The Austin metro is home to 2,357,497 people (up 14.5% over five years), with a median household income of $97,638. Typical rent of $1,603/month works out to 19.7% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Austin's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 19.7% |
| Professional & management | 18.9% |
| Retail trade | 10.4% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.3% |
| Manufacturing | 7.9% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 19.7% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Austin market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,603/month suggests a household income around $64,000/year. The metro's median household income is $97,638.
By workforce share: Education & health care (19.7%), Professional & management (18.9%), Retail trade (10.4%) (Census ACS 5-year).