If you love the dining, entertainment, shopping, and art in
Austin, but aren’t quite sure a big city lifestyle is right for your family, these suburbs should definitely be on your list.
We looked at a whole bunch of data to come up with the top 10 suburbs of Austin for families. You’ll find close-knit communities, wide-open spaces, and a whole lot of family-friendly fun in these suburbs.
Let’s take a look at the winners.
1. Wimberley
Key Stats:
- GreatSchools.org score: 7.8 out of 10
- Unemployment rate: 3.4 percent
The small town of Wimberley kicks off our list of the best Austin suburbs for families with sprawling ranch and farmhouse style homes, and charming craftsman houses on large lots.
Cool off at the scenic Blue Hole Park and swimming area on Cypress Creek, grab fresh local produce at the Wimberley Farmers Market, or keep young readers engaged with story time at the Wimberley Village Library.
2. Cedar Park
Key Stats:
- GreatSchools.org score: 7.4 out of 10
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,171
- Median household income: $77,430
The large suburb of Cedar Park earns the second place spot on our list. Home buyers have a range of options, including townhouses, farmhouses on large private lots, and craftsman style homes on winding suburban streets.
Swim at the pool or play on the playground at Elizabeth Milburn Park, or plan a family picnic by the lake at Brushy Creek Park. The Cedar Park Public Library offers numerous children and teen programs and is the perfect spot to catch a family flick.
3. Pflugerville
Key Stats:
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,259
- Median household income: $76,032
Home buyers in the Austin suburb of Pflugerville have their pick of modern townhouses, sprawling farmhouses, and charming craftsman homes on large lots.
Grab fresh local produce from the Pfarmer’s Market, enjoy a picnic at scenic Lake Pflugerville, or cool off at numerous city pools and splash parks. The Pflugerville Library hosts numerous events for children, teens, and families.
4. Round Rock
Key Stats:
- GreatSchools.org score: 7.1 out of 10
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,548
- Average commute time: 24 minutes
The growing city of Round Rock has a population of over 104,000 and the amenities to match. Families searching for the perfect home in Round Rock will find everything from modern townhouses to sprawling ranch and craftsman style homes.
Active families will love the sports complexes, disc-golf courses, picnic spots, and trails at the scenic 645-acre Old Settlers Park. The Rock’N River Family Aquatic Center is the perfect spot to cool off on a hot summer day. Residents also enjoy convenient shopping from brand name retailers at the Round Rock Premium Outlets.
5. Liberty Hill
Key Stats:
- GreatSchools.org score: 8 out of 10
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,342
The tiny town of Liberty Hill earns the fifth place spot on our list of the best Austin suburbs for families with high marks from GreatSchools.org and spacious craftsman and farmhouse style homes on large lots.
Check out a new book or join a club at the Liberty Hill Public Library, or get back to nature with a family camping trip at the Rio Bonito Cabin and RV Park. Families searching for a rural community to call home will love the wide open spaces, rolling hills, and farmland in Liberty Hill.
6. Georgetown
Key Stats:
- Average commute time: 23 minutes
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,667
The lovely city of Georgetown has a variety of spacious housing options for families, including craftsman, ranch, and farmhouse style homes with large yards and room to spread out.
Enjoy boating, fishing, and swimming at scenic Lake Georgetown, or take young children to the creative playscape at San Gabriel Park. The Georgetown Public Library has an extensive children’s selection and numerous programs and events for families.
7. Hutto
Key Stats:
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,622
- Median household income: $72,044
The Austin suburb of Hutto earns the seventh place spot on our list with plenty of sprawling craftsman style homes on large lots that give big families room to spread out.
Grab a book at the Hutto Public Library, or enjoy numerous kid friendly activities and events. Residents can also cool off and enjoy a picnic at Hutto Lake Park. Community events like Movies in Fritz Park are a great way to get to know your neighbors.
8. Florence
Key Stats:
- Unemployment rate: 5.3 percent
- Median monthly housing costs: $690
- Average commute time: 24 minutes
The tiny town of Florence is perfect for families who want a close-knit community and rural environment. Home buyers will find sprawling farmhouse and ranch style homes on huge private lots.
Check out a new book at the Eula Hunt Beck Florence Public Library, cool off at the Florence Swimming Pool, or plan a family picnic and stroll down the walking trail at the Florence Community Park.
9. Leander
Key Stats:
- Median household income: $76,141
- Unemployment rate: 7.8 percent
Leander earns the ninth place spot on our list with a range of housing options for families, including affordable ranch style homes and spacious craftsman houses with large yards.
Active families will love the disc golf course, sports fields, courts, and splash pad at the Southwest Williamson County Regional Park. Families can also check out new books at the Leander Public Library.
10. Thorndale
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 84, compared to the Austin average of 104
- Median monthly housing costs: $585
The affordable town of Thorndale rounds out our list of the best Austin suburbs for families with one of the lowest costs of living and median monthly housing costs of any place we ranked. Sprawling ranch style homes on large lots are common.
Thorndale provides a small town lifestyle and close-knit community, with a population of just over 1,600. Community events like the Thorndale Christmas Parade are a great way to get to know your neighbors.
Our Methodology
To create this list of the best suburbs of Austin for families, we looked at the following criteria:
- GreatSchools.org Score
- Total crimes per 100k
- Unemployment rate
- Average commute time
- Median household income
- Median monthly housing costs (the lower the better)
We ranked each city in the above categories. Because some things are of extra importance to families, we weighted the GreatSchools.org score and total crimes per 100k score to make up 25 percent of the final score, while the rest of the categories made up 10 percent.
For this list, we gathered data from the U.S. Census, GreatSchools.org, and
AreaVibes.
Want to see how other Austin suburbs measured up? Check out the table below:
Like This Post? You’ll Definitely Love These:
