Austin TX Relocation Guide
Austin has absorbed more than 150 people per day for the past decade. If you're thinking about making the move, this guide covers everything a local Realtor wishes every relocating buyer knew before they arrived.
Honest Assessment
I've helped hundreds of people relocate to Austin. Here's the honest picture — the things that make people fall in love with this city, and the things nobody warns you about until after the move.
The verdict: Austin's tradeoffs are real, but for most people moving from high-tax coastal cities, the math still works heavily in Austin's favor. A household earning $200K saves roughly $10,000–$20,000 per year in state income tax alone — which goes a long way toward covering higher property taxes and summer electricity bills.
Austin's overall cost of living is about 8–12% above the national average, driven almost entirely by housing. Every other category is near or below average. Here's what to budget for.
Median home price in the Austin MSA is ~$440K. Central Austin neighborhoods run $650K–$1.2M+. Suburbs like Round Rock and Cedar Park offer the best value at $350K–$500K for newer construction with more square footage.
Texas has no state income tax. A household earning $200K pays $0 to Texas versus roughly $18,000–$22,000 in California, $13,000–$17,000 in New York, and $10,000–$14,000 in Washington state.
On a $600,000 home, expect $10,800–$15,000 per year in property taxes. The homestead exemption reduces your taxable value and caps annual assessment increases at 10% — file it in your first year. Travis County rates are typically lower than Williamson County suburbs.
Austin Energy is competitive. Summer months spike — a 2,000 sq ft home can run $250–$350 in July and August with A/C running continuously. Natural gas is cheap. Internet is widely competitive with multiple providers offering gigabit speeds at reasonable prices.
Groceries are right at the national average. Austin has every major grocery chain plus H-E-B — a Texas institution widely considered the best regional grocery chain in the country. Dining is exceptional and ranges from $10 tacos to $200 tasting menus. Food culture is genuinely world-class.
Austin is primarily car-dependent. Gas prices are typically below the national average. CapMetro provides bus and rail service, and the light rail (Project Connect) is expanding. Most people own a car — budget for insurance, registration, and maintenance. Parking downtown is limited and expensive.
Find Your Fit
Austin doesn't have one "right" neighborhood — it has a dozen distinct communities, each with a different character, price point, and lifestyle. Here's where different types of buyers typically land.
Master-planned, walkable, and built from scratch on the old airport site. Great schools, parks, farmers market, and a tight-knit community feel. New construction is still available. One of the best planned communities in Texas.
Explore Mueller →Austin's oldest intact neighborhood. Bungalows and craftsman homes on tree-lined streets, minutes from UT and downtown. Beloved by academics, artists, and families who want Central Austin without East Austin prices.
Explore Hyde Park →The epicenter of Austin's creative and culinary boom. Walkable to dozens of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. A mix of bungalows, modern infill, and condos. Highly walkable by Austin standards. Bikeable to downtown.
Explore East Austin →West Austin's most prestigious address. Older estate homes on large lots, walkable to Lake Austin, and minutes from downtown. Eanes ISD for schools. Austin's closest equivalent to a true luxury enclave.
Explore Tarrytown →Technically its own city within Travis County. Served exclusively by Eanes ISD — consistently ranked #1 school district in Austin. Hill country views, larger lots, and a quieter pace. Worth the premium for families prioritizing schools.
Explore Westlake →South Congress, South Lamar, and Barton Springs within walking distance. Eclectic mix of craftsman bungalows and modern builds. Austin's most beloved neighborhood by longtime residents. Very competitive — homes move fast.
Explore Bouldin Creek →The most popular Austin suburb for a reason — great Round Rock ISD schools, newer construction, lower prices, and enough retail and restaurants that you rarely need to drive into Austin. Dell and major corporate campuses are nearby.
Explore Round Rock →Fast-growing suburb northwest of Austin with excellent Leander ISD schools, newer master-planned communities, and easy access to the 183A toll road. Preferred by tech workers commuting to Apple's campus in north Austin.
Explore Cedar Park →Quiet South Austin neighborhood on a hill overlooking downtown. Charming craftsman homes, Big Stacy Neighborhood Park, and a distinctly unpretentious Austin character. Walking distance to South Congress's best restaurants and shops.
Explore Travis Heights →Before You Move
After helping hundreds of relocating buyers, these are the things that consistently surprise people — for better and worse.
Austin averages 90+ days per year above 95°F. July and August regularly hit 100–108°F. This isn't Phoenix-dry heat — Austin is humid. A pool or proximity to Barton Springs becomes a sanity-saver. On the flip side, winters are mild — lows rarely dip below 25°F, and snow is a news event, not a normal occurrence.
The 2021 Winter Storm Uri was a devastating anomaly. Austin has invested heavily in grid improvements since. Most homes run on natural gas backup for heating.
I-35 is one of the worst stretches of highway in Texas. A 12-mile commute can take 45 minutes at peak hours. The best move: rent first, figure out where you actually spend your time, then buy. People who buy before understanding Austin traffic often regret their neighborhood choice within a year. If downtown is your target area, Sienna at the Thompson is one of the most walkable addresses in the city — browse Austin rentals here.
Inner neighborhoods (East Austin, Hyde Park, Bouldin Creek) typically offer 10–20 minute downtown commutes. Suburbs (Cedar Park, Round Rock) can mean 40–60 minutes during peak. CapMetro's rail line is limited but expanding.
Texas law allows you to file a homestead exemption on your primary residence, which does two critical things: reduces your taxable value by $100,000+ and caps annual increases in assessed value at 10%.
You can file as soon as the property is your primary residence — even mid-year. This is the single most impactful tax move available to Austin homeowners. Don't wait for tax season.
Texas's homegrown grocery chain is genuinely exceptional — fresh, affordable, locally sourced, and staffed by people who actually seem to like their jobs. Proximity to an H-E-B is a real factor in Austin neighborhood desirability. First-time visitors often assume the enthusiasm is hyperbole. It isn't.
Austin also has Central Market, Whole Foods (founded here), and every national chain. But H-E-B is the one people miss when they leave Texas.
Mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) releases pollen every December through February. It's the most intense allergic reaction many people ever experience — congestion, sinus pressure, and fatigue that can mimic flu symptoms for weeks. Even people who've never had allergies in their lives develop cedar sensitivity in Austin.
The good news: it's short-lived, predictable, and very treatable. Allergists in Austin are extremely experienced. Most people adapt within a season or two.
Texas does not require sellers to disclose the sale price of a home publicly. This means Zillow's "Zestimates" and public comparable data are less reliable in Texas than in disclosure states. A good Realtor with MLS access is more valuable here than in states where sale data is public record.
This also means buyers need accurate representation — don't rely on third-party sites alone when making one of the largest purchases of your life.
Step by Step
Austin's market rewards buyers who are prepared and move quickly. Here's a realistic picture of the process from the perspective of someone who's done this hundreds of times.
In Austin, a pre-approval letter is table stakes to have your offer considered. Pre-qualification and pre-approval are different things — lenders who actually underwrite your file upfront give you far more credibility with sellers. Budget 3–4 weeks if your finances are complex (self-employed, recent job change, investment properties).
School district, commute, walkability, yard, garage, age of home, HOA or no HOA — get clear on your actual priorities versus your wish list. Most buyers compromise on 2–3 things and still end up happy. Buyers who refuse to compromise on anything tend to search for 12 months and still feel unsatisfied.
Don't skip straight to listings. Drive the neighborhoods at different times of day. Walk to coffee, the park, the grocery store. The neighborhood is harder to change than the house. I take all relocation clients on neighborhood tours before we ever step inside a property — it saves enormous time and prevents costly mistakes.
Austin is not a pure seller's market anymore, but desirable homes in good neighborhoods still move within days. Your offer should include: competitive price, strong earnest money (1–2% of price), reasonable option period (5–7 days), and a clean timeline. Escalation clauses and appraisal gap coverage are sometimes needed in competitive situations. I advise on each offer case by case.
Texas contracts include an Option Period — typically 5–10 days — during which you can back out for any reason and receive your earnest money back (you forfeit the option fee, which is separate and small). Use this time to hire a licensed inspector. Austin homes, especially older bungalows, can have foundation issues from clay soil — always get a structural inspection in addition to the standard inspection.
Texas closings are handled by title companies, not attorneys. Closing costs typically run 2–3% for buyers. File your homestead exemption with Travis County the day you move in — you can now do this online. It takes effect immediately and saves you thousands per year on property taxes within the first assessment cycle.
Common Questions
I've helped people relocate to Austin from San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Seattle, and dozens of other cities. The ones who come in with a clear picture of Austin's neighborhoods, taxes, and market conditions make better decisions — and don't overpay.
A free 30-minute call can tell you exactly which neighborhoods fit your budget and lifestyle, what you should expect to pay right now, and what to watch out for. No pressure, no hard sell.
Tell me a little about your move and I'll follow up within 24 hours.