What are the schools like in Austin, TX?

Austin is served primarily by AUSTIN ISD. The district operates 78 elementary schools, 20 middle schools, and 23 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.0:1.

What is the median household income in Austin?

The median household income in Austin, TX is $86,556 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.4%.

What is the weather like in Austin, TX?

Austin has an average high temperature of 62.5°F in January and 96.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.2 inches.

Austin, TX Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Austin, TX affordable or expensive?

Austin's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Austin is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $461,500 and the median rent is $1,549 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Austin, TX?

Austin has a violent crime rate of 466.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3241.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Austin, TX a Good Place to Live?

Austin is a large city of 958,202 in Texas, with a median household income of $86,556 and a 4.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Austin stands out for solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Austin is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Austin city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 97.6

Austin's overall cost of living index is 97.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Austin costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Austin, TX	National Avg
Median Home Value	$461,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,549	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	44.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$86,556	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Austin's violent crime rate is 466.9 per 100,000 residents — 23% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

466.9 /100k

Property Crime

3241.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Austin is served primarily by AUSTIN ISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Austin, TX	National Avg
School District	AUSTIN ISD	—
Elementary Schools	78	—
Middle Schools	20	—
High Schools	23	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	56.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Austin sees average highs of 62.5°F in January and 96.6°F in July, with 36.2 inches of annual precipitation and 0.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Austin, TX
Average High — January	62.5°F
Average High — July	96.6°F
Annual Precipitation	36.2"
Annual Snowfall	0.2"

Demographics

Metric	Austin, TX	National Avg
Population	958,202	—
Median Age	34.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	63.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	16.1%	18.9%
Asian	8.4%	6.3%
Under 18	18.7%	22.2%
65 and over	9.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Rollingwood, TX 3 mi West Lake Hills, TX 4 mi Lost Creek, TX 6 mi Sunset Valley, TX 6 mi Barton Creek, TX 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Austin

Austin, TX is covered by 41 ZIP codes:

78744 78724 78730 78735 78759 78745 78617 78748 78750 78746 78753 78749 78717 78754 78758 78739 78726 78704 78731 78741 78727 78719 78729 78723 78747 78703 78702 78757 78721 78752 78736 78728 78652 78751 78733 78705 78756 78701 78722 78742 78712

Austin vs Other Cities

Austin, TX vs Rollingwood, TX Austin, TX vs West Lake Hills, TX Austin, TX vs Lost Creek, TX Austin, TX vs Sunset Valley, TX Austin, TX vs Barton Creek, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin, TX affordable or expensive?

Austin's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Austin roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $461,500 and median rent is $1,549/month.

What is the crime rate in Austin, TX?

Austin's violent crime rate is 466.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3241.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Austin?

Public schools in Austin are operated by AUSTIN ISD. The district has 78 elementary, 20 middle, and 23 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 56.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Austin, TX a good place to live?

Austin, TX has a population of 958,202, a median household income of $86,556, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Austin?

Austin averages 62.5°F in January and 96.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.2 inches with about 0.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Austin?

Austin, TX is covered by 41 ZIP codes: 78744, 78724, 78730, 78735, 78759, 78745, 78617, 78748, 78750, 78746, 78753, 78749, 78717, 78754, 78758, 78739, 78726, 78704, 78731, 78741, 78727, 78719, 78729, 78723, 78747, 78703, 78702, 78757, 78721, 78752, 78736, 78728, 78652, 78751, 78733, 78705, 78756, 78701, 78722, 78742, 78712.

What is the population of Austin?

The population of Austin, Texas is 958,202 with a median age of 34.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Austin?

Key numbers for living in Austin: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $461,500, median household income $86,556, crime index 135 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Austin side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.