What Travis County Residents Leaving Means for Central Texas

Housing affordability does not stop at the homeowner’s monthly budget. When enough existing residents can no longer afford to stay, the effects spread across the entire Central Texas region. Communities lose teachers, firefighters, EMS workers, and other essential employees, while the remaining tax base must continue funding the same public services.

The shift is already visible. From 2023 to 2024, Travis County’s population declined by 1 percent. During the same period, Williamson and Hays counties each grew by 3.7 percent, Bastrop County grew by 3.4 percent, and Caldwell County grew by 1.9 percent. The report notes that Travis County experienced its first net domestic out-migration since 2002, with the trend accelerating into 2024.

Many residents are not leaving Texas. They are moving farther from Austin or relocating to other Texas metros. According to the report, 13.4 percent of new Dallas-Fort Worth arrivals and 14.4 percent of new Houston arrivals came from the Austin metro area. Central Texas may still be growing overall, but more of that growth is shifting outside Travis County.

If you are buying, selling, or evaluating property in Central Texas, you can learn more at https://chrispesek.com, email chris@drippingspringshometeam.com, or call 512-736-1703. Chris Pesek is a Texas Hill Country Realtor specializing in land, acreage, and custom homes. He has helped hundreds of clients across Central Texas and is recognized as a Top 2 Percent Producer with dozens of five-star reviews.