Austin made the rankings in 2025. We mean that quite literally — ATXtoday reported on at least 38 times the Capital City landed on a list, study, or ranking.

Let's take a peek back at how Austin stacked up in 2025.

Real Estate

No. 1 "Housing Market That Has Survived Every Crash And Will Again" — think about that when you continue reading below.
No. 7 major metro where residents are selling their homes, with 42 sales per 1,000 housing units from September 2024 to August 2025.
No. 2 and No. 9 city with the most new homes, with one study citing the region is adding 28.6 new housing units for every 1,000 existing homes.

The Ranch Mesa interior features vaulted ceilings and huge, open living space. | Rending courtesy of ICON

Industry

No. 1 best city in the US to launch a startup, thanks to startup density and new business growth.
No. 1 most supportive of small businesses, with residents spending an average of $627.30 at local businesses annually.
No. 2 highest amount of companies that moved their headquarters to ATX, just behind Dallas-Fort Worth.
No. 3 in “Top US Cities for Job Opportunities and Earning Potential," considering the low unemployment rate, personal income, and percentage of homes with an income of $200,000 or more.
No. 4 best place for recent college grads to find work, with among the highest starting wages for new workers.

Growth

No. 1 “Rising Powerhouse: The Cities Making America’s Economic Future,” marking a a 51% GDP increase, 33% median earnings bump, and 71% surge in business applications from 2019 to 2023.
No. 3 best big city to live in the US, just behind Oklahoma City and El Paso.
No. 3 top growth metro, meeting Houston and Dallas in the top three.
No. 9 least stressful airport, especially around the holidays.

Wealth

No. 1 hotspot for affluent millennials, with a population of 25.8% millennials, and Austin's No. 1 GDP growth + No. 2 highest prime‑age employment.
No. 1 rental market for recent college grads, due in part to Austin's 18.9% rent-to-income ratio.
No. 5 most affordable city in the US, boasting a median household income of $91,501 compared to $70,997 estimated cost of living.

Stop by Corner Bar after 3 p.m. for a chance at free barbecue. | Photo courtesy Corner Bar.

Culture

No. 1 best city in the US for barbecue — but you probably already knew that if you've visited Terry Black’s Barbecue, Interstellar BBQ, or Franklin Barbecue.
No. 1 “Most Festive City” in the US for the fourth year in a row.
No. 3 best city for vegans and vegetarians, thanks to our quality of plant-based nutrition.
No. 8 “Most Fun City in America,” falling two slots behind Houston.