Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Austin, TX

    Is Austin a good place to live?

    Watch Austin

    Austin ranks #63 of 132 Texas cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (50/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.0% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $512,700
    +11.1% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,655
    per month
    Household income
    $91,461
    median
    Unemployment
    4.5%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Austin

    The median home value in Austin is $512,700 and median rent is $1,655 a month, against a median household income of $91,461. Homes cost about 5.6× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Austin crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Texas the 2025 rate was 349 violent and 1,813 property crimes per 100,000 people — #13 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Austin, TX

    Austin has about 967,862 residents, 4.5% unemployment and 36% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Austin with

    Austin vs HoustonAustin vs San AntonioAustin vs DallasAustin vs Fort WorthAustin vs El PasoAustin vs ArlingtonAustin vs Corpus ChristiAustin vs Plano

    More: Where to move in Texas · Best counties in Texas

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report