordable?⌄
Austin's median rent is $1,729/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $93,658/year. Median home value is $555,300.
Is Austin, Texas safe?⌄
Austin's violent crime rate was 422 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3099 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Austin, Texas?⌄
Austin has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Austin, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Austin is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,729/month and median household income is $93,658/year. The median home value is $555,300. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Austin, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Austin is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from