Living in Austin, TX
Big city in Texas
Austin is a big city in Texas, home to about 968,000 people, with 1.7 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
In short: A booming tech and music scene with no state income tax. Hot summers, and mostly car-based outside the core.
Is Austin a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Easy flying: AUS is 9 mi away
- Strong healthcare: 6 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Highly educated: 58% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2 research universities are within 31 mi
- Lots of culture: museums, zoos and attractions nearby
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Hot summers: highs around 96°F
- Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Austin ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Austin: common questions
What is the cost of living in Austin?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $450k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,350 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 98, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Austin?
Texas has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 1.52% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Austin safe?
Violent crime is close to the national rate (1.1× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Austin?
Austin has mild winters: winter days average around 64°F and summer days around 96°F.
Does Austin get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding and tornadoes: 14 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.81 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Austin?
The nearest major airport is AUS, about 9 mi away.
How Austin scores
Each bar compares Austin with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Austin right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.