What Are The Pros And Cons Of Living In Round Rock, TX?

Paige Hanawalt
by Paige Hanawalt

Round Rock, TX was labeled as one of the “Coolest Suburbs in America” by Apartment Therapy. After careful research, we’ve found that while it is “cool,” there are a few drawbacks to consider before relocating to this area. Here are the pros and cons of living in Round Rock, Texas.

There are many pros to living in Round Rock, Texas with its affordable family-friendly neighborhoods, great outdoor life, thriving business community, and top-rated education. Its proximity to the highly-rated city of Austin provides convenience and variety that is hard to beat. Round Rock may not be for everyone though as the weather can be extreme, traffic can be heavy, and at times crowds and lines can be large.

Looking to make a move to Round Rock? Read on to discover more about the pros and cons of living in this city.

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What Are The Pros Of Living In Round Rock?

Round Rock, TX is known for its suburban feel and comfortable living. Many residents here are families and young professionals looking to settle down in a good area. Considering the school systems were ranked top in the nation, this suburban area outside of Austin is a great place to move to all around.

Round Rock offers a wide variety of things to do within its small community. Some of those things include beautiful parks, stylish shopping, delicious food, and entertainment. Residents of Austin can escape the city and find relaxation and family-friendly fun at Round Rock.

Affordable Living For Everyone

Most residents here own their own homes because the cost of housing is affordable. The median value of a home is $244K, and the median rental rate is $1,316. These are some of the most competitive rates in Texas when considering the quality of the area. Especially when compared to Austin!

Because Round Rock is growing more every day, there are a variety of new neighborhoods to choose from. Newly constructed homes start around $200K and can include wonderful neighborhood amenities as well.

Residents here in Williamson County have an average median income of $82K a year. Both residents who live here and multiple media outlets have listed Round Rock as one of the safest and most affordable cities to live in the nation. It is truly a great place to raise a family and build a business.

Family-Friendly Neighborhoods

One of the most important factors to consider when moving to a new area is to find where the best neighborhoods are. You want to make sure you and your family are comfortable. A few neighborhoods that are great for families and young couples are Teravista, Behrens Ranch, and Forest Creek.

Teravista

This neighborhood is very affluent. It’s located towards the outskirts of Round Rock, not too far from Georgetown. This golf course community has homes starting at $350,000 and reaching up to $1.5 million. This community is very popular with Austin residents and Round Rock residents alike. The community includes three resort-style pools, a fitness center, and beautiful scenic trails to enjoy.

Highlands at Mayfield Ranch

This is a newly built community with homes starting in the mid $300s. This community is filled with recreational activities for residents to enjoy. With their own Elementary school, Middle school, and High School, this community has high-rated education. It’s a great place to call home!

Forest Creek

Forest Creek is another golf club community but with more budget-friendly homes when compared to Teravista. This community has homes listed as low as $325K to as much as $900K. Residents of Forest Creek can enjoy amenities such as four separate pools that include an Olympic-style pool, kiddie pool, shallow pool, and splash pool for kids. There are also two tennis courts that are fully equipped with a playground, picnic tables, BBQ grills, and an amenity bathroom.

With a variety of these communities to choose from, you can’t go wrong when finding your home in Round Rock, TX.

Top Rated Neighborhoods

These highly-regarded communities range in price, amenities, schools, and more. Each neighborhood brings its own unique value to the city and its residents.

  • Teravista
  • Highlands at Mayfield Ranch
  • Forest Creek
  • Sendero Springs
  • Walsh Ranch

Scenic Views And Outdoor Fun

Round Rock has some of the best trails around, ranging from short 1 mile jaunts to 20 mile adventures. The trails offer beautiful scenic views that give a wonderful chance to unwind with nature. These trails are perfect for biking, walking, or running.

The Austin-Round Rock Metro area is also known as the Sports Capital of Texas, due to the number of recreational activities available to you. There is no shortage of outdoor fun here!

Popular Trails And Parks

Some great parks to check out when living in Round Rock are:

  • Chisholm Trail Crossing Park
  • Bushy Creek Trail East Park
  • Cedar Breaks Park
  • Blue Hole Park
  • Round Rock West Park

These are great areas to enjoy a morning run, a friendly walk, or even a little bit of nature sightseeing. After you are done checking these out there are many more to explore around Round Rock.

Top-Rated Education

Round Rock education was listed in a recent study called Top School Districts in Austin, as one of the best school systems in the state. Ranging from Elementary schools to High Schools you can rest assured that your kids are getting highly rated educational services and support.

What Are The Cons Of Living In Round Rock?

Round Rock may seem too good to be true, but it does have its flaws like most places. Here are a few cons to living in Round Rock, TX.

Weather Conditions

Texas heat is no joke. The summer months range from June to September and in between this time period the heat can reach 107 degrees. The mornings start off at a warm 80 degrees and can reach into the triple digits by mid-afternoon.

August is known as the hottest month in Texas, with temperatures staying in the 90s and above. Heat mixed with moisture causes the humidity to be unbearable at times and can ruin a good hair day! This is something most northerners have to get used to when moving to Texas. Most people who aren’t from the South can’t grasp the idea of how hot and humid it gets at times.

Little Winter Reprieve

Because Texas is a warmer state, months like October through December are usually warmer than most. Oftentimes you will still see 70-degree weather in December, so you definitely shouldn’t expect a white Christmas or even a cold fall season.

There are times where it does get cold and drop below 40 degrees. This usually happens in the months of January through April. Since you don’t get to see snow in Texas (besides freak weather incidents), you see a lot of ice rain. This can get dangerous when driving, because it makes the roads slick.

So come prepared for the heat in the summer months, and be careful when driving in the colder months.

Traffic And Commute

If you don’t know what I-35 is -let me tell you- it is traffic central! There isn’t a time in the day where I-35 isn’t slowed or stopped. During the peak times of the day such as 7 to 9 AM and 5 to 7 PM, you will hit rush hour which means you will most likely be stopped in traffic or inching away at 10 miles an hour for most of your commute.

I-35 is a stretch of highway that runs through Round Rock and is the main connection to Austin. This stretch of highway has been under construction for years and continues to be under construction for the foreseeable future. There are separate toll roads and back roads surrounding I-35, but this is the main highway in Round Rock.

It’s Always Busy

Due to the booming economy, migrating Austin residents, and Austin right next door, you will find longer wait times, busier areas, and packed events. If you are looking for a small-town feel or a backroad country community, you will need to move further towards the outskirts of Round Rock and closer to Georgetown. It is possible to get that country, small-town feel the farther away from the city you get.

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Our Final Take

Round Rock is a great place to live for families looking to settle down, first-time home buyers, and young professionals beginning their new careers. This community has great trails and parks. It’s a recreational haven for outdoor explorers and non-stop entertainment. And finally, the education here is highly rated.

While you can enjoy the positives Round Rock has to offer you do need to take into consideration the negatives that can be bothersome. If you are looking for a small-town, quiet feel then this place wouldn’t be for you. It is busy with heavy traffic and packed areas all around. The heat is also something to definitely consider when considering Round Rock Texas as your next home.

Paige Hanawalt
Paige Hanawalt

Paige is an elementary school librarian with a passion for writing. Her hobbies include reading an exorbitant amount of fantasy, slowly teaching herself to draw, and home decor. While she isn't the most talented artist or interior designer, what she lacks in skill she more than makes up for in enthusiasm. When she's not curled up with a book, you can certainly find her curled over the keyboard.

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