Have you been thinking about moving to Round Rock, Texas, or Cedar Park, Texas, and you don't know which one is right for you? Well, I've got you covered with the major differences between each city?
Round Rock:
Round Rock was named one of the coolest suburbs to live in and named number one for the projected job growth through 2025. Round Rock is developing economically, commercially, and residentially while maintaining a fantastic quality of life that attracts new families and young professionals. Outstanding schools prepare students for bright futures while emphasizing community life, expanding businesses provide enough job prospects, and beautifully constructed parks and leisure provide adventure just outside your door. There are over 124,000 people who live in Round Rock, and it's growing.
Outdoors:
You can explore 37 developed parks with over 2200 acres and trails if you enjoy the outdoors. Old Settlers Park, considered the crown jewel of parks, is one to visit. You may go on a water adventure at Rockin River Family Aquatic Center and Kalahari Resorts. One of the best places to visit is the Kalahari. If you enjoy a little history, Memorial Park is the place to see the Namesake rock.
Shopping:
Both Round Rock and Cedar Park have great places to shop, but Round Rock has one edge for you shoppers: the Round Rock Premium Outlets, as well as the famous IKEA, the only one in the Austin area. There are many things to do in downtown Round Rock, and there are a lot of local restaurants and stores. Longhorn Cafe is a favorite spot since it serves delicious cajun cuisine that takes me back to my Louisiana roots.
Housing:
The area around Round Rock contains a lot of mature trees and some modern development. In Round Rock, there are various properties ranging from contemporary to colonial-style homes, bungalows, ranch-style homes, and opulent estates. This city provides a diverse variety of communities when it comes to local amenities. There are master-planned communities with community pools, trails, clubhouses, and golf courses, among other amenities. Some communities do not have a homeowners' association, but if you want a little more flexibility, there are properties with acreage and homes that are locked and left. Home price ranges to range from 300,000 to over 1.5 million dollars.
Cedar Park:
The city of Cedar Park is located west of Round Rock. In 2020, it was rated one of the greatest small cities in the United States. Cedar Park is 28 miles from Austin's downtown area. Leander to the north, Austin to the south, and Jonestown to the west are nearby cities. Cedar Park is home to almost 77000 people, with a median family income of $104,019.
Outdoors:
The H-E-B Center is a beautiful place to start if you're looking for some entertainment. It's a multi-use entertainment complex that stages over 150 events per year, ranging from concerts to sporting events such as the Austin Spurs basketball team, the Texas Star hockey club, and indoor football. A vintage railway takes you into the hill region, an indoor water park, and a gym at Cedar Park. It may be a workout for a parent, but it's not a proper gym. If you have kids, it's an indoor micro water park open all year and maintains an interior temperature of 80 degrees. There are over a thousand acres of park space and 40 parks in the vicinity, including Brushy Creek Lake Park, which features nature paths, a canoe launch, sand volleyball, a splash pad, and much more for even more outdoor fun, there are even 250 acres of cave preserved.
Shopping:
Because Cedar Park is approximately 25.6 square miles in size, most activities, entertainment, and shopping can all be found within walking distance. Most of your shopping needs may be met in Cedar Park, located off of FM 1431, also known as Whitestone Boulevard. You'll find everything from Costco to Target, as well as some local shops like Red Horn Coffee House and Brewing Company, Southpaw Brewing Company, The Dig Pub, Cajun Skillet, Blue Corn Harvest Bar & Grill, and the list goes on.
Housing:
Housing in Cedar Park has a combination of neighborhoods with mature trees and manicured lawns, master-planned communities, golf course communities, neighborhoods with views of the hill country, and homes close to Lake Travis. Cedar Park has something for everyone.
Cedar Park and Round Rock:
Employment Opportunities:
What's great about both locations is that they're close to The Domain, which has companies like Facebook, Amazon, and HomeAway, the new Apple campuses, and more. In terms of distance, Round Rock and Cedar Park are nearly equidistance to downtown Austin, which has more tech companies, startups, healthcare, and education.
Dell Technologies is the largest employer in Round Rock. Seton hospital, Baylor, Kalahari Resorts, Scott and White, and St. David's, Emerson, and Amazon, are in top employers of Round Rock.
Schools:
The schools in both locations are well-regarded. Round Rock ISD has about 48,000 students enrolled in seven high schools. There are 11 middle schools and 35 primary schools in the district. There are programs like the advanced placement program, the gifted and talented program, and OnRamps, which partners with UT where students. It has national and state accreditation for the finest and top schools in the area. I'd want to point out that while Round Rock ISD serves some areas of Cedar Park, the rest of the city is served by Leander ISD, which has over 42 000 students spread across 44 schools, six secondary schools, nine middle schools, and 28 primary schools in the district.
Transportation:
Both Round Rock and Cedar Park have access to the toll roads 183 and 45, as well as the beloved (or not so beloved) IH-35. Having access to any of those highways and toll roads will make your life easier when it comes to commuting. Both cities are excellent choices, with many attractions and short commuting times to downtown.