Austin, TX

Austin TX scores 75/100 on safety (above average). Crime is about 9% above the national average. Pick the neighborhood carefully. Some ZIPs are fine, others are not.

Detail: overall crime index 109 (100 = avg); violent crime index 107; property crime index 111. Indexes near 100 track a typical U.S. load. Higher means more crime pressure on that category.

Campus scores in the report: Austin Elementary (elementary) at 7/10; Austin Middle School (middle) at 7/10; Austin High School (high) at 8/10. On this 10-point scale, 7 is solidly middle; 9 is a standout.

District picture: about A- (strong) · Top 18% in Texas. Student-teacher staffing: 15:1. Families who need strong public schools will find Austin easier than average.

Typical rent in Austin is about $1,852/month (on the high side). At $1,852/month for a typical unit, you need about $66,672+ in household income to rent comfortably without stretching (3× rent × 12). Typical home value: $461,500.

Median household income is $86,556, property taxes run about 1.72%, and homes typically sell in around 22 days. Local median income ($86,556) clears the $66,672 comfort line for that rent.

Walk Score 68 (Somewhat Walkable); transit score 42 (Some Transit).

Average temperature is about 92°F (highs near 104°F, lows near 79°F).

Midafternoon outdoor time is limited most of summer without shade and water. Plan on summer electric bills around $200–$300/month for a typical apartment if you run AC hard. If you visit, go in July or August. That is the real test.

Who tends to thrive in Austin: (1) Households that want quieter streets (safety sits at 75/100) (2) Dual-income households (at $1,852/month, the rent math works much better with two salaries) (3) Families who want strong public schools without private school tuition (district grade A-) (4) People who genuinely love heat and do not mind living indoors June through September (highs near 104°F) (5) Tech and finance workers (the job market is real and no state income tax compounds that advantage at higher salaries)

Who should look elsewhere: (1) Single earners under $70k (the rent-to-income ratio is tight at $1,852/month) (2) People who need outdoor time year-round for their mental health (summers lock you inside for 3–4 months; highs near 104°F) (3) People planning to buy (property taxes are about 1.72%, above average, and add meaningfully to monthly costs)

Income sniff test: clear about $66,672 household income for $1,852/month rent. Under that, pick a cheaper ZIP or a different city.

Austin TX is not worth a speculative move. Come only for a specific job or family reason.

The strongest upside is schools: district grade A- means families can aim for public campuses without private tuition.

The biggest risk is rent at $1,852/month. Budget from a $66,672+ household income or the ratio gets tight.