Austin
RANK #981 / 996 NAT · #67 / 69 TX · POP 1,289,054
1YR FORECAST: -6.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +3%
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.
Above national median
Prices declining
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Travis County scores just 1/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #981 of 996 counties. Job growth at -0.1% and median household income of $92,731 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Travis County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $444,800 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.21 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,561/month on average.
Travis County's population is growing — up +1.7% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.1%). Home values shifted -6.2% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.16% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Travis County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values fell -6.2% over the past year in Travis County, bringing the median down to $444,800. A drop of that magnitude usually reflects weakening demand or population outflow — worth watching if you're considering buying here.