Moving From Chicago to Austin: Winter, Taxes and the Price Surprise
You are looking at Austin from Chicago, and I would bet the first thing on your mind is not the house. It is the question: am I really going to do this? I'm Felix, a Texas Realtor, and I live in Cedar Park. Let's walk through the big objections first, with numbers I can point to.
Before you finish this page, I'll show you three things. First, the winter number that explains why people leave Chicago, and the flip side Chicago buyers don't see coming. Second, a property tax surprise that runs the opposite way from what you would guess. Third, the one place where Austin costs you more than Chicago, and what I do about it. Stay with me.
Who this page is for
You live in Chicago or the Chicago area, and you are thinking about a home in Austin, Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, Georgetown, Lakeway or somewhere nearby. Maybe the winters are wearing on you, maybe a job is moving you, maybe you just want a different life. Whatever the reason, you are in the right place.
Cost of living: here is where Austin costs you more
I'll give you the third thing now, because you deserve it straight. Here is a national home value index that tracks the typical middle-tier home, single-family and condo, smoothed to take out month-to-month noise, as of Sep 30, 2026.
| Metro area | Typical home value |
|---|---|
| Chicago | $355,650 |
| Austin | $414,273 |
The Austin metro figure is about $59,000 higher, simple subtraction rounded to the nearest thousand.
Yes, you read that right. A typical Chicago metro home is lower than a typical Austin metro home on this measure. If you are expecting a lower price tag because you are moving to Texas, I'd rather you hear that from me now. Austin is not a bargain market, and I will never tell you it is.
So where does the saving come from, if it comes at all? It depends on your situation, and that is why we run your numbers. For the sold market, Unlock MLS, the Central Texas MLS, reported a median sold price of $421,000 for the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos area in September 2026, with 5.4 months of inventory and homes closing at an average of 92.7 percent of their original list price. That is a different measure than the index above. Cities inside the Austin area vary a lot, as you will see below, and some sit under the Chicago number.
Taxes: the surprise runs the other way
Income tax first. Texas has none. The Texas Constitution says the legislature may not tax the net incomes of individuals. Illinois has a flat 4.95 percent individual income tax, according to the Tax Foundation's 2026 state profile.
Now the second thing I promised. Most people assume Texas has the heavier property tax. On a statewide average, it is the other way around. The Tax Foundation puts the average effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing at 1.88 percent in Illinois and 1.40 percent in Texas. Illinois is higher.
| Texas | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| State individual income tax | None | Flat 4.95% |
| Effective property tax rate, owner-occupied housing, statewide average | 1.40% | 1.88% |
| Average combined state and local sales tax rate | 8.19% | 8.96% |
Source: Tax Foundation 2026 state profiles. These are statewide averages, not a quote for any address.
Here is the part I won't skip. Texas has no state property tax. Local taxing units, like the county, the school district and the city, set the rates, according to the Texas Comptroller. So a statewide average can miss in either direction at your address. Texas also has homestead protections for a primary residence, including a $140,000 school-district exemption, with conditions that I point you to the official source for. I put the property tax picture for any home next to its price before you decide. I'm a Realtor, not a tax advisor, and your tax professional has the final word.
Winter, and the heat that comes with leaving it
This is the first thing I promised. Here is what the NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals say, comparing Chicago O'Hare with Austin's official station.
| Chicago (O'Hare) | Austin (Camp Mabry) | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal January daily high | 31.6°F | 62.5°F |
| Normal January daily low | 18.8°F | 41.8°F |
| Days a year when the high stays at or below 32°F | 43.4 | 0.5 |
| Nights a year at or below 32°F | 121.3 | 11.9 |
| Days a year at or above 90°F | 16.7 | 122.9 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0.3 | 28.8 |
Source: NOAA NCEI 1991 to 2020 monthly normals, Chicago O'Hare and Austin-Camp Mabry stations.
The winter you leave is a lot of days that never climb above freezing. Austin counts about half a day a year like that. Now the flip side, the part Chicago buyers don't see coming. Austin averages about 123 days a year at or above 90 degrees and about 29 at or above 100, and the swing from year to year is wide. Austin's official station reached 100 degrees on 90 days in 2011, according to KXAN's review of the records. Trade the snow shovel for the air conditioner, and know that going in.
When we walk a home, I tell you what I notice about the house itself, like the age of the systems and how the lot sits. I'm a Realtor, not an inspector, and a licensed inspector is always your call.
Commute and getting home
Here is what the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 survey says about average one-way travel time to work.
| Place | Average commute, minutes |
|---|---|
| Chicago (city) | 33.1 |
| Bee Cave | 22.1 |
| Austin (city) | 23.7 |
| Round Rock | 24.9 |
| Cedar Park | 25.5 |
| Pflugerville | 27.4 |
| Georgetown | 28.2 |
| Lakeway | 28.8 |
| Leander | 29.2 |
| Hutto | 29.3 |
| Jarrell | 33.4 |
| Liberty Hill | 34.1 |
| Lago Vista | 34.7 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, mean travel time to work, workers age 16 and over, 2020 to 2024.
An average hides your worst morning, so I ask where you need to be before I show you a single address. If you are used to a train, note that CapMetro's Red Line is a commuter train between Leander and downtown Austin with 10 stations. It is a commuter line, not a citywide grid, and its service hours are limited, so I will tell you honestly which addresses it works for.
Going home for the holidays is a flight. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's June 2026 list shows nonstop service to both Chicago O'Hare and Chicago Midway, and airlines change schedules, so check before you book.
Which part of Austin fits your life
I match homes by commute and by what is there, never by who lives there. Chicago buyers often tell me they want a real downtown to walk, a park system and water nearby. Here is what each area offers, described by what you will find.
A historic square or downtown to stroll
Georgetown is built around a historic square that surrounds the Williamson County Courthouse. In 1997 it became the first Texas city to win the Great American Main Street Award, and the city lists three National Register historic districts with more than 180 historic buildings and homes.
Hutto has a historic Old Town, where the Downtown Commercial Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with shops and restaurants along Farley Street. The 3.2-mile Cottonwood Trail runs from Fritz Park to Creekside Park. The hippo is the town mascot, the most popular local legend traces it to a 1915 circus-train stop, and the city estimates 5,000 to 10,000 concrete hippos around town.
Leander is the northern end of CapMetro's Red Line commuter rail, which runs between Leander and downtown Austin. The city completed an Old Town Master Plan in September 2023 aimed at strengthening its downtown.
Austin itself has the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail loop around Lady Bird Lake, the spring-fed Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Metropolitan Park, and the Red Line's McKalla station for Q2 Stadium. The city's average commute is 23.7 minutes.
Water, trails and parks
Cedar Park has Brushy Creek Lake Park, 90 acres with a 38-acre lake for fishing and non-motorized boating, trails, a splash pad and a kayak and canoe launch. The Brushy Creek Regional Trail, about 7.75 mostly concrete miles, runs from Twin Lakes Park in Cedar Park to Round Rock. I live in Cedar Park, so this is the city I can talk about the longest.
Pflugerville has Lake Pflugerville Park, with a 3-mile hike-and-bike trail, fishing, pavilions and a beach area. Powerboats are not allowed on the lake, and water access depends on the lake level, so I tell you what is open when we look.
Round Rock calls itself the Sports Capital of Texas. The city's 670-acre Old Settlers Park has a 20-field baseball complex, a 5-field softball complex, seven soccer fields, an 18-hole disc golf course and about 3.3 miles of paved trail.
Lake Travis living
Lake Travis is a Lower Colorado River Authority reservoir on the Colorado River, about 13 miles northwest of Austin, with a surface area of 19,297 acres at conservation pool, according to the Texas Water Development Board. The lake is operated for flood control, water supply, power generation and recreation, so I walk every lakefront buyer through what that means at the specific address.
Lakeway is on Lake Travis. Its City Park is waterfront parkland with swimming in designated areas, fishing, kayaking, nearly two miles of trails, a dog park and basketball, sand volleyball and baseball, and there are marinas in the area.
Lago Vista is on the north shore of Lake Travis, with hiking and biking trails, a city pool, local parks and a city-owned 18-hole golf course with views of the lake.
Bee Cave is west of downtown Austin. Hill Country Galleria is a 1.3-million-square-foot lifestyle center there, with retail, office space, residences and 50 acres of green space, and it hosts more than 150 community events a year. The city's Central Park is about 60 acres, with two playgrounds, a dog park, two pavilions, a basketball court and about 1.75 miles of concrete trail. Its average commute is the shortest in my list, 22.1 minutes.
Steiner Ranch is a master-planned community in Austin. Its master association lists pools, parks, tennis and pickleball courts, soccer fields, trails, community centers, a dog park and a Lake Club with a boat ramp and covered pavilion. Access to most of these is for residents, with a key fob.
Room to grow
Liberty Hill is planning for its downtown. The city adopted a Downtown Master Plan in 2024 and says it is in a planning and evaluation phase, with no construction approved yet. Its LHTX 2040 comprehensive plan, adopted in October 2023, covers mobility, neighborhoods, and parks and open space. The Census Bureau counted 3,646 people in 2020 and estimates 13,317 in July 2025, so things are changing fast. Ask me what is built today and what is still on paper, and I will tell you what I can verify.
Jarrell sits along I-35 north of Georgetown. It has the lowest typical home value of the places I list, and its average commute is longer, 33.4 minutes. The Census Bureau counted 1,753 people in 2020 and estimates 5,870 in July 2025.
| City | Typical home value, Sep 30, 2026 | Average commute, minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Jarrell | $250,230 | 33.4 |
| Hutto | $328,297 | 29.3 |
| Pflugerville | $363,170 | 27.4 |
| Lago Vista | $392,375 | 34.7 |
| Round Rock | $395,851 | 24.9 |
| Georgetown | $419,666 | 28.2 |
| Leander | $420,175 | 29.2 |
| Cedar Park | $456,996 | 25.5 |
| Liberty Hill | $479,477 | 34.1 |
| Austin | $491,960 | 23.7 |
| Lakeway | $733,247 | 28.8 |
| Bee Cave | Not broken out in this data | 22.1 |
Home values come from a national home value index for middle-tier single-family homes and condos, smoothed to take out month-to-month noise. Commute is the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 average for workers who commute. Steiner Ranch is part of Austin and is not broken out. Bee Cave is not broken out in this index either, so I will pull sold homes for you by street.
Look at that list with the Chicago number in mind, $355,650. Jarrell and Hutto sit below it, and Pflugerville is within about $8,000, so that is where the lower price tag you were hoping for can show up. It comes with a trade, usually a longer drive, so we weigh both.
The question I ask before I show you a house
Here is how I handle all of that without overwhelming you. I ask: What do you want within a ten-minute walk or drive, and what are you not willing to give up? Maybe it is a trail, a downtown square, a lake, a short commute or a yard. Tell me the two or three things that matter most, and everything else is negotiable.
From your answer, I send you a short list of homes in places that fit, with what is around each one, instead of a flood of listings. And if you are chasing a lower price than Chicago, I show you what the trade-offs look like, in minutes of driving and in what is nearby, before you fall for anything.
Why now
I can't tell you where prices or mortgage rates go next, and nobody honestly can. What I can show you is that Unlock MLS reported rising mortgage rates slowed September sales in the Austin area, with closed sales down 14.8 percent from a year earlier and 13,465 active listings. Markets move month to month. The part you control is how ready you are, and your timeline might be a lease end, a job start or the sale of your current home. When you start a file today, I am working from your list before that date arrives.
Tell me where you are in your plan. I text you and send my agreement the same day.
The facts Chicago buyers ask me most
Is Austin cheaper than Chicago?
Not always. On a national home value index as of Sep 30, 2026, the typical Chicago metro home was $355,650 and the typical Austin metro home was $414,273. Cities inside the Austin area vary a lot, and some sit below the Chicago figure, so I compare real addresses instead of metro averages.
Does Texas have a state income tax?
No. The Texas Constitution says the legislature may not tax the net incomes of individuals. Illinois has a flat 4.95 percent individual income tax, according to the Tax Foundation's 2026 state profile.
Are Texas property taxes higher than Illinois?
On a statewide average, no. The Tax Foundation's 2026 figures put the effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing at 1.40 percent in Texas and 1.88 percent in Illinois. Texas has no state property tax, and local taxing units set the rates, so the bill depends on the address. I put the property tax picture next to the price before you decide.
How cold does Austin get compared with Chicago?
Much less. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals show about 43 days a year at Chicago O'Hare when the high stays at or below 32 degrees, compared with about half a day at Austin's official station. Austin has about 123 days a year at or above 90 degrees, compared with about 17 at O'Hare.
What is the commute like in the Austin area?
The Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 average one-way travel time to work is 23.7 minutes in the city of Austin, 25.5 in Cedar Park, 24.9 in Round Rock and 29.2 in Leander, compared with 33.1 in the city of Chicago. Averages hide rush hour, so I match homes to where you actually need to be.
Are there nonstop flights between Austin and Chicago?
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's June 2026 list shows nonstop service to Chicago O'Hare and Chicago Midway. Airlines change schedules, so check with the airline before you book.
Which Austin-area city is best for me?
I don't hand out a single best. I ask what you want within a ten-minute walk or drive and what you are not willing to give up, then match you to places by commute and by what is there, like a historic downtown, trails, a lake or shopping.
Do you rank schools or neighborhoods?
No. I don't rank schools or neighborhoods, and I don't make claims about who lives where. Each school district publishes its own information and boundaries, and I will point you to the official source for any address you are considering. What I can do is match homes to your commute and to what is around them, like trails, lakes, parks and shopping.
Who do you work for, and will you be at my closing?
My services are fiduciary in nature, so I can only work for clients. When you start a file, I am on your side of the table. Yes, I attend every closing, and I am there at the table with you.
Ready? Open your file and I will text you today. No pressure, just a clear list built around your life.
Important: I'm a Texas Realtor, not an attorney, tax advisor, lender, appraiser or inspector. The figures on this page come from the Texas Constitution and Comptroller, the Tax Foundation 2026 state profiles, NOAA climate normals, the U.S. Census Bureau, Unlock MLS, CapMetro, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the Texas Water Development Board, KXAN and city and county websites, were pulled on Nov 2, 2026, and can be revised or change. Nothing here is tax, legal, lending or appraisal advice, a price opinion for any home, or a recommendation of any company. Property tax and income tax outcomes depend on your situation and the address, so check with your own tax professional. I list places by what is there and by commute, and I do not rank or describe neighborhoods by who lives in them.
Related: Moving From California to Austin · Moving From New York to Austin · Moving From Dallas to Austin
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