15 Things to Know Before Moving to Leander, TX

, Oct 10, 2022

With its beautiful blend of country life and city living, it’s no wonder that Leander, Texas, is one of the fastest growing cities in the country! If you’re thinking of heading out South, Leander might be the place for you to settle in and call home. We’ve put together a list of the most important things you should know if you’re thinking about making the move.

1. Leander Offers Big City Convenience with Small Town Charm

With only 1,754 people per square mile, Leander has half the population density of larger cities like Austin. That means that you’ll still have access to all the great parts of living in a city – like malls and shopping and great restaurants – while having space to breathe. If you like the idea of knowing your neighbors but not having to walk past their door every day, Leander is going to give you just that. Its small population means you’ll get that small-town charm without having all the small-town gossip!

2. Leander Has Great Houses for Half the Cost of Other Cities

If the dream is to start a family, have a good job and a nice house with plenty of room, Leander will likely be a great fit! Most of the homes in the area were built around 2008 or thereafter, so the properties are in good condition and don’t usually need a ton of work to make them into a beautiful home. They’re also pretty huge – the average property in Leander has 6 bedrooms in the house! Not only are the properties big, but they’re really well priced. Leander is cheaper than almost all the nearby suburbs – and definitely cheaper than the big city – despite having great access to all the amenities you could ask for.

3. The People in Leander are Great!

Leander is full of the young up-and-coming of Texas, which makes it a wonderful place to be social, active, and working. With more and more people moving to Leander, it manages to keep its small-town feel where people care about each other and the community bands together to improve life for everyone. There are a ton of volunteer and community projects that you can join in Leander, including becoming a volunteer firefighter, an athletic coach, or joining a range of community garden centers to grow food for those in your community. The people in Leander describe it as being the epitome of “Southern hospitality” and they really take pride in being friendly and hospitable to those that join their community.

4. Leander Has a Wonderful Working Environment

Leander’s unemployment rate is 5.4% lower than the United States average, according to BestPlaces. The city is growing quickly, and jobs are expected to keep pace with the future expected job growth for the city sitting at over 70%. Household income is also higher in the city than the average income in the States, with a median household income of $89,649 per year, compared to the US median of $57,652.

5. Speaking of the Environment: the Weather in Leander is Amazing

While you won’t get a white Christmas in Leander, the weather here is temperate and moderate all year round. The weather here is pretty consistent and, although Texas is hot and dry, you can expect a few days of rain each month throughout the year in Leander. With average high temperatures of 90 degrees and lows of 41, Leander is a lovely place to spend your summers by the pool or in the garden.

6. Worried About Traffic? CapMetro Has You Covered!

While there’s plenty of work in Leander itself, if you’re working in Austin or surrounding cities, the CapMetro can get you there without the hassle of traffic and fuel costs.CapMetro is Austin’s regional public transportation provider and the Leander transit service is top-notch, with bus and rail routes to get you anywhere you need to go. The Leander Station gives access to two metro lines that head to Downtown Austin, Texas State Capitol, Waterloo Park, and the University of Texas, among others. Operating Monday to Saturday, with free Wi-Fi on board, and real-time updates on the CapMetro app, you can use your commute to get things done. CapMetro also offers Pickup Leander, an on-demand transit service that operates curb-to-curb. The service zone covers most of Leander and can get you to schools, parks, and more.

7. Leander’s School System is One of the Best in the Country

With a total of 41 schools, Leander has great school options for kids of all ages and Leander’s school district has been voted one of the best independent school districts in the country. With an average teacher-student ratio of 14 to 1, Leander scores particularly well on the quality of its teachers. The vast majority of teachers in the city have several years of experience and the student graduation rate is higher than in the rest of the country. If you’re looking for a school in Leander, you can find a list of the best schools in the city here.

8. Leander is One of the Top 50 Safest Cities in Texas

Speaking of kids, Leander is a great place to raise them! Not just for the schools, but the city is safe and peaceful, and you can rest easy knowing that your kids can play outside without much risk of harm. Leander is one of the 50 safest cities in Texas, and the crime rate is going down even further. Maybe it’s that small town feel, or the volunteer policing program, but the city is a lovely place to own a home and have your kids play with the kids next door.

9. The Cost of Living in Leander is Lower than in Most Places in the Country

Leander’s cost of living is 4% lower than the national average and it’s cheaper to live here than most other places in the country. While utilities in Leander are higher than in many other places in the state, the city offers tons to make up for it! Goods and services cost, on average, 17% less than the national average, and groceries are also significantly cheaper.

10. Parks, Lakes, and the Great Outdoors: Leander Has it All

This is where Leander really starts to shine! The city life in Leander is great and all, but the wilderness, parks, and lakes are the part of the life here that make it unlike any other place in America. If hiking is your thing, Leander has a ton of great trails for weekend walks ranging from the short but lovely Lakewood Nature Trail to the more challenging Bee Cave Hollow Route. With plenty of fishing, swimming, hunting, and biking available, the parks and lakes surrounding Leander make the place a perfect spot for those wanting some downtime outdoors.

11. Leander is a Paradise for Sports Lovers

Home to the Crystal Falls Golf Club and the Texas Stars Hockey Club, Leander has access to some really great sporting events and opportunities. The Crystal Falls Golf Club is rated one of the best golf courses in the state and offers a short but challenging 18-hole course for golfers of any age. With Austin really close by, you also have access to a host of different sporting events, ranging from Major League Soccer (go Austin FC!) to bull riding, to roller derby, and Formula 1. Leander is a great spot to be if you want to see it all without living in a large city like Austin itself.

12. Old Town Leander is Perfect for More Social Vibes

For those who are a little more interested in the social side of things – or those who just want a good cocktail after a long day of hiking – Old Town Leander is perfect. A historic area, Old Town Leander is made up of some beautiful architecture and is filled with shops, restaurants, breweries, and wineries to keep everyone happy and busy for hours. The Old Town Leander Farmer’s Market, held on a Saturday morning, is a must-do for anyone living in the city and brings with it some fantastic entertainment and a great day for the whole family to enjoy.

13. The Food in Leander is Pretty Awesome

What would a Southern town be without good food? Leander has a wide range of truly amazing restaurants to choose from but if you’re looking for that home-town Southern goodness, you simply have to try Mouton’s Southern Bistro, where the portions are great and the food is even better. If wining and dining is more your speed, then there are great winery options that cater to a wide range of tastes and budgets. For those looking for a date night idea, Flat Creek Estate offers great wine tasting and menu pairings for a special night out.

14. Leander Has Great Street Fairs and Music Festivals

If you’ve tried all the great food, walked all the hikes, and been to all the sporting events, Leander still has more to offer! In keeping with their small-town feel, Leander has a long list of annual street fairs and festivals to keep you and your family entertained. Most well-known among these are the Leander Bluegrass Festival and the Old Town Leander Street Festival. Whether you’re interested in music, art, food, or wine, Leander has a festival to inspire and entertain you.

15. Once They’re Here, People Don’t Really Leave Again

There are tons of great things to say about Leander but, as the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. While Leander has seen a lot of people moving to the city in recent years, it says a lot about the place that people don’t really leave. Once people settle there, they don’t move away again, and those that do go looking for greener pastures often come back.

Categories Austin News Austin Texas

About the Author

Last updated: 10/13/2022

2300+ Client reviews!

Brad Henry

Blessed to have connected with Kristen! I can’t say enough great things about Kristen. Her professionalism, market knowledge, and communication were beyond compare. She was incredibly patient throughout our home search. We looked at a countless amount of homes (we are very picky), and never once felt she was trying to push us in to something that wasn’t the right fit for the sake of a sale. We always felt she had our best interest in mind. Couldn’t recommend her more!!!

Taylor Constantine

Sally was referred to me via a business network when I first moved to Austin in 2022. She helped me understand the area, evaluate my options, and find the perfect spot in a tough market. Sally has been a joy to work with because she creates partnerships + friendships with her clients!

Scott

I was impressed by Sally’s expertise in selling both my investment property and my primary residence, and in helping us buy our dream home. At our initial meeting, we found Sally knew the real estate market, but found even more impressive her emotional quotient in understanding and navigating the differences between my partner’s and my very different personalities. For my investment property, she timed the showings and sale perfectly and created a helpful Excel spreadsheet comparing the many offers. She was also savvy enough to suggest we pay the tenants a fair amount of money to make the property available for viewing from 9am – 5pm on the first weekend to make it as easy as possible for potential buyers to get through, and we let her deal directly with the tenants because we could tell her people skills would serve us well

We got multiple offers by the deadline on Monday afternoon with one outlier that was $150K higher than what we had unsuccessfully listed the property for (with a different realtor) a year earlier!

When it came to selling my primary home, Sally’s expertise in the luxury market, and in historic homes in particular, truly shone. She understood that selling a high-end property, with various restrictions, required a different approach. Sally crafted a listing for the home that perfectly captured its unique character and premier location. Her marketing strategy was well timed and appropriate for the more limited market, attracting the right buyer pool and creating a sense of exclusivity around the property. She suggested listing it on the private market for a week or two before sending a message that it would be listed on the MLS. She organized private showings that allowed buyers to experience the warmth and charm of the home and the neighborhood, which I believe was instrumental in securing a sale.

The pricing and marketing strategy Sally recommended was spot-on, and we sold the home at a price that far exceeded our expectations. Sally helped thread the needle perfectly.

Sally is also accessible. We found more well-known realtors would respond to our email days later, whereas she was always available right away to answer my questions, and provided us with regular updates, making sure every detail was handled with care. Selling a high-end property can be a stressful experience with fewer potential buyers and some downtime inherent in waiting for the right buyer, but Sally made it a smooth and surprisingly easy process encouraging us to be patient while giving us enough information on what was happening to satisfy both me and my partner. In the end, we were thrilled with the results

Sally’s rep of us as sellers could not have been more professional, but her work repping us as buyers is the most memorable. We were trying to be our dream home in an overheated market, and Sally gave us advice that at each turn proved invaluable. She recommended offering just the right amount above the offer price for us to make it to the next round of offers. She handled a very difficult appraisal process by advising us on financing sources, even offering to help us put down a higher amount by loaning us money herself! We were able to finance the home without taking her up on that offer, but how many realtors make that kind of offer to their clients? In the end, we closed on the house ontime and ended up with the home of our dreams, thanks to Sally’s world-class advice and service.

We cannot say enough good things about Sally’s technical knowledge, people skills, and responsiveness. You won’t find a better realtor in Austin.

lucille wood

I have lived here in Austin for more twenty-five years, and have bought and sold several homes and rented others during those years. I have worked with five realtors during that time. SALLY IS BY FAR THE BEST OF ANY IN TOWN. Her work ethic is simply unmatched. She hides her competitive streak underneath a layer of Austin hip and friendly, but she will absolutely get you the best home, the best deal, and stop at NOTHING to get your home sold as well!

Sally loves real estate. She has a genuine passion for Austin, too, and for her client’s well-being. She took time to understand my needs and was always available to answer any questions and provide me with honest and insightful advice.

We toured many homes in Barton Hills and settled on a great home that was hotly contested by builders and homeowners. Sally understood how we could be the preferred buyer without getting into a bidding war. She knew the motivations of the Seller and we maneuvered and negotiated the contract and secured my dream home.

Furthermore, at the 11th hour, the day before we were set to close, our lender said we needed to put a fence around the pool before they would release the funds. The seller was not inclined to extend the closing again. We were out of town. Sally saved the day by racing to Home Depot and getting the largest tarpaulin available and then securing it over the pool at the house. Sent pics to the lender and we were set to close.

In short, Sally will work harder and smarter than anyone. She’s simply the best.

Daniel Carroll

Sally is incredible! She spent nearly 2 years with us – understanding our very specific preferences and needs – to help us find our dream home. She was the first agent to reach out when the home was listed and negotiated the contract astutely so that we secured the home. The home was only in the framed stage, still had a few months until completion. Once it was completed, however, our plans had changed and we needed to get out of the contract. We were expecting to have to relinquish our very considerable deposit. But Sally spent the entire weekend working on a way to get us out of the contract AND get our deposit back. Everyone we have spoken to about this extraordinary outcome has been surprised that Sally managed to get our deposit back for us. Thank you Sally, we can’t recommend her highly enough.

Amit Melwani

Sally is reliable, diligent in her research, prompt on exchanges, creative in deal making, and has a tremendous work ethic. She is the sole reason we were able to close on our primary residence, which has been our dream home and a fantastic investment. From there, we’ve gone on to close on multiple rental property purchases in Austin together. Thanks to her astute analysis, we’ve passed on many deals as well, which has proven just as valuable. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Dom Chapman

I highly recommend Kiel if you’re looking to rent a place in Austin. We originally met him to look around a particular unit, and when it was not to our satisfaction, he was able to quickly take us around many more units that day. He also set up a whole day of viewings for the very next day! Within 48 hours we had done enough viewings to be confident in choosing a new home. The landlord accepted our offer and Kiel handled all of the paperwork, even stopping by our hotel to pick up the needed checks. We couldn’t be happier.

Kiel is highly organized and unlike some realtors in the Austin area, he is responsive and ready to move quickly. We were always able to contact him and never left waiting.

Caroline Hunt Rizzo

Kiel has your BACK!! We are so grateful to have had his guidance and knowledge while navigating the intense, frustrating and way competitive Austin rental market. He quickly picked up on our taste and designed a game plan to help us push through the clutter and get to the properties that best suited us. He was ALWAYS available to us and answered our emails, calls and texts with great speed. We’re so grateful to have had him on our search team. Because my goodness, it really is a crazy market out there!

rkcroissant

Kiel was amazing to work with! He walked us through everything, explained anything we didn’t understand, and he is is just a great guy to work with. As a first time home buyer, his knowledge was invaluable. 10/10 would recommend!

shawn1reilly

Kiel was referred to me by a friend, and we were so pleased with his services. He jumped in and guided us through the entire process, made himself readily available for us during the whole process, checked in with us via text every step of the way, and provided any and all information we requested. As a first time home buyer, I was not totally familiar with the process. Kiel helped me through the lending process, walk through inspection and closing procedures. It was such a pleasure to work with him, and we look forward to hiring him again when we purchase our next property.

zuser20180705080612753

I’ve never met anyone as knowledgeable and hard working as Kiel. Everything he said he was going to do, he did it. Kiel is a very easy person to get along with. He made us comfortable with the process and also made it fun. In 5 words…HE GETS THE JOB DONE!

elle rodriguez20

It was great working with Kiel. He understood what we really wanted in a home. When it came to the process of the contract, it was obvious how knowledgeable he was. He did exactly what we wanted while giving great advice.

Click Here to Read All Reviews