Travis
Texas

What stands out

If you had to describe Travis County in numbers, start here: the share working from home is among the highest in America (23%), the typical two-bedroom rent is in the top 3% of American counties ($1,670 a month), and natural-hazard risk is in the top 3% of American counties (97 of 100). Within Texas it ranks 2nd of 254 counties for the share working from home.

Where you are

You live in Travis County, Texas. 1,289,054 people live here with you, which makes it one of the country's big urban counties. The population grew 0.6% last year.

Texas has no income tax and no estate tax, and its constitution prohibits an income tax without a statewide vote. Property taxes are among the highest in the country and are the main source of local school funding; the 2023 legislature raised the homestead exemption to $100,000 to offset that. Homeowner insurance costs are high along the Gulf coast and rising statewide after hail and freeze events. The grid is independent of the rest of the country.

Money

The typical household here brings in $92,731 a year, higher than 95% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $96,267. Unemployment runs 2.8%, lower than 72% of American counties. 23% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 20 minutes each way.

Texas has no state income tax, so none of that goes to the state.

Home

The median home costs $479K, pricier than 92% of American counties, about 3.7 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,670 a month. Property tax is 1.61% of home value, roughly $7,160 a year on that median home, higher than 89% of American counties. 53% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.1 per 1,000 residents, lower than 89% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 21 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 80.6 years, longer than 94% of American counties. There are 4,839 active physicians in the county, about 37.5 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.6 of 5 stars. 14.6% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.10 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 75% of American counties. 91% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 43 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 71% of eligible voters turned out. Under Texas law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 70°F, highs near 82 and lows near 59, warmer than 96% of American counties. About 28 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 97 out of 100, riskier than 97% of American counties; the county has had 37 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 291 Mbps down, faster than 93% of American counties. There are 11 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.8 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 21 breweries, 22 museums.