1st Advantage MortgageAbout 52% of Travis County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $99,611. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Travis County by the numbers
- The Travis County job picture
- Household income in Travis County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Travis County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Travis County
- Travis County and the counties next door
- Travis County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Travis County
- Budget math at the Travis County median
- Who licenses lenders for Travis County residents
- Four steps for Travis County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Travis County by the numbers
Roughly 1,330,015 residents live in Travis County, Texas, 5th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. It covers 994 square miles of land, or about 1,338 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 26 Census places inside Travis County, Austin leads by population with about 979,539; 17 of the 26 are incorporated.
The Travis County job picture
The biggest employer of Travis County residents, by industry, is professional and administrative services at 22% of workers, followed by education and health care (19%). The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 22% locally and 13% for Texas. The survey's unemployment rate for Travis County averages 4.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 5.9% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Travis County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and administrative services | 21.9% | +9.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.6% | -3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.2% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.1% | -0.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.6% | +0.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in Travis County
Travis County households have a median income of $99,611 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 11th of 254 in Texas.
| Household income | Travis County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.3% | -6.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.9% | -4.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.5% | +2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 20.4% | +7.9 pts |
About 15% of households earn under $35,000, while 50% clear $100,000. Census counts 10.9% of Travis County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. For a borrower in Travis County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Rent, home values and ownership in Travis County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,744 in Travis County versus $1,403 statewide. By the Census definition, 48% of Travis County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $523,000, or 5.3 years of median income. 52% of Travis County households own their home and 48% rent.
| Cost | Travis County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,744/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $523,000 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 52% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 9% | n/a |
With renters making up 48% of households, many Travis County borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Travis County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 26 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 84% of Travis County residents live in one of the 26. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $52,426 in Creedmoor to $240,114 in Rollingwood. Rent is cheapest in Volente ($1,219) and steepest in West Lake Hills ($3,501). 2 of them have a separate city guide (linked). For the rest, this is the local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | city | 979,539 | $93,658 | $1,729 | 6 mi |
| Lakeway | city | 19,307 | $190,060 | $2,981 | 19 mi |
| Steiner Ranch | CDP | 18,619 | $190,523 | $1,955 | 15 mi |
| Manor | city | 18,603 | $84,529 | $1,594 | 11 mi |
| Wells Branch | CDP | 13,523 | $66,656 | $1,544 | 14 mi |
| Hornsby Bend | CDP | 12,367 | $89,614 | $2,147 | 6 mi |
| Lago Vista | city | 9,650 | $113,457 | $1,436 | 23 mi |
| Bee Cave | city | 8,862 | $111,172 | $1,877 | 17 mi |
| Shady Hollow | CDP | 5,709 | $170,217 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Hudson Bend | CDP | 4,127 | $95,703 | $1,582 | 19 mi |
| Barton Creek | CDP | 3,440 | $203,947 | $2,268 | 11 mi |
| West Lake Hills | city | 3,285 | $198,125 | $3,501 | 8 mi |
| Briarcliff | village | 2,735 | $140,938 | $2,718 | 24 mi |
| Jonestown | city | 2,535 | $128,224 | $2,515 | 22 mi |
Travis County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Travis County's, from 24 to 43 miles away. Williamson County leads the group on income ($111,340), Caldwell County trails ($69,758), and Travis County out-earns 5 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis County | - | $99,611 | $1,744/mo | 52% |
| Hays County, TX | 24 mi | $89,097 | $1,495/mo | 64% |
| Bastrop County, TX | 25 mi | $86,226 | $1,410/mo | 76% |
| Caldwell County, TX | 28 mi | $69,758 | $1,173/mo | 75% |
| Williamson County, TX | 29 mi | $111,340 | $1,796/mo | 66% |
| Blanco County, TX | 42 mi | $92,425 | $1,017/mo | 76% |
| Lee County, TX | 43 mi | $76,371 | $1,067/mo | 78% |
Travis County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 57% of the adult population. 12.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Travis County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 56.6% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.1% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.1% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 30.2% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.2% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
Before borrowing in Travis County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Travis County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 12% of Travis County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 50% of Travis County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Tight rental budgets. With 48% of Travis County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Budget math at the Travis County median
Travis County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $99,611 a year is $8,301 of gross monthly income
- 21% goes to median rent ($1,744)
- $1,825: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Travis County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who licenses lenders for Travis County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Travis County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
Four steps for Travis County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Travis County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Travis County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Travis County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Travis County?
$99,611 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 11th of 254 in the state.
Is Travis County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,744 against $1,403 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Austin?
Yes, along with the other 25 Census places in Travis County, such as Lakeway, Steiner Ranch, Manor.
Will a Travis County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Travis County residents?
The Texas Department of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Texas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.