Starlink Bastrop · Employee Relocation
Congratulations on your offer. The SpaceX Starlink campus sits in Bastrop, about 30 miles southeast of downtown Austin - which changes which neighborhoods actually make sense. Get a personalized shortlist of homes that fit your budget, commute, and timeline.
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Know Before You Search
Most of Austin's tech employers cluster north of the river - Apple, Dell, IBM, Samsung are all in the Domain or Round Rock corridor. SpaceX is different. The Starlink campus where satellites and user terminals are built sits on FM 1209 in Bastrop, southeast of Austin off TX-71. That means your daily commute runs east on TX-71 - the opposite direction of Austin's worst rush-hour traffic.
This matters enormously for your housing search. Neighborhoods popular with Austin tech workers - Cedar Park, Leander, northwest Austin - add 45-60 minutes to your commute compared to neighborhoods on the southeast side. Bastrop itself, Cedar Creek, Elgin, and East Austin are the realistic options. Most Zillow searches ignore this. I won't.
Homes for Sale
Homes currently listed for sale within roughly 5 miles of SpaceX's Starlink campus in Bastrop. Updated daily from MLS.
Where SpaceX Employees Actually Live
Ranked by commute time from the Bastrop campus. Every option below has a realistic daily drive - no surprise 60-minute commutes.
What You'll Pay
| Area | Buy Price | 2BR Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Bastrop / Tahitian Village | $260K to $450K | $1,200 to $1,650 |
| Cedar Creek | $280K to $480K | $1,300 to $1,700 |
| Elgin | $290K to $430K | $1,250 to $1,600 |
| Del Valle / SE Austin | $320K to $520K | $1,400 to $1,900 |
| South Austin (78744) | $400K to $650K | $1,500 to $2,100 |
| East Austin / Mueller | $480K to $900K | $1,700 to $2,600 |
SpaceX Bastrop pay varies widely by role. Production technicians typically earn $25 to $35/hour ($55K to $75K). Manufacturing and supply-chain engineers run $90K to $140K. Hardware, software, and avionics engineers run $110K to $200K. Senior engineering and leadership roles run $160K to $280K+, often with meaningful private-stock equity.
At $60K to $80K, Bastrop and Elgin are your strongest options for homeownership. At $120K to $150K, Cedar Creek with land or Del Valle for proximity to Austin open up comfortably. At $180K+, East Austin and Mueller become realistic if urban Austin life is the priority.
One advantage Austin has over Hawthorne or Redmond: no state income tax. A $140K SpaceX engineering salary in Texas nets roughly $10,000 to $14,000 more per year than the same salary in California. That's meaningful housing purchasing power - effectively another $70K to $110K in loan capacity.
→ Full Austin Cost of Living BreakdownThe First Decision
No universal answer - but here's the honest framework for SpaceX relocations specifically.
I've helped multiple tech and aerospace employees buy during relocation - I know how to run the process remotely and get you into a home at or before your start date. Ask me how.
For Families
School district assignment depends entirely on address - not city name. Here's a quick map of which districts serve each SpaceX commute corridor.
Growing fast, opening new schools to keep up with population. Solid mid-range district, smaller class sizes than urban districts. Cedar Creek elementary feeder is particularly well-regarded. A reasonable choice for SpaceX families prioritizing short commute.
Smaller, improving district with affordable real estate in its boundary. Strong community feel. Best for families who value small-town atmosphere and lower housing costs over big-district resources.
Travis County district covering the southeast corridor between Austin and Bastrop. Variable by campus - newer schools in the SH-130 corridor perform well. Best for families wanting an Austin address with proximity to both SpaceX and Tesla.
Highly variable by campus. Top-rated elementaries in Mueller and parts of Central Austin. Research individual campus ratings before choosing an address - the district's quality ranges from excellent to poor within a few miles.
The Financial Upside
The tax math is one of the most underappreciated parts of relocating to Texas from California or other high-tax states.
On a $140K SpaceX engineering salary, no state income tax means $10,000 to $14,000 more take-home per year vs. California. Over 5 years that's $50,000 to $70,000 - more than a down payment on a Bastrop or Elgin home. This is real money, not a rounding error.
The offset: Texas property taxes run 1.8%, 2.4% of assessed value. Bastrop County rates are slightly lower than Travis County. On a $400K Bastrop home, budget $7,200 to $9,600/year ($600 to $800/mo). Factor this into your affordability calculation - lenders include it in your monthly payment. It's the most common surprise for California relocators.
SpaceX engineering relocation packages typically cover moving costs and may include a temporary housing stipend. If SpaceX is covering your first 30 to 60 days, use that window to rent short-term and buy with intention rather than rushing into the first available home. 60 days is enough time to close if you start the search before you arrive.
Before You Arrive
The practical tasks most relocators learn the hard way. Do these in order.
SpaceX Austin Relocation
I specialize in helping tech and aerospace employees relocate to Austin - I know the Bastrop and SH-130 commute corridors, the neighborhoods worth the premium, and how to get you into a home before your start date. My representation is free to buyers.
Most SpaceX relocations I work with start the home search 60 to 90 days before their start date. If you're closer than that, I've made it work - just reach out immediately. If you're also weighing the Tesla Gigafactory commute, the corridor overlaps significantly and I can help with both.
Luke Allen · TREC #788149 · (254) 718-2567
Free buyer representation. No obligation.