Is Round Rock Texas a Good Place to Live? 🤷‍♀️ | Ultimate Living in Round Rock TX Guide

Thinking about living in Round Rock TX? Known locally as the “Sports Capital of Texas”, Round Rock is a relatively affluent suburban city and one of the most popular cities near Austin. As one might guess, the community of Round Rock is known for the wide variety of sports-related stadiums and attractions within the confines of the city, being the headquarters of the Dell corporation, as well as having one of the best school districts in the state and several outdoor activities to enjoy.

Compared to today, the origins of Round Rock were much more humble. The area was inhabited since prehistory, about 9,200 B.C., to be precise. During the settling of America, the area was inhabited by a diverse group of warring Native tribes, which were eventually crowded out by American colonization. Round Rock is so named because of a round rock on the Brushy Creek, which travelers would often pass by to get to Austin.

Starting out as a humble farming community, primarily dealing in cotton, Round Rock would remain a typical Wild West town up until the ‘50s, when the construction of I-35 caused an economic boom in the area. It then remained as a bedroom community up until the ‘90s, where economic focus and the move of the Dell corporation’s headquarters into the region instead made it an economic hub.

As of today, little has changed. Round Rock still remains an economic hub, while also having a history tied to the famous Wild West era of America’s history.

But is Round Rock Texas a good place to live? There are several amazing benefits of living in Round Rock TX. The combination of sports, jobs, historic sites, and attractions are all reasons so many are moving to Round Rock! Here's everything you should know before moving to Round Rock.

Is Round Rock Texas a Good Place to Live?

Round Rock Texas is a good place to live. Living in Round Rock TX means being a part of one of the best Austin suburbs, enjoying a small-town vibe, affordable housing, and safe neighborhoods. After moving to Round Rock, you're only a stone's throw away from amazing live music, fun outdoor activities, and plenty of other fun things to do.

Where Is Round Rock, TX?

 

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Round Rock is located in Williamson County, bordering Austin to the south and Georgetown to the north, and is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX metro area. Set right on Interstate 35, the highway was vital to Round Rock’s development during the mid-20th century. Round Rock is also right on the Brushy Creek, and the historic Chisolm Trail.

Want to know where you'll be in relation to other cities when living in Round Rock TX? Beyond Georgetown and Austin, Round Rock is also bordered by Pflugerville to the southeast, and Cedar Park and Leander to the west. How far is Round Rock from Austin? The distance from Round Rock, TX to Austin, TX is 19 miles.

Round Rock Information

• County: Williamson County
• Round Rock area: 38 miles
• Round Rock zip code: 78664, 78665, 78680–78683
• Round Rock area code: 512, 737
• Round Rock elevation: 735’
• Round Rock time zone: Central Time Zone (UTC -5 and -6)
• Closest airport: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), 24 miles from Round Rock

Round Rock, TX Population & Demographics

 

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How many people are living in Round Rock TX? The population of Round Rock is 119,468 distributed over 37.6 miles at a population density of about 3,400 people per square mile. Round Rock’s population has grown by 3.6% since 2010. When living in Round Rock TX, you'll be located in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX metro area, which has a population of 2,173,804 people. The median age here is 35.4. The median household income in Round Rock is $97,187, with 43% of the population making $100k annually or more.

Additional Round Rock Demographics:

• Sex ratio: 50.9% female, 49.1% male
• Racial & ethnic composition: 58.3% White (47.8% non-Hispanic), 17.2% two or more races, 11.2% Black or African American, 7.3% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian
• Educational attainment: 93.9% high school degree (or higher), 43.6% bachelor's degree (or higher)

Notable people from Round Rock include MLB player Ryan Goins, Nigerian American rapper Wande, and NFL player Donnie Little.

Round Rock, TX Transportation

After moving to Round Rock, you'll have a few transportation options. Round Rock traffic isn't too bad, and you'll be able to get around fairly easily when living in Round Rock TX. Round Rock is linked to Interstate 35, which has been acting as Round Rock’s economic pipeline since its construction. The area also has a number of toll roads, courtesy of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. The most substantial airport in the city is the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Cost of Living in Round Rock TX

 

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Is living in Round Rock TX affordable? The cost of living index in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX metro area is only 1% higher on average than other places in America, which is just about average for the United States, as you might’ve guessed. Therefore, Round Rock is one of the most affordable suburbs near Austin. The low cost of living in Round Rock TX is one of the biggest draws to the area.

Basic everyday costs like housing, utilities, and groceries will generally be lower than the average. The average utility bill in Round Rock is $243.20 per month.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four living in Round Rock TX will have to make, on average, $107,633 to live comfortably in the city.

Round Rock, TX Typical Living Expenses

Here are some common items you might buy, and their prices according to Numbeo:

• Milk - $4.03
• Loaf of bread - $3.14
• 12 regular eggs - $3.32
• 1 lb. chicken filet - $5.67
• 1 lb. apples - $2.10
• 1 lb. tomatoes - $1.64
• Gasoline, 1 gallon - $3.02
• Meal at an inexpensive restaurant - $20.00
• Monthly internet cost - $67.28

Round Rock has a sales tax of 8.25%, and a property tax of 0.4%. Low taxes are one of the draws of moving to Round Rock Texas!

Round Rock, TX Real Estate

Are you thinking about purchasing Round Rock real estate? Luckily, you'll find plenty of options when living in Round Rock TX! The median sale price for Round Rock homes is $395,496, according to Redfin, which is below the national average of $431,000. Housing prices are down 0.52% from last year, and homes stay on the market for an average of 56 days.

 

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Thinking about renting after moving to Round Rock? 41% of Round Rock residents rent their homes, according to RentCafe, on the lower end, thanks to Round Rock’s competitive home prices. The average rent in Round Rock TX is $1,474 monthly, fairly typical for a city of this size.

If you want to make yourself a part of any of these communities, you should check out the latest listings for homes for sale in Round Rock, TX.

Round Rock, TX Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Round Rock, TX

Round Rock is a place with varied communities for all sorts of folks. From the typical suburbs to the urban area packed with Round Rock’s famous economic opportunities and attractions, there's something for everyone living in Round Rock TX! Check out some of the best neighborhoods in Round Rock below:

Teravista - Affluent Planned Community with Fantastic Golfing

 

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Teravista is an affluent planned community that was developed relatively recently by the Newland Communities corporation. Alongside the classiness of the homes contained within, it is also well-known for its 18-hole golf course, excellent neighborhood amenities, and more. Teravista is some of the hottest real estate in the Round Rock area, with the community being rated highly for its type by the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin.

Brushy Creek - Historic Neighborhood With a Wealth of Attractions

If you read that lengthy introduction, you’ll know that Brushy Creek, and the round rock contained within which is the city’s namesake, is one of the most established areas of Round Rock. Living here is to live among the first settlers of this area. As of today, it’s more suburban than roughshod Wild West settlement, but it’s plenty historical. It also has quick access to many lovely attractions in nearby Cedar Park as well as Round Rock, such as the Old Settler’s Park.

Highlands at Mayfield Ranch - Highly Desirable Developed Community for Families

Developed incredibly recently – 2016, to be precise – Highlands at Mayfield Ranch is a neighborhood specially built to take advantage of all of Round Rock’s best features, and is standing proof of Round Rock’s soaring economic development. Surrounded by excellent parks, schools, attractions, amenities, and more, this neighborhood is one of the best new additions to the city.

Round Rock, TX Climate & Weather

 

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What can you expect from the weather when living in Round Rock TX? The Round Rock Texas weather can be all over the place! Round Rock is a humid subtropical climate, according to the Koppen scale. If you know the Austin area, there’ll be few surprises for you climate-wise when living in Round Rock TX. You can expect lows of 38 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months, and highs of 95 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months.

Round Rock experiences nearly the average amount of rainfall when compared with the rest of the United States, with 36 inches per year. Round Rock is an arid area and does not experience snow. The best times to visit Round Rock, in terms of comfort rating, are April and October. The coldest month is January.

This area of Texas experiences tornadoes and very rarely minor earthquakes. Other than that, Round Rock does not generally experience extreme weather.

Round Rock Restaurants

In Round Rock, fantastic restaurants are the norm! When living in Round Rock TX, you can take your pick from all types of different cuisine. Take a look at some of the best restaurants in Round Rock below:

Jack Allen's Kitchen

 

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This wonderful upscale restaurant & sports bar has a southwestern theme, providing similarly upscale dishes with a Texas background for a truly cowboy experience when living in Round Rock TX!

Jack Allen's Kitchen, 2500 Hoppe Trail, Round Rock, TX 78681, (512) 215-0372

Chuy's

Unabashedly kitschy, Chuy’s provides excellent TexMex cuisine with signature huge burritos and other iconic dishes! This staple is easily one of the best places to eat in Round Rock.

Chuy's, 2320 N Interstate Hwy 35, Round Rock, TX 78681, (512) 255-2211

Hopdoddy Burger Bar

Known for excellent burgers and drinks, Hopdoddy combines the best of both worlds in this excellent restaurant-fast food-bar hybrid!

Hopdoddy Burger Bar, 2600 Hoppe Trail, Round Rock, TX 78681, (512) 310-2337

Things to Do in Round Rock, TX

It should come as no surprise that there are plenty of great attractions and specialized shopping centers in Round Rock! You should check out some of the best things to do in Round Rock, TX below:

Top Attractions:

• Rock’N’River Water Park - The only theme park you’ll be able to access when living in Round Rock TX without going all the way to Austin, Rock’N’River Water Park has slides, pools, lazy rivers, tipping buckets, and more to make a day of swimming supremely fun! Your kids will love it, and so will you – don’t worry, we don’t judge!
• Escapology Escape Rooms Austin - Escape rooms are all the rage these days, and (despite the misleading location name) Round Rock has one of its very own in Escapology! Do you have the brains to find your way out of a locked room? Don’t feel too bad if you don’t!
• Inner Space Cavern - If you don’t get creeped out by caves, you’ll love Inner Space Cavern! Three levels of tour taking you deeper and deeper into an immense cave that feels like something from a different planet. A one-of-a-kind experience! This is also one of the most fun things to do in Round Rock with kids.

 

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Parks & Outdoors

• Old Settlers Park - Don't skip out on Old Settlers Park when living in Round Rock TX. An immense 645-acre outdoor facility, Old Settlers Park has trails, giant playsets, sports fields, and more, all of which make it a top spot for spending a day outdoors in Round Rock!
• Play For All Abilities Park - Looking for Round Rock activities for kids? A large 51,000 sq. ft. playset designed for universal access to all children, Play For All Abilities Park is a fantastic attraction, whether your children are physically disabled or not.
• Memorial Park - More or less your typical park, for more mundane outings when living in Round Rock TX, Memorial Park has two playgrounds, walking trails, picnicking areas, and lovely views for a relaxing day.

Shopping

• Round Rock Premium Outlets - Offering more than 125 name brands in a shopping mall environment in Downtown Round Rock, Premium Outlets is the place to go in Round Rock if you want anything, well, premium! Brands on offer here range from Adidas to Duluth to Micheal Kors.
• University Oaks Shopping Center - If you’re looking for something a little more general, University Oaks might be your spot. One of the best Round Rock attraction, this mall offers all sorts of well-known brand name stores for a variety of purposes, most will come here for its variety of fast food and other restaurants.

Map of Round Rock Things to Do

Here's a map of things to do when living in Round Rock TX.

Sports in Round Rock, TX

 

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Hey, they don’t call Round Rock the “Sports Capital of Texas” for nothing! You'll have plenty of great sporting opportunities after moving to Round Rock. Round Rock is home to the Round Rock Express, a Minor League Baseball team whose home stadium is the famous Dell Diamond.

Many MiLB games are played in the Dell Diamond, so if you love baseball, you’re in luck when living in Round Rock TX! Don’t think Round Rock is all about catching a Round Rock Express game though – alongside a skate park, Round Rock also has fields for playing cricket, disc golf, softball, and soccer, to name just a few. Sports lovers will be in heaven while living in Round Rock TX!

Is Round Rock Texas Safe?

Thinking about moving to this community, but wondering if Round Rock, TX is safe? Don’t worry about a thing – living in Round Rock TX is very safe! Round Rock’s overall crime rate is only 6.4% higher than the national average, with most of the Round Rock crime being property crime. The property crime rate is 17.9% higher than the national average, while the violent crime rate is 54.3% lower than the national average.

Here’s how Round Rock compares in crime to three cities of similar size:

• Concord, CA - 67.9% lower
• Vallejo, CA - 113.8% lower
• Oceanside, CA - 57% lower

Compared to other cities of its size, Round Rock is a very safe community. Part of the draw of living in Round Rock TX is just how safe it is, and part of that is Round Rock’s excellent police department. Round Rock is served in law enforcement matters by the Round Rock Police Department.

Jobs in Round Rock, TX

Are you thinking about getting a job while living in Round Rock TX? Luckily, there are plenty of great Round Rock places to work. Round Rock is a city that is bursting at the seams with major economic opportunity, and you most certainly won’t struggle to find a Round Rock jobs while living here! 

According to Payscale, the most popular positions of employment are Software Engineer, Principal Software Engineer, and Senior Software Engineer. The largest employers in the area, and by extension the best places for job opportunities in Round Rock, are Dell, Inc., Westinghouse, and M3 Design. According to Payscale, the average salary in Round Rock TX is $82,000.

Round Rock is packed with other major employers, like Emerson Process Management, IKEA, and more! When living in Round Rock TX, you can check out the city job board or search for jobs on Indeed.

Round Rock, TX Schools

 

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If you choose to start living in Round Rock TX, you’ll have access to a variety of absolutely excellent school districts – the Round Rock Independent School District (Round Rock ISD) was rated among the best in Texas in 2008 by the Texas Education Agency.

Some of the best schools you’ll find in and around Round Rock include Cactus Ranch Elementary, James Garland Walsh Middle School, and Round Rock High – all of which are rated excellently on GreatSchools! There are plenty of high schools in Round Rock, elementary schools in Round Rock, and private schools in Round Rock for you to choose from.

If you or a family member are looking to get into higher education when living in Round Rock TX, Round Rock will have everything you need! The Texas State University has a local campus in the area, and there are also options for community colleges in the local campus of the Austin Community College

Round Rock has a wealth of excellent libraries, most notably the Round Rock Public Library.

Ready to Make Living in Round Rock TX a Reality?

So, is Round Rock Texas a good place to live? Living in Round Rock TX has never been better!

Planning on moving to Round Rock, Texas? With how much Round Rock has to offer, it’s a wonderful idea that you won’t regret! But you’ll need a properly trained, trustworthy moving company to do the job, which is why you should

Give Unicorn Moving a call at (512) 339-9922! With our group of top-rated Round Rock movers, your move will transform from a stressful process to a quick and easy endeavor! Call now or fill out our online form for a free quote!