Round Rock Rules

Affordable Austin suburb named one of America's 5 best places to live

Round Rock is fun and affordable.

James Howard/Wikimedia Commons

Finding the best place to live is often a compromise between affordability and fun — but in this Austin suburb, you can have it all. For the second year in a row, Round Rock remains one of the best affordable places to live.

The annual list from Livability is determined by low cost of living and high livability, and Round Rock excels.

"Imagine living near legendary music venues, innovative restaurants, pristine parks, and excellent athletic facilities along with great schools and shopping centers," touts Livability. "Now imagine having the money to actually enjoy all those amenities."

Ranking No. 4 overall, Round Rock is in a sweet spot for affordability. The median household income is $71,000, and residents spend less than 28 percent of that salary on housing. Other major living expenses, like healthcare, groceries, and utilities, are at or below the national average, "leaving residents with plenty of money to enjoy the many things there are to do in and around Round Rock."

And there's plenty to do. For entertainment, residents have the likes of Flix Brewhouse and Round Rock Express at their fingertips. And when it comes to dining, Round Rock boasts beloved eateries like Greenhouse Craft Food and Jack Allen's Kitchen.

Round Rock dropped from its No. 1 spot on the 2015 list because housing costs are slightly higher than in other affordable hubs. Huntsville, Alabama (No.1); Bismark, North Dakota (No. 2); and Rochester, Minnesota (No. 3) lead the way.

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merry xmas atx!

Austin makes merry as one of the best cities to celebrate Christmas

City of Austin Government - Facebook

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Austinites are right at home when it comes to experiencing the best Christmas in Texas this year. The very merry state capital has jumped into the No. 23 spot on WalletHub's annual list of the best cities for celebrating Christmas in 2024.

The yearly report ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities across five key dimensions: Traditions and fun, observance, generosity, shopping opportunities, plus travel and meal costs.

Austin previously ranked as the No. 31 best U.S. city for celebrating Christmas in WalletHub's 2023 report.

Here's how Austin performed in the five main categories in the study:

No. 19 – Traditions and fun rank
No. 20 – Shopping rank
No. 36 – Costs rank
No. 42 – Generosity rank
No. 72 – Observance rank

Austin gets to cheer itself on as the highest-ranked Texas city in 2024 thanks to its heap of holiday happenings, including numerous delightful light displays throughout town. From local restaurants and bars putting their all into creating festive feasts to-go and delightful cocktail experiences, to locals supporting small businesses at holiday markets, there is plenty to get Austinites in the holiday spirit this year.

Smaller Central Texas towns like Smithville have also transformed into fun, festive escapes for city dwellers this time of year.

Austin households also have bigger holiday budgets in 2024 than they did the year before. According to a separate WalletHub study, the average Austin household is expected to spend about $1,905 on Christmas gifts this year, versus $1,877 in 2023.

"With inflation making Christmas celebrations, gifts, food and travel more expensive, certain cities are much better for your wallet than others during the holiday," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "In addition to being affordable, the best cities have a large number of people celebrating, plenty of places for Christians to worship, populations who give generously to charity, and plenty of fun activities to enjoy with family and friends."

In a separate report by home services provider Thumbtack, Austin was crowned the No. 1 most festive U.S. city for the third year in a row.

Elsewhere in Texas, other festive cities that earned spots in the top 50 include San Antonio (No. 30), Dallas (No. 31), and Houston (No. 41).

The top 10 best places to experience Christmas in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 2 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
No. 3 – Seattle, Washington
No. 4 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 5 – Orlando, Florida
No. 6 – San Francisco, California
No. 7 – St. Louis, Missouri
No. 8 – Miami, Florida
No. 9 – Chicago, Illinois
No. 10 – New York, New York

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