Austin, TX vs Lakeway, TX
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Nov 2026
Report card
| Category | AustinAustin, TX | LakewayLakeway, TX | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Great | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | Very Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | High Autonomy | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
418 violent crimes per 100,000 people in Austin, TX compared with 63 in Lakeway, TX, according to 2023 Census figures and 2025 crime data. Austin's violent crime rate places it in the 80th percentile, while Lakeway's is in the 12th percentile, making Austin's rate 6.6 times higher. Property crime follows a similar pattern, with Austin at 3,077 per 100,000 (93rd percentile) versus Lakeway's 815 (24th percentile), a 3.8-fold difference. The poverty rate also diverges sharply: 12.3% in Austin (54th percentile) versus 2.9% in Lakeway (4th percentile), a gap of 9.4 percentage points.
Population figures contrast dramatically, with Austin's 967,862 residents (100th percentile) far exceeding Lakeway's 19,130 (45th percentile). Population density is 2,978 per square mile in Austin (78th percentile) compared with 1,486 in Lakeway (46th percentile), double the density. Median age differs by 15.8 years: 34.5 in Austin (22nd percentile) versus 50.3 in Lakeway (93rd percentile). Average household size is 2.1 in Austin (13th percentile) and 2.4 in Lakeway (42nd percentile), 11% larger.
In other metrics, the cost of living index is 158 for Austin (81st percentile) and 260 for Lakeway (95th percentile), with Lakeway 65% higher. Median home values are $512,700 and $695,400 respectively, a 36% difference. Per-capita income stands at $59,427 in Austin (87th percentile) versus $93,163 in Lakeway (96th percentile), 57% higher. The unemployment rate is identical at 3.5% for both, in the 43rd percentile.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Nov 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Austin, TX | Lakeway, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15881st pctl | 26095th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Austin, TX 158; Lakeway, TX 260; Lakeway is 65% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $512,70083rd pctl | $695,40091st pctl | Median home value: Austin, TX $512,700; Lakeway, TX $695,400; Lakeway is 36% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,65578th pctl | $3,12398th pctl | Median rent: Austin, TX $1,655; Lakeway, TX $3,123; Lakeway is 89% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $91,46171st pctl | $164,97896th pctl | Median household income: Austin, TX $91,461; Lakeway, TX $164,978; Lakeway is 80% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $99,60985th pctl | $198,60397th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Austin, TX $99,609; Lakeway, TX $198,603; Lakeway is 99% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $146,42585th pctl | $291,94697th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Austin, TX $146,425; Lakeway, TX $291,946; Lakeway is 99% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Affordable | Housing affordability: Austin, TX C-; Lakeway, TX B+; Lakeway is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Lakeway needs about
$123,400
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 158 vs 260). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Austin, TX | Lakeway, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.5%43rd pctl | 3.5%43rd pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.1%19th pctl | -0.1%19th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $59,42787th pctl | $93,16396th pctl | Per-capita income: Austin, TX $59,427; Lakeway, TX $93,163; Lakeway is 57% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 12.3%54th pctl | 2.9%4th pctl | Poverty rate: Austin, TX 12.3%; Lakeway, TX 2.9%; Austin is 9.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 24 min54th pctl | 27.9 min78th pctl | Average commute: Austin, TX 24 min; Lakeway, TX 27.9 min; Lakeway is 4 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 27.5%94th pctl | 44.4%100th pctl | Work from home: Austin, TX 27.5%; Lakeway, TX 44.4%; Lakeway is 16.9 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Strong | Economic opportunity: Austin, TX B-; Lakeway, TX A-; Lakeway is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Austin, TX | Lakeway, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 41880th pctl | 6312th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Austin, TX 418; Lakeway, TX 63; Austin is 6.6 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,07793rd pctl | 81524th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Austin, TX 3,077; Lakeway, TX 815; Austin is 3.8 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Very Safe | Crime & safety: Austin, TX D-; Lakeway, TX A+; Lakeway is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Austin, TX | Lakeway, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort, broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Texas, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Texas →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Austin, TX | Lakeway, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 2 mi2nd pctl | 16 mi21st pctl | Nearest large city: Austin, TX 2 mi; Lakeway, TX 16 mi; Lakeway is 7.1 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Fair | Target proximity: Austin, TX F; Lakeway, TX C+; Lakeway is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 196 mi22nd pctl | 185 mi20th pctl | Distance to international border: Austin, TX 196 mi; Lakeway, TX 185 mi; Austin is 6% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 155 mi37th pctl | 169 mi40th pctl | Distance to coastline: Austin, TX 155 mi; Lakeway, TX 169 mi; Lakeway is 9% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Austin, TX | Lakeway, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 967,862100th pctl | 19,13046th pctl | Population: Austin, TX 967,862; Lakeway, TX 19,130; Austin is 948,732 larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,97878th pctl | 1,48646th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Austin, TX 2,978; Lakeway, TX 1,486; Austin is 2.0 times higher. |
| Median age | 34.522nd pctl | 50.393rd pctl | Median age: Austin, TX 34.5; Lakeway, TX 50.3; Lakeway is 15.8 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.2%87th pctl | 73.7%96th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Austin, TX 58.2%; Lakeway, TX 73.7%; Lakeway is 15.5 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.113th pctl | 2.442nd pctl | Average household size: Austin, TX 2.1; Lakeway, TX 2.4; Lakeway is 11% larger. |
More about Austin's residents · Lakeway's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Austin and Lakeway
- Median rent: $1,655 in Austin, $3,123 in Lakeway
- Median home value: $512,700 in Austin, $695,400 in Lakeway
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 158 in Austin, 260 in Lakeway
- Median household income: $91,461 in Austin, $164,978 in Lakeway
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $146,425 in Austin, $291,946 in Lakeway
- Unemployment: 3.5% in Austin, 3.5% in Lakeway
- Average commute: 24 min in Austin, 27.9 min in Lakeway
- Violent crime per 100k: 418 in Austin, 63 in Lakeway
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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