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Travis County, TX

RANK #996 / 996  ·  POP 1,289,054  ·  TX

PROJECTED GROWTH: -6.6%

Travis County ranks in the bottom tier of U.S. counties on economic momentum.

[01] Why Travis County?

Travis County, Texas, is perhaps best known as home to Austin, the state capital and a hub for music and culture. Located in Central Texas, it spans rolling hills to the west and fertile plains to the east, bisected by the Colorado River, which forms lakes like Lake Travis and Lake Austin. This geography contributes to abundant outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking, swimming, and boating in its 26 parks and preserves such as Hamilton Pool Preserve and Pace Bend Park. Commute times can vary, with public transportation options like Capital Metro buses and the MetroRail offering alternatives to driving, particularly for those traveling to downtown Austin.

Life in Travis County offers a blend of urban amenities and access to natural spaces. The county is served by several public school districts, including Austin ISD, Eanes ISD, and Lake Travis ISD. Recent economic developments show ongoing investment across various sectors. While the county has experienced a population boom, leading to increased pressure on infrastructure, efforts are underway to manage growth and ensure continued quality of life. The local economy is seeing activity in areas such as manufacturing, with new facilities being built, and continued development in commercial and residential construction.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
3.5x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+3.0%

Above national median

Home Prices
-6.2%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
3.2

Favorable climate & terrain

Price/Rent
24x

Prices detached from rents

Housing looks undervalued at 3.5x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Travis County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
1,289,054
+1.68% YoY
Median Household Income
$92,731
Median Home Value
$444,800
-6.21% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,561
Average Annual Pay
$96,267
+5.8% YoY
Employment
903,333
-0.1% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2085
Near national average
Migration Inflow
4.16%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$490,000
Days on Market
106
Slower market
Months of Supply
6.0
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
96.8%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
11.0%
Listings w/ Price Drops
26.7%
Building Permits (2024)
16,990
Single-Family Permits
4,559

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$1,635M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
EdgeConneX Data Center Campus (AUS02)
EdgeConneX
$440M Under Construction
Civil and Family Courts Facility
Travis County
$333M Completed
Central Health Capital Investments
Central Health
$290M Proposed
East Blackland Solar Project (Pflugerville Solar Farm)
Duke Energy
$234M Operating
GFTX BESS Battery Storage Project
Giga Texas Energy LLC
$188M Operating
TX12 Silicon Hill Storage
Key Capture Energy
$150M Operating

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +3.0% 55 percentile
Population Growth +1.7% 86 percentile
Income Growth +9.0% 64 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.2% 40 percentile
Home Price Change -6.2% 1 percentile
Rent Growth -2.6% 1 percentile
Price/Rent 24x 3 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Travis County, TX a good place to move to?

Travis County has a Boom Town Index score of 0/100, ranking #996 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -0.1% and a median household income of $92,731, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Travis County affordable?

The median home value in Travis County is $444,800 with median rent at $1,561/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2085, which is less affordable than the national average.

Is Travis County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +1.7% year-over-year. Job growth: -0.1%. Home values changed -6.2% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Travis County?

Yes — 4.16% of Travis County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Henry County, GA 10 Taney County, MO 10 Richmond County, GA 10 Mendocino County, CA 10 Palm Beach County, FL 10 New York County, NY 10 Salt Lake County, UT 10 Nassau County, FL 10