A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to the greater Austin metro: 40+ neighborhoods, real maps, schools, and cost of living. Flip through the whole thing below, then grab the PDF to keep.
Drag a page corner or use the arrows to flip · Open full screen ↗ ·
All 154 pages as a PDF, yours to save and share. Tell us where to send it and the download starts right away.
It depends on your priorities. For top-rated schools and luxury, relocating families look to Westlake Hills (Eanes ISD), Barton Creek, and the Lake Travis area. For walkability and culture, Tarrytown, Hyde Park, Mueller, and East Austin are favorites. Value-focused buyers and remote workers increasingly choose suburbs like Cedar Park, Leander, Dripping Springs, and Georgetown. The Relocation Edition above breaks down 40+ Austin neighborhoods in detail.
Austin's overall cost of living is generally lower than coastal California or New York City, especially on housing. Texas also has no state income tax, which is a major draw for relocating buyers. The trade-off is that Texas property taxes are higher than the national average, so budget around the full monthly cost of ownership, not just the purchase price.
Texas has no state income tax and funds local services largely through property tax. Effective rates across the Austin metro typically run roughly 1.8% to 2.2% of assessed value and vary by county and school district. On a $750,000 home that often works out to $13,000 to $16,000+ per year, so always confirm the specific rate for the property and its ISD before you make an offer.
It helps, but it is not required. Many relocating clients buy after a single well-planned scouting trip, and some buy remotely using video tours, neighborhood walkthroughs, and in-person previews on their behalf. The key is having someone local vet the home, the street, and the flood, noise, and commute factors before you commit.
The most sought-after Austin-area school districts include Eanes ISD (Westlake), Lake Travis ISD, Leander ISD, Dripping Springs ISD, and Round Rock ISD. Families balancing budget and schools often focus on Cedar Park, Leander, and Dripping Springs. Our Austin Schools Guide and the neighborhood profiles in the guide above go district by district.
The Austin market in 2026 is more balanced than the 2021 to 2022 peak. Inventory has recovered, giving buyers more selection and negotiating room than a few years ago, though well-priced homes in top neighborhoods still move quickly. We send relocating buyers a current market snapshot so you know what to expect in your specific price range.
We work with buyers relocating to Austin every week. A 20-minute call is all it takes to get oriented.
