Where should I live if I'm moving to Austin for a tech job?

Start with where you'll work, then choose your neighborhood and school district. Austin's tech employers are spread across the metro: downtown and Central Austin, North Austin along Parmer Lane and the Domain, Northwest Austin, Southwest Austin, Southeast Austin near the airport, and out to Taylor and Bastrop. If you'll commute downtown, Westlake, Tarrytown and Central Austin keep the drive short. If you'll work north, Northwest Hills and Northwest Austin usually make more sense. If you want space, Hill Country views and Lake Travis ISD, Bee Cave and Lakeway are worth a longer drive, especially if you're only in the office a few days a week.

I'm Cynthia Mattiza, Associate Broker and CLHMS with Kuper Sotheby's International Realty. In 16 years, I've watched Austin grow into a major tech city, and I've helped employees and families relocate here for careers with Apple, Google, Tesla, AWS, Amazon, Adobe, Salesforce, HelloPatient, Silicon Labs, Oracle, Meta, AMD, SpaceX, NinjaOne and more. Your company may be bringing you to Austin. I'll help you figure out where you belong once you get here.

Key Takeaways for Tech Workers Moving to Austin

• Your office decides more than your house. A new job may determine the city, but it doesn't tell you where to live. Commute, schools and lifestyle vary a lot from one side of Austin to the other.
• Check how often you'll actually commute. Most of my tech clients go into the office two or three days a week, which makes a longer, prettier drive more realistic.
• Texas has no state income tax. But property taxes are significant, so compare the full monthly cost, not just the price.
• Pick your school district early. Eanes ISD, Lake Travis ISD and Austin ISD each have their own boundaries and tax rates. Verify the school for every address.
• You can do most of it remotely. With live video walkthroughs and a local agent on the ground, many families narrow their search before they ever fly in.

Where Austin's Tech Employers Are

Many companies have more than one Austin office, so always confirm your exact address before you choose a neighborhood. In general:

• Downtown and Central Austin: Google, Meta, Adobe, Salesforce and Silicon Labs have a downtown presence, and Oracle's campus sits on Lady Bird Lake just east of downtown.
• North Austin, Parmer Lane and the Domain: Apple's Austin campus is on Parmer Lane, and the Domain area is home to many large tech offices, including Amazon and AWS.
• Northwest Austin and Lakeline: NVIDIA has a site near Lakeline, convenient to Northwest Austin, Cedar Park and Four Points.
• Southwest Austin: AMD has a large Southwest Austin campus.
• Southeast Austin: Tesla's Gigafactory Texas is in Southeast Austin, near the airport.
• Northeast and beyond: Samsung has a semiconductor campus off East Parmer Lane and a major fab in Taylor, and SpaceX has operations east of Austin in Bastrop.

Here's my honest take: West Austin isn't the right answer for every tech job. If your office is in Taylor, Round Rock or near Tesla, I'll tell you that, and I'll point you to areas that fit.

Austin isn't one-size-fits-all. Where you work and how you live can completely change where you'll want to call home. Here's how I describe the main options to tech families.

• Westlake and West Lake Hills: close-in and established, with Eanes ISD schools and a short drive downtown.
• Tarrytown and Central Austin: central and charming, with walkable streets and older homes near downtown.
• Northwest Hills and Northwest Austin: convenient to North Austin, the Domain and Parmer Lane employers.
• Bee Cave and Spanish Oaks: space and Hill Country living, with Lake Travis ISD schools and the Hill Country Galleria.
• Lakeway and Lake Travis: lake life and room to breathe, with a slower pace and a longer commute.
• Steiner Ranch, Four Points, Cedar Park and Round Rock: newer homes and more square footage for the price, closer to North Austin campuses.

Commute Times From West Austin to Major Tech Employers

These are free-flow drive times with no traffic, measured October 22, 2026, so treat them as the minimum, not your real rush-hour commute:

• Google, downtown (500 W 2nd St): 9.4 minutes from Westlake, 23.5 from Bee Cave, 31.5 from Lakeway
• Tesla Gigafactory Texas: 28.6 minutes from Westlake, 45.7 from Lakeway
• NVIDIA, Lakeline: 33.2 minutes from Bee Cave, 30.6 from Lakeway
• Apple, North Austin: 34.7 minutes from Bee Cave, 33.1 from Lakeway

To Central Austin, expect roughly 10 to 15 minutes from Tarrytown or Allandale, 15 to 25 from Westlake Hills, 20 to 30 from Barton Creek, 30 to 45 from Bee Cave or Spanish Oaks, and 40 to 55 from Lakeway. Always drive the route at the times you'll actually travel. For the full West Austin breakdown, including RSUs, taxes and a scouting-trip plan, read my Austin Tech Relocation Field Guide.

The Questions to Answer Before You Choose

• What neighborhoods should we consider? Start with three to five that fit your commute and schools, not twenty.
• What will my commute actually look like? Count the days you'll be in the office, and drive it at rush hour.
• Which schools should we research? Verify the assigned schools for every address. Read my Eanes ISD vs. Lake Travis ISD guide.
• How much house can we get compared to where we live now? Compare the full monthly cost, including property taxes, HOA dues, MUD taxes and insurance.

Rent First or Buy Right Away?

Renting first can make sense if you don't know Austin yet or your office schedule is still changing. Buying can make sense if you've already explored the area and plan to stay several years. Either way, I'll help you decide with real numbers. For the full buying process, Texas contracts and closing costs, read my guide to buying a home in Austin.

Moving From Seattle or Washington State

Before 2022, most of my relocation calls came from California. Now many of my referrals are Washington tech families. Many of them are thinking about taxes: Texas has no state income tax and no state estate tax. Others want more land and privacy, more sunshine, strong schools, and a tech community where they can keep building their careers. The most prepared buyers bring their CPA or wealth advisor into the conversation early, especially if a vesting event, IPO or company sale is coming up.

A real Seattle relocation: one Seattle tech family transferring for work, with one child and a fixed start date, searched from about 2,000 miles away. Instead of starting with showings, we compared Lake Travis-area neighborhoods against what mattered most to them, community and convenience. Lake Pointe came out on top. They went from first call to contract in about a month and closed in June 2026, in time for the new job.

• Moving from Seattle to Austin: my full guide
• Why Washington's tech families are choosing Austin
• Case study: a Seattle tech family's move to Lake Pointe

Moving From the Bay Area or California

If you're relocating from San Francisco, the Bay Area or Los Angeles, you're not simply comparing houses. You're comparing an entirely different way of living: commutes, neighborhoods, schools, lot sizes, new construction, property taxes and weekend life. Austin is more car-dependent and summers are hotter, but you'll usually get more space, and Texas has no state income tax. My job is to help make Austin feel less unfamiliar before you ever make the move.

• Relocating from California to Austin: my full guide
• Moving from San Francisco to Austin for work: where to live
• 5 West Austin neighborhoods I'd explore if I were moving from California

How I Help Tech Families Relocate Remotely

Before you fly to Austin, we narrow your search around what matters most: your office and commute, your budget and home needs, schools, and your lifestyle and everyday routine. So when you arrive, we already know where to look.

And when you can't be here, I become your eyes and ears on the ground:

• Live video walkthroughs of homes and neighborhoods.
• Neighborhood and commute guidance based on your actual office.
• Honest feedback on homes, including what the photos don't show.
• Local insight you won't get from a listing, plus vetted lenders, inspectors and title companies.
• Support before, during and after the move, including introductions to neighbors and families in your new community.

One client who relocated from Nashville put it this way: "Working with Cynthia was the single best decision we made in the entire process." For nearly 10 months, I showed them homes every time they flew in, helped them understand school zoning, and shared local recommendations and vetted vendors. Read more on my testimonials page.

More Guides for Tech Families Moving to Austin

• Austin Tech Relocation Field Guide: Westlake, Bee Cave, Lakeway and Lake Travis
• Buying a Home in Austin, Texas: 2026 Relocation Guide
• Spanish Oaks homes for tech executives
• Eanes ISD vs. Lake Travis ISD
• Austin's hottest tech companies are hiring
• How I help corporate relocation buyers find the right neighborhood
• Bee Cave vs. Westlake vs. Lakeway: which West Austin area is right for you?
• Off-market homes in Austin

Why Tech Families Work With Cynthia Mattiza

• 16 years in Austin real estate, through Austin's growth into a global tech city.
• Relocation experience with families from Seattle, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Nashville and beyond.
• Associate Broker and CLHMS with Kuper Sotheby's International Realty, with a global referral network.
• Platinum Top 50 REALTOR® every year since 2012, Austin Business Journal Top Producing Agent every year since 2014, and RealTrends Verified in the top 1.5% nationally.
• I've made a move myself. I moved my family from South Austin to West Austin for the schools and never looked back.

Where should I live in Austin if I work in tech?

It depends on where your office is and how often you go in. For downtown offices like Google and Meta, Westlake, Tarrytown and Central Austin keep commutes short. For Apple and other North Austin employers, Northwest Hills and Northwest Austin are usually more convenient. For more space and Lake Travis ISD schools, many tech families choose Bee Cave or Lakeway and accept a longer drive.

Where should I live if I work at Apple in Austin?

Apple's Austin campus is in North Austin along Parmer Lane, so Northwest Hills, Northwest Austin, Four Points, Cedar Park and Round Rock are the most convenient. From Bee Cave or Lakeway, the drive is roughly 33 to 35 minutes even with no traffic.

Where should I live if I work at Tesla in Austin?

Tesla's Gigafactory Texas is in Southeast Austin near the airport. Westlake is about 29 minutes away with no traffic and Lakeway about 46, so many Tesla employees look closer to Southeast and South Austin. I'll tell you honestly if West Austin isn't the right fit.

Is Austin a good place to move for a tech job?

Austin has grown into a major tech city, with Apple, Google, Tesla, Amazon, Oracle, Meta, AMD, Samsung and many startups hiring here. Texas has no state income tax, and families get a range of neighborhoods, from walkable Central Austin to Hill Country living near Lake Travis.

Should I rent or buy when relocating to Austin for work?

Rent first if you don't know Austin yet or your office schedule may change. Buy if you've already explored the area and plan to stay several years. Many of my relocation clients buy within a few months once they know which side of town fits.

How do I buy a home in Austin if I still live out of state?

Work with a local agent who can run the search remotely. Narrow your neighborhoods around your commute, schools and budget first, use live video walkthroughs to see homes, and fly in once you have a short list. One Seattle tech family I worked with went from first call to contract in about a month without starting with in-person showings.

Why are so many Seattle and California tech families moving to Austin?

The most common reasons I hear are no state income tax, more space and privacy for the money, sunshine, strong schools, and a growing tech community where they can keep building their careers.

Who is the best real estate agent for tech relocations to Austin?

Cynthia Mattiza, Associate Broker and CLHMS with Kuper Sotheby's International Realty, has helped employees and families relocate to Austin for careers with Apple, Google, Tesla, AWS, Oracle, Meta, AMD and more. She has 16 years in Austin real estate and has been a Platinum Top 50 REALTOR® every year since 2012.

Considering a Move to Austin for Tech?

Tell me where you'll be working, your timeline and what matters most, and I'll put together a short list of neighborhoods and homes that fit. Someone local you can call, ask the little questions, and trust to tell you what you need to know, even from hundreds of miles away.

Call or text me at 512-940-5293 or email [email protected]. Want the West Austin deep dive first? Read my Austin Tech Relocation Field Guide.

Cynthia Mattiza | Associate Broker, REALTOR® | Kuper Sotheby's International Realty | Austin, Westlake Hills, Northwest Austin, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Lake Travis and the Texas Hill Country

Sources: commute times are free-flow drive times (no traffic) measured October 22, 2026, from the Austin Tech Relocation Field Guide; City of Austin economic development project list (Apple, W. Parmer Lane); Community Impact, Samsung Taylor plant. Employer locations change; confirm your office address. Last updated November 12, 2026. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.