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Austin vs Leander

Austin, Texas versus Leander, Texas: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

Austin

Mixed · objective livability48/100

Leander

Solid · objective livability51/100

Austin and Leander score about the same overall (48 vs 51 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorAustinLeander
Affordability
Median Household Income$87k$130k
Cost of Living$57k$57k
Home Value$462k$412k
Monthly Rent$2k$2k
Monthly Owner Costs$2k$2k
Property Tax Rate1.59%1.97%
Income Tax0.00%0.00%
Sales Tax8.20%8.20%
Estimated total tax burden11.16%8.95%
Unemployment4.4%3.7%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)52°F51°F
Summer Temp (Jul)85°F84°F
Annual Precipitation36.3 in34.3 in
Annual Snowfall0.2 in0.0 in
Sunny Days228 days228 days
Summer Humidity67°F67°F
Comfortable Days103 days106 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk46.319.6
Air Quality52 AQI48 AQI
School Quality100.043.9
Violent Crime2055/100k779/100k
Property Crime3608/100k950/100k
Community
Population958,20262,491
Median Age34.235.5
Racial Diversity0.570.52
Male/Female Ratio1.050.97
Political LeaningD+46D+46
White (%)47.7%55.7%
Black (%)7.5%6.1%
Hispanic (%)32.5%24.1%
Asian (%)8.3%8.5%
Other / Multiracial (%)4.1%5.5%
Getting Around
Commute Time24 min29 min
Walkability17.1/207.3/20
Airport Distance8 mi29 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access91.8%96.6%
Amenities Nearby14.4241.61
Park & Nature AccessModerateGood

Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is Austin or Leander more affordable?
Leander has the lower cost of living: its index is $57k, compared with Austin's $57k and Leander's $57k. Median rent is $2k in Austin versus $2k in Leander.
Is Austin or Leander safer?
Leander has the lower violent crime rate. Austin reports 2055/100k and Leander reports 779/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in Austin or Leander?
The median home value is $462k in Austin and $412k in Leander, so homes are more affordable in Leander.
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