Austin vs Leander
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $506,200 in Leander and $555,300 in Austin.
- Households earn more in Leander ($139,048 vs $93,658 median).
- Leander is growing faster: +53.8% since 2020 vs +4.6%.
- Commutes are shorter in Austin (24 vs 29 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Austin, TX | Leander, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 1,002,632 | 91,132 |
| Growth since 2020 | +4.6% | +53.8% |
| People per square mile | 3,072 | 2,349 |
| Median age | 34.7 | 36.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60% | 53% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $93,658 | $139,048 |
| Median home value | $555,300 | $506,200 |
| Home value to income | 5.9× | 3.6× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,729 | $1,939 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 98.1 | 98.1 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 120.4 | 120.4 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $73,500 | $73,500 |
| Homeowners | 43% | 73% |
| Top state income tax | None | None |
| Combined sales tax | 8.2% | 8.2% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 23.7 | 29.2 |
| Work from home | 31% | 31% |
| Take public transit | 2% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4.7% | 3.4% |
| Poverty rate | 12% | 5.8% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 63° / 42° | 63° / 42° |
| July high / low | 97° / 75° | 97° / 75° |
| Precipitation per year | 36 in | 36 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 123 | 123 |
| Nights below freezing | 12 | 12 |
| Comfortable months | 6 | 6 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 44% | 44% |
| Home prices, past year | +0.3% | +0.3% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +15.2% | +15.2% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Austin: February to April and October to December. Leander: February to April and October to December.
Full monthly tables: Austin weather by month and Leander weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $73,500 in Austin and $73,500 in Leander. Moving from Austin to Leander, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.