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Living in
Wells Branch.
Wells Branch is an unincorporated community in Travis County, TX. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Wells Branch
This is Austin's quieter northern suburb—a sprawling but still manageable community of about 14,000 people that works best if you're willing to embrace the car-dependent lifestyle that comes with life in the Austin metro area. You're looking at a median home price around $401,100 and median rent at $1,540, which is reasonable for the region, though you should expect the job market to be strong here since the Austin area's tech and startup economy is booming and unemployment sits at a healthy 3.5%. The median household income hovers around $66,656, and nearly half the population holds a college degree, so you'll be living among young professionals and families who moved here for work and stayed for the lifestyle.
Wells Branch at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.9%
Foreign-Born
21.0%
Broadband Internet
94.4%
of households
Median household income
Demographics21.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Wells Branch: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Wells Branch, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (19.5%), and 15.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.2%
of residents
65 and Older
10.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
43.9%
of households
Married Couples
36.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.91
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 10% above TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Wells Branch
In Wells Branch, rent runs 10% above the TX average, and home values are 41% above the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,916
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
31.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1992
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.6%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below TX average
Unemployment in Wells Branch and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Travis County, which includes Wells Branch, is 0.8 percentage points lower than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
Wells Branch: Travis County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Travis County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Wells Branch is about 1% of Travis County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Wells Branch 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
Commute21.6 min avg
How Wells Branch residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Wells Branch, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Travis County Sheriff's Office, which covers Wells Branch, is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
319.4
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,291.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Travis County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
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 Wells Branch, 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.
8 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Travis County, county-wide
Wells Branch is about 1% of Travis County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Travis County, which includes Wells Branch, 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
Wells Branch is about 1% of Travis County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate95°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Wells Branch has hot summers (avg high 95°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
95°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/57°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
62°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
114
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
27
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
82
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 38°F | 2.59" |
| Feb | 65°F | 41°F | 2.02" |
| Mar | 72°F | 48°F | 2.95" |
| Apr | 79°F | 55°F | 2.32" |
| May | 84°F | 64°F | 4.11" |
| Jun | 92°F | 70°F | 4.39" |
| Jul | 96°F | 73°F | 2.80" |
| Aug | 96°F | 72°F | 2.33" |
| Sep | 89°F | 67°F | 3.42" |
| Oct | 80°F | 57°F | 4.63" |
| Nov | 69°F | 47°F | 2.80" |
| Dec | 61°F | 39°F | 2.76" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Wells Branch
Uninsured
12.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Wells Branch's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
North Austin Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.9 mi away · Austin
Round Rock Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · Round Rock
Ascension Seton Northwest
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.9 mi away · Austin
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.
Education14.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Wells Branch
Wells Branch's student/teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 49.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
49.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Wells Branch (within 15 miles)
The University of Texas at Austin
11.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 42,855 students · in-state tuition $11,656 · 85% graduate · median earnings $81,694 (10 yrs after entry)
Austin Community College District
8.6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 30,189 students · in-state tuition $2,550 · 18% graduate · median earnings $47,658 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,440 students · in-state tuition $56,944 · 71% graduate · median earnings $63,314 (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
8.6 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 305 students · 63% graduate · median earnings $38,659 (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, 32 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Wells Branch
Wells Branch has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail (32 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
32 mi awayLyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
National Historical Park
57 mi awayWaco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
85 mi awaySan Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Wells Branch
Wells Branch Community Library
15001 Wells Port Dr, Austin
Cities Near Wells Branch
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Wells Branch?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Wells Branch FAQ
Is Wells Branch, Texas affordable?⌄
Wells Branch's median rent is $1,544/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $66,656/year. Median home value is $401,100.
Is Wells Branch, Texas safe?⌄
Wells Branch is policed by the Travis County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 319 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1291 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Wells Branch, Texas?⌄
Travis County, which includes Wells Branch, has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Wells Branch, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Wells Branch is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,544/month and median household income is $66,656/year. The median home value is $401,100. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Wells Branch, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Wells Branch is 22 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