10 Great Areas to Live Outside of Austin, Texas

Austin, Texas, has become known as America’s new boomtown. This Texas city’s population and economy have skyrocketed in the past few decades. Known for its local culture, with great live music and delicious food, this city has seen its reputation surge. That surge has continued in the past few years, with major tech companies like Tesla and Apple tapping Austin as the site of major new branches.

In a very short period, Austin’s become exceedingly popular. If you’re looking to live in this city, homes go fast and, right now, they don’t go cheap. The good news is, Austin is surrounded by eminently liveable towns and areas on the outskirts. There are numerous great suburbs and communities outside of the city that make for great homes. Let’s look at ten of the best areas to live outside of Austin.

Hutto is a small and quirky town home to roughly 28,000, just 30 miles from Austin. Hutto has dubbed itself as the hippo capital of Texas, and the town really lives up to that name with 4,000 different hippo statues throughout the town. There’s more to Hutto than that, though. They have one of the best public golf courses in the state and have a charming Old Town with great eats and shops.

Leander is a city north of Austin, home to a rapidly growing population of over 60,000. Prosperity for Austin has spelled prosperity for Leander, with the population doubling in the past decade. Leander is known for having a great public school district that brings in a lot of families, a commuter rail that brings you into downtown Austin, and some picturesque Texas scenery. Real estate prices have risen in recent years, but it is still much more affordable than the big city.

Thirty miles north of Austin, you’ll find Georgetown, a booming city of over 70,000 that is drawing in residents and businesses at a rapid rate. Georgetown is a city with an extensive history, and it has a great local culture and much to do. There are numerous museums and historical attractions in the town, and there’s great access to nature. Blue Hole Park and Inner Space Cavern are two areas worth exploring.

Pflugerville is an Austin suburb that is home to over 60,000. Pflugerville has been named one of the 20 best places to live in Texas for its suburban feel, friendly community, green spaces, and easy access to Austin. Home prices in this thriving city have risen over the years due to the influx of residents to the area, but you can still find numerous affordable living options.

Round Rock is one of the fastest-growing cities in America, a city home to an ever-increasing population of over 125,000. Round Rock is considered one of the most liveable cities in the country, and it’s easy to see why. It is a family-friendly suburb with many different parks and outdoor spaces, a great place to set down roots. The homes are spacious, the communities are welcoming, and the real estate prices are not exorbitant.

Lakeway is an affluent city on the outskirts of Austin, home to roughly 20,000. It is one of the most expensive cities in the country, where many of Austin’s wealthiest reside. It is a resort community with golf courses, tennis courts, spas, and more. It has a 65-mile lake with marinas and one of the best school systems you’ll find in Texas.

Cedar Park is another Austin suburb just outside of Round Rock. It is home to almost 80,000 residents. It is a place many in Austin’s tech industry choose to live because of the easy commute to the tech center of the city. It is a city with abundant parks and trails, a great school system, and easy proximity to Lake Travis. There’s always something to do in Cedar Park.

In 2000, Buda was a small town without much going on, home to under 2,500 residents. Now, it is a thriving and rapidly growing suburb with roughly 17,000 residents, one of the fastest-growing suburbs in an area full of them. If you like nature, Buda is a great place to live. It has been called the outdoor capital of Texas due to the great parks and woods that can be explored here.

Taylor is a city of roughly 17,000 near Hutto. It is a small town, and it has that feel, which is a welcome change from Austin for many. Real estate here is as affordable as it gets in this area, with the median price of a home roughly $250,000. This town is likely to begin a major boom, as Samsung just announced the opening of a $17 billion chip plant, so get in before the crowds descend.

Kyle is yet another suburb in the Austin area that ranks among the fastest-growing cities in Texas. Kyle is home to roughly 50,000 residents, an increase of over 20,000 from 2010. It is a great place to live, with easy access to some of the best golfing in Texas, the Texas Pie Company, which makes delicious homemade pies, and some delectable Tex-Mex cuisine.