Leander, Texas, is 22 miles northwest of Austin and is home to award-winning schools, natural attractions, a commuter rail to Downtown Austin, and rising commercial demand. According to data analyzed by Open Door, the Leander 78641 zip code is ranked number two in the nation that home buyers are flocking to and number five by homes.com for being the best suburb to move to. This is not the first time that Leander has been at the top of the list; it was previously ranked as the number one best place to raise a family, number one for the fastest growing city in Texas by the Leander chamber of commerce, and the top city in Texas for a job by the Journal times.

You might be wondering how homes.com determined Leander as being a top city to relocate to. Well, homes.com analyzed consumer behavior and ranked cities based on their home buying criteria, including median home price, school districts, crime index, race and ethnic diversity levels, yard size, and four other factors.

Outside of the data, let's talk about what really makes the city of Leander the best...

Location:

Leander is approximately 18 miles from downtown Austin, 16 miles from the northwest Austin Apple campus, and 20 miles from the Domain. Access to toll 183 makes it simple to get to work and other activities. Other adjacent cities include Cedar Park, Liberty Hill, Georgetown, Round Rock, Pflugerville, and Austin, all within 20 miles of Leander. While most of Austin's suburbs require a car to get around, Leander has teamed with the city of Austin to build a metro rail transportation line that will carry you from downtown Austin to the airport in the near future.

Cost of Living:

According to the website payscale.com, The cost of living in Leander is 7% lower than the national average, with housing being 7% lower, utilities being 9% lower, groceries being 14% lower, and transportation being 2% lower than the national average. It is 24% greater when it comes to health care. Home prices in Leander have risen, so you may need to adjust your living expenses in the city.

Housing Market:

The median home price in Leander in December 2021 was $469,999 dollars, up 36.6% from the previous year and a 27% overall increase. Homes on the market now range in price from $300k to $4.5 million, with the latter sitting on five acres overlooking the lake. There isn't a lot of architectural character or personality in Leander because it contains a lot of newer homes and new housing projects. There's a combination of Spanish Mediterranean, Texas traditional (stone stucco and brick or craftsman-style modern farmhouses), and mid-century modern, so there's something for everyone.

Communities:

Crystal Falls, Deer Brook, and Bryson are all master-planned communities with swimming pools, playscapes, basketball courts, trails, dog parks, and other amenities. Crystal Falls also has its own golf course, which is a nice feature. The HOA in these communities is quite active and arranges several events throughout the year so that you can get to know your neighbors and hang out with them.

School District:

With many A-rated campuses, Leander ISD is one of the best school districts in Texas. Leander ISD serves over 42,000 students and adds a thousand new kids each year, making it the fastest-growing district in the Austin metro area. 44 campuses are located throughout a 200-square-mile area. Families in Leander, Cedar Park, and Austin are served by Leander ISD.

Entertainment Options:

Leander has a lot to offer in terms of relaxation and amusement. If you want to spend some time outside, go visit Lakewood Park, one of Leander's newest parks. This park includes basketball courts, a splash pad, playground, kayak/canoe launch, skate park, ping pong yard, games such as corn hole, and other activities. The splash pad at the Southwest Regional Park is the granddaddy of all splash pads. There are also basketball and soccer fields, hiking and biking routes, and the Cedar Rock Railroad. If you want to have some fun in the water, Waterloo Adventures is a unique floating water park in Leander. And if water isn't your jam, you might enjoy Lake Travis Zipline Adventure, which includes five zip lines, the longest and fastest of which are the last three. Festivals, family attractions, golf, and art can also be found within Leander.

Food Options:

Casa Costa Bake Shop is a family-owned bakery specializing in handcrafted cakes and pastries influenced by Portuguese and Brazilian cuisine. Kai Sushi serves authentic Japanese and Korean cuisine and Ziggy's Kielbasa House serves handmade Polish cuisine with an American twist.

Commercial development:

Leandra's growth is also visible in the commercial development sector. A few incredibly exciting projects have recently been completed or are now in the works. The first is the brand spanking new HEB, and its 102,000 square feet of grocery shopping heaven, located off Ronald Reagan and Highway 29 in the Bar W Marketplace. 

The second project on the list is Northline, Leander's new downtown district. Northline is 26 miles from downtown Austin and will be located at the crossroads of 183 and 183a, the toll road, and is a short walk from Leander station on the metro rail. There will be 116 acres of planned retail, office, hotel space, apartments and townhomes, and community amenities such as town square parks, playscapes, pathways, and civic areas. The city of Leander will be centered in this urban village. 

Leander Springs is an intriguing third development. It's a cool urban development that will be a place to live, work, and play. The four-acre lagoon, which includes a beach where you can swim, kayak, and paddleboard, will be the main attraction. There will also be a hotel, a conference center, restaurants, shops, and offices, bringing the beach lifestyle to Leander. There will also be access to the Leander station, which is only a few minutes away.

There are many reasons that Leander should be considered when moving to the Austin area. It offers a small-town vibe with a community feel, lots of things to do, and upcoming development projects. Not only is Leander more affordable than Austin, but the economic, employment and housing opportunities are exponential.