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Austin Suburbs
Leander and Georgetown are two of the most popular suburbs in Austin, Texas. But which one is the best place to live? In this blog, we will compare the two side by side, looking at important factors such as the cost of living, schools, and more. So if you’re trying to decide between Leander and Georgetown, don’t go anywhere.
Let's get into our two contenders, Leander vs. Georgetown...
When moving to a new city, location is one of the most important factors to consider. Leander is located 25 miles northwest of downtown Austin. In contrast, Georgetown is 28 miles north of downtown Austin. One other thing to consider is that Leander is served by one major highway, 183, while Georgetown is served by Hwy 29, IH-35, & Toll 130. That can significantly affect your commute, depending on where you work or go to school.
Both cities are growing rapidly, but Leander's population has exploded in recent years. In fact, According to the US Census Bureau, Leander was the fastest-growing large city in the country from 2018 to 2019 and has been listed as the best place to move to recently. So if you are wanting to be in a more developing, bustling city, I’d definitely consider Leander. It is on the grow with commercial projects in the works like Northline, which will be Leander’s new downtown district.
Georgetown has commercial development on the horizon and construction is underway on projects like Wolf Lakes Village which will have our beloved HEB Lakes, an Outdoor Amphitheater, Trails, Ice Skating Rink plus more. New to Georgetown will be Costco. Residents are excited about this one as there are no big box stores currently in the city.
The City of Georgetown has many historical landmarks and beautiful parks that offer residents and visitors alike plenty to see and do within its borders. Some popular attractions include the Inner Space Caverns, Williamson Museum, Georgetown Palace Theatre, San Gabriel Park, and Lake Georgetown. The historic downtown square, also known as the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas, features numerous shops and restaurants for visitors to enjoy while taking in the sights and sounds of this charming small-town atmosphere.
But what can you do in each city?
There's plenty to do in Leander! For starters, you can check out the city's historic downtown area, although it's not nearly as developed as Georgetown’s square. There are a number of local restaurants to explore, like Casa Costa Bake Shop and Thirsty Chicken. If you're looking for something more active, Leander is home to a number of parks and hiking trails. Some that top my list are Lakewood Park and Robin Bledsoe Park. And, of course, no trip to Leander would be complete without a visit to Lake Travis-- you might as well. *shrug* You can hit the trails and see a quieter cove of Lake Travis at Sandy Creek Park.
If you're still trying to decide between Leander and Georgetown, let's discuss both school districts. Public schools in Leander are part of the Leander ISD, which is highly rated. The district includes 27 elementary schools, ten middle schools, and eight high schools. There are also a number of charter and magnet schools within the district.
While Georgetown ISD might not be as highly rated as Leander ISD, Georgetown ISD is still one of the best school districts in Texas and enrolls more than 13,000 students in its seventeen schools. The district offers a wide range of academic programs and extracurricular activities to meet the needs of all students. It also has a lower student-to-teacher ratio and a 95.5% graduation rate.
If the school district is a big concern for you when moving, you might want to consider watching the following video about Texas schools in the comment section below.
We’ve focused a lot on family-friendly living, but what about retirement? Sun City is a large retirement-oriented and age-restricted development that constitutes more than one-third of Georgetown's population. While Leander has a few luxury retirement apartment complexes, such as Verena, nothing compares to Sun City. Retirees from all over the country flock to Georgetown for this oasis. So if you are trying to decide where you should retire, Georgetown is the clear winner.
The cost of living is roughly the same in both Leander and Georgetown.
The median home price is $479K in Leander and $465k in Georgetown for October 2022. The overall cost of living in Leander and Georgetown are higher than the Texas and National average.
Utilities are cheaper in Leander. The average monthly electricity bill in Leander is $165, while the average monthly electricity bill in Georgetown is $176. Additionally, the average monthly water bill in Leander is $39.83, while the average monthly water bill in Georgetown is $46.25.
What about housing? I’m glad you asked. You know it's my favorite subject outside of food, lol. The median home price is $479K in Leander and $465k in Georgetown for October 2022. The overall cost of living in Leander and Georgetown are higher than the Texas and National average. There is also definitely growth in both cities when it comes to housing. There are a lot of new construction communities in each area. Many of them offer master-planned developments that have some amazing amenities such as zip lines, clubhouses, pools, play structures, dog parks, dino digs, gaga pits, and more.
A couple of communities to mention for Leander would be Horizon Lake and Parkside on the River. Georgetown Highland Village and Lakeside would be communities to check out. New homes start around $315k to $2 mil.
Resale houses are also great options. Most homes located in Leander will be newer homes meaning there are not really any historic homes in the city. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something that has ultimate charm Georgetown will have just what you're looking for. You’ll find homes that range from $250k - $5mil.
There is no clear winner when it comes to Leander vs Georgetown. Both cities have their pros and cons, and it really depends on what you're looking for in a place to live. If you want to be close to Austin without being in the hustle and bustle of the city, then Leander might be a good option for you. On the other hand, if you're looking for a smaller town with a sense of community, then Georgetown might be a better fit. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide which city is better for your needs.
That’s it for today, y’all. Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments. Hey are you looking to make a move to the Austin area and you don’t yet have a real estate professional, I’d love to be the one to help you with your move.
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