The entire area is appealing and many people are discovering that. Businesses are relocating to both the city of Austin and its surrounding communities and are bringing in employees or offering jobs to the locals. The state capital and Williamson County are right beside each other and both offer wonderful opportunities for exciting and rewarding work. They are both full of excellent resources for raising a family as well. So, what’s different?
If you’re thinking of moving into this dynamic area, why would you choose Austin over Williamson County, or Williamson County over Austin?
Austin is more crowded. The population is almost a million people who live together in a density of over 3,000 people per square mile. Austin is busier, with the State Capitol, University of Texas and thousands of companies working in technology, manufacturing, management and life science. The city of Austin has an extremely low unemployment rate and a healthy job-growth rate. Austin is funkier. Locals like to “keep Austin weird,” celebrating
home-grown businesses and their own personal expression. The city’s roots are steeped in an artistic, rebel vibe that fuels a fabulous food and magnificent music scene – it’s the Music Capital of the World. Austin is more religious and less republican. Just over half of the population attends church regularly and almost two-thirds vote for democrats.
Austin roadways are congested. By many measurements, the city has some of the worst traffic in the nation. Austin is booming, and the roads and public trans- portation infrastructure are struggling to keep up with all the new drivers and riders. Rather than having several or even many employment centers like other Texas cities do, students and employees flock to Austin’s core, which consists of downtown, the University of Texas and the Capitol; here 18 percent of all jobs are located. The major thoroughfares, I-35 and Loop 1 (or Mopac), were constructed years ago and are full; plus, Austin is the only major city in the U.S. with only one interstate passing through it. According to AustinTexasInsider.com, an Austin commuter with a 30-minute trip to work will endure 83 hours of traffic delays each year. During rush hour, traffic delays add about 34 minutes to a one-hour trip, which does not take into account bad weather or accidents.
But just north and beyond the crowd is Williamson County, where life is easier, which means: not as much traffic.
Roadways are less congested in Williamson County, because there are more of them, and they are newer. Plus, there are just fewer people – 373 people per square mile. Housing prices are lower here too. The average price of a four-bedroom/two-full-bath home in Austin is $401,999. The same house in
Cedar Park is $339,094, $323,157 in Georgetown and $302,184 in Round Rock.
Both the city of Austin and Williamson County enjoy a relatively temperate climate, a scenic environment, excellent educational opportunities and easy access to jobs. But in Williamson County, the cost of living is lower, spaces are wider and outdoor escapes are closer. If you’re looking for life lived more gently, explore your options in Williamson County.
