For families and professionals relocating to the Austin area, living in Travis County is no longer the only option. New housing market data highlight a significant affordability and inventory gap between Bastrop County and Travis County, giving newcomers another reason to look east of Austin when deciding where to buy a home.
In July 2026, Bastrop County’s median home price was approximately $346,000, compared with $520,000 in Travis County, home to Austin.
That’s a difference of roughly $174,000.
Bastrop also offered 6.3 months of housing inventory, compared with 4.8 months in Travis County—potentially giving buyers both a lower entry price and more homes from which to choose.
For newcomers willing to trade proximity to central Austin for affordability and additional housing options, Bastrop County is increasingly worth considering.
Bastrop vs. Austin: The Housing Numbers
The price difference is perhaps the clearest distinction for relocating homebuyers.
Bastrop County
- Median home price: approximately $346,000
- Housing inventory: 6.3 months
Travis County
- Median home price: approximately $520,000
- Housing inventory: 4.8 months
Based on those median prices, a buyer purchasing at the Bastrop County median would spend approximately 33% less than someone purchasing at the Travis County median.
That difference could substantially change the type of home a relocating household can afford.
Rather than stretching a budget to purchase closer to Austin’s urban core, some buyers may be able to redirect money toward a larger home, newer construction or other financial priorities by expanding their search into Bastrop County.
More Housing Supply Could Give Bastrop Buyers an Advantage
Bastrop’s affordability advantage is accompanied by another important factor: inventory.
At 6.3 months, Bastrop County had considerably more housing supply relative to its current sales pace than Travis County.
For relocating buyers, greater inventory can be particularly useful.
Moving to a new state often requires making several major decisions simultaneously. Buyers must evaluate communities, schools, commute patterns, employment locations, property taxes and neighborhood amenities—sometimes during only a few house-hunting trips.
A market with greater supply can reduce some of the pressure to immediately make an offer simply because few alternatives are available.
It may also create opportunities to negotiate with sellers, particularly on homes that have remained on the market longer.
Travis County Still Commands a Significant Premium
Travis County remains the center of the Austin metropolitan area’s employment, entertainment, government and cultural activity.
That accessibility carries a substantial housing premium.
At approximately $520,000, Travis County’s July median price was about $174,000 higher than Bastrop County’s.
For some households, paying that premium may make sense. Living closer to employment centers can mean shorter commutes and easier access to Austin’s restaurants, entertainment districts, universities and major institutions.
Other buyers may decide the housing savings available farther from central Austin outweigh the additional travel time.
That calculation is becoming increasingly important as newcomers compare communities throughout Central Texas.
Why Bastrop Is Becoming an Austin-Area Alternative
Bastrop County sits east of Austin and has increasingly become part of the broader conversation about where Central Texas growth will occur.
As housing costs increased closer to Austin, buyers and developers expanded their attention toward communities outside Travis County.
For relocating households, Bastrop offers the possibility of remaining within the greater Central Texas economy without necessarily paying Travis County housing prices.
The county’s housing market also includes a mix of existing homes and newer residential development, giving buyers different options depending on their budget and preferred lifestyle.
The Commute Is the Trade-Off
The affordability difference comes with an important consideration: distance.
Anyone considering Bastrop while working in Austin should evaluate the commute before purchasing a home.
Travel times can vary substantially depending on the home’s location, workplace, time of day and traffic conditions. A household working remotely or commuting only several days each week may view the distance differently from someone who needs to reach downtown Austin every morning.
For relocators, this makes employment location an important part of the home search.
A lower mortgage payment may be attractive, but transportation costs and time spent commuting should also be factored into the decision.
What $174,000 in Price Difference Could Mean for Relocators
The difference between the two county medians illustrates why newcomers should consider more than one community when researching a Texas move.
At approximately $346,000 versus $520,000, Bastrop County’s median was roughly one-third lower than Travis County’s.
Actual affordability depends on far more than the purchase price. Texas homebuyers should compare property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage rates, HOA fees, utility costs and transportation expenses before determining which location provides the best overall value.
Still, a $174,000 difference in median prices can significantly expand the choices available to a relocating household.
Bastrop or Austin: Which Is Better for Your Move?
There isn’t one answer for every household.
Travis County may make more sense for buyers who prioritize proximity to Austin employment centers, shorter commutes and immediate access to the city’s amenities.
Bastrop County may be more attractive for buyers who prioritize a lower purchase price, greater housing supply and potentially more negotiating flexibility—and who are comfortable living farther from central Austin.
Hybrid and remote workers may find that equation particularly interesting because commuting distance may carry less weight in their relocation decision.
A Bigger Lesson for Anyone Moving to Texas
The Bastrop-versus-Austin comparison illustrates an important strategy for anyone relocating to Texas: don’t stop your housing search at the boundaries of the major city.
Texas metropolitan areas extend across multiple counties, and moving 30, 40 or more miles from an urban core can dramatically change home prices, inventory and the amount of negotiating leverage available to buyers.
For Austin-area relocators, Bastrop County provides a clear example.
With a median home price of approximately $346,000 and 6.3 months of inventory, compared with $520,000 and 4.8 months of inventory in Travis County, Bastrop offers a distinctly different housing proposition.
For newcomers willing to live farther from central Austin, expanding the search east could potentially mean more choices, a lower purchase price and considerably more room in the relocation budget.