Austin, Texas
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Austin, TX.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX?
For relocators asking how much Austin costs: the housing index sits at 146 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $512,700 and rents near $1,655. Local median income is about $91,461 and unemployment recently ran 3.9% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 26 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 400.9 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 146U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $512,700U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,655U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $91,461U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 3.9%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 26 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 400.9per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 96°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Austin compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 993,588City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $91,461Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year16% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 146ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year46% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $512,700City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year69% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,655City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year23% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.9%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 26 minNear catalog avg (25 min)Catalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 427% below catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 400.9per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)28% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 3710.5per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)23% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 96°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals9.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 44°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals9.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 36.3 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals9% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 279As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (268)Catalog avg 268
Population trend
Austin grew 23.2% from 806,164 in 2010 to 993,588 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Austin, TX expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Austin's housing cost index is 146 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($512,700 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,655 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 146 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $512,700 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,655 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Austin, TX?
Typical ownership costs center near $512,700, while median gross rent is about $1,655 a month. Against a median household income of $91,461, rent alone is roughly 22% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $512,700
- Median rent $1,655/month
- Median household income $91,461
What is the job market like in Austin, TX?
County unemployment recently ran 3.9% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Austin is about $91,461 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 3.9% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $91,461
How long is the typical commute in Austin, TX?
Average one-way commute time is about 26 minutes, with Walk Score near 42/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 26 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 42/100
Is Austin, TX safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 400.9 per 100k and property about 3710.5 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 400.9 per 100k
- Property 3710.5 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Austin, TX?
Normals show summer highs near 96°F, winter lows near 44°F, about 36.3 inches of rain, and roughly 279 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 96°F
- Winter low 44°F
- 36.3 in rain · 279 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Austin, TX?
Newcomers often start with Downtown, South Congress, East Austin — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Downtown
- South Congress
- East Austin
What nearby city comparisons involve Austin?
These curated pair pages put Austin beside another high-intent destination with the same proprietary metrics table.
Austin, Texas counts about 993,588 residents inside the city limits. Households here report a median income near $91,461; our housing-derived cost index is about 146 (well above the national housing-cost baseline). A typical home near $512,700 and rents around $1,655 frame most shortlists.
Hot summers, sprawling freeways, and no state income tax dominate comparisons. Roughly 279 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Commutes average near 26 minutes one-way, with walkability near 42/100. BLS LAUS puts recent unemployment around 3.9% for the surrounding county. Violent-offense rates near 400.9 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Ask locals about Downtown versus South Congress — those two pockets illustrate how different daily life can feel inside the same city limits, with East Austin as a common third option. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Austin with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Downtown
- South Congress
- East Austin
- Domain
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Austin city, 1600000US4805000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Travis County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00013958 AUSTIN-CAMP MABRY) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19