Your Guide to Taylor, Texas: Austin’s Small-Town Neighbor

Originally built as a shipping point for cattle and grain, the city of Taylor, Texas has since blossomed into a quickly expanding hub of culture and business. Taylor has affordable housing, great restaurants, and generous incentives for businesses.

In this article, we provide you with all of the most important info about Taylor including:

• Where is Taylor, Texas?
• How big is Taylor?
• What are the key demographics of Taylor?
• What makes Taylor an attractive place for people to live?
• What is there to do in Taylor?
• What kind of businesses are located in Taylor?
• What are the main reasons companies choose to locate their businesses in Taylor?
• Who are the largest tenants in Taylor?
• What are the largest properties in Taylor?

Where is Taylor, Texas?

Taylor is located 29 miles northeast of Austin, along Highway 79 east of Round Rock and Hutto at the intersection of SH-95.

How big is Taylor?

Taylor, like most cities surrounding Austin, is experiencing a population boom. Taylor’s population has boomed recently, with most of the growth occurring very recently.

Taylor takes up 13.6 square miles and has a population of 17,821 people. 

What are the key demographics of Taylor, Texas?

In Taylor, 56.4% of the population is between the ages of 18 and 65. As a result, Taylor enjoys a robust talent pool and a large number of consumers. The median age in Taylor is 36.

^{Source: U.S. Census Bureau}

The vast majority of Taylor’s residents have at least a high school education with 79.5% aged 25 and older having a high school diploma or higher. Additionally, 14.6% of Taylor’s population hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.

The median household income in Taylor is $66,626, which falls below the national average of $75,149.

^{Source: U.S. Census Bureau}

Roughly half of the people in Taylor are married at 52.85%, 25.65% have never married, 13.62% are divorced, and 7.89% are widowed.

Taylor’s average commute to work is 30.5 minutes, slightly higher than the U.S. average of 26.7 minutes.

What makes Taylor, Texas an attractive place for people to live?

Taylor boasts an attractive small-town culture that draws people in from all over. Along with access to Austin, Round Rock, and Pflugerville, Taylor also offers unique amenities and affordable home prices. 

Housing Prices in Taylor

According to Realtor.com, the average listing price of a home in Taylor is $325,000, while the average sale price of a home in Austin is $548,250. The affordable housing opportunities in Taylor are very attractive to homeowners and families looking to live in the Austin area without the hefty price tag.

^{Source: Redfin.com, October 2024}

Schools in Taylor

The Taylor Independent School District is home to over 3,000 students across six campuses, including Taylor High School, Taylor Middle School, three elementary or intermediate schools, and one early college high school campus. 

Taylor High School offers Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement classes, as well as a TSTC program. The school offers over 30 extracurricular activities, including a nationally recognized Academic Decathlon team.

What is there to do in Taylor, Texas?

From parks and recreation to vibrant festivals, there’s plenty to keep you busy in Taylor.

Green Spaces in Taylor

The City of Taylor is home to more than 200 acres of green space. This includes eight miles of hike-and-bike trails in five major parks: Heritage Square, Bull Branch, Murphy, Taylor Regional, and Fannie Robinson. 

Every public park offers free Wi-Fi, and each park has its own unique set of amenities. These include a botanical garden, public swimming pools, a fishing pier, tennis courts, playscapes, and covered pavilions. 

Downtown Taylor

In 2015, Taylor’s Downtown Master Plan received the APA Project Planning Award. The district offers a vibrant urban experience imbued with Taylor’s trademark small-town culture. Downtown is also home to a diverse group of local restauranteurs and retailers. It’s here that you’ll find Louie Mueller’s Barbecue, the world-class barbecue that the city is known for, along with a variety of specialty stores and music venues.

Louie Mueller’s in Taylor probably serves the best all-around barbecue dinner in Texas.”

– Texas Monthly Magazine

Louie Mueller’s Barbeque. Photo courtesy of Krista.

Blackland Prairie Days Festival

Taylor’s most well-known event is the annual Blackland Prairie Days Festival. On the first weekend in May, Taylor Main Street hosts the festival in the heart of downtown. Featured attractions include arts and crafts vendors, food booths, live entertainment, and children’s activities. 

Taylor Car Show

Every year, hundreds of car enthusiasts and thousands of spectators gather for Taylor’s Main Street Car Show. The event is held annually in downtown Taylor on the last Saturday of October.

Taylor’s annual car show. Photo courtesy of zombieite.

What kind of businesses are located in Taylor, Texas?

Taylor has a quaint downtown district with great local shops. The district has popular barbecue restaurants and bars, as well as local boutiques and specialty stores. 

The three largest employers in Taylor, Texas are the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Taylor ISD, and Durcon Laboratory Tops. 

What are the main reasons companies choose to locate their businesses in Taylor, Texas?

Taylor also attracts people looking for small-town charm and more affordable housing options, while maintaining accessibility to the Austin metro.

Talent and Supply Chain

Affordable housing prices are attracting young, educated workers to Taylor. This talent pool has made the city a prime location for business opportunities. In addition, Taylor enjoys a reputation as a manufacturing haven for employers looking to break into the Austin market. According to the Taylor Economic Development Corporation, “With an established ecosystem and supply chain for general manufacturing, we are the perfect location for your next business move.” 

Incentives Available

The City of Taylor offers generous incentive packages for businesses coming to town. These include cash grants, land grants, forgivable loans, property tax rebates, sales tax rebates, TIF grants, and downtown rental assistance. 

The Taylor Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) also offers help with economic development projects that create jobs for the community. 

Who are the largest tenants in Taylor, Texas?

Taylor’s largest tenants include retail and industrial businesses, as well as some non-profit organizations.

In November 2021, Samsung announced that it will open a $17 billion chip plant in Taylor, Texas. Specific details of Samsung’s plant are still developing, but the decision is yet another indication of the strong economy and business-friendly environment in Austin’s suburbs.

Industrial Tenants in Taylor

Retail Tenant in Taylor

Office Tenants in Taylor

What are the largest properties in Taylor, Texas?

Large Industrial Space in Taylor

Taylor, Texas is set to become a major player in the high-tech industry with Samsung’s upcoming semiconductor factory. Announced in November 2021, this $17 billion project represents the largest industrial development in Taylor’s history. The facility will create 2,000 high-skilled jobs and significantly expand Samsung’s presence in Central Texas, which began with its first Austin factory in 1997.
This investment is more than just a local economic boost; it’s a transformative event for Taylor. The new plant will position the city at the forefront of semiconductor manufacturing, a crucial industry for advancing technologies like AI and 5G networks. Beyond immediate job creation, it’s expected to attract ancillary businesses, skilled professionals, and substantial tax revenue, marking a pivotal moment in Taylor’s economic and technological future.

Additionally, according to Costar, the U.S. Army Facility is one of the largest industrial property in Taylor. Once a military site, the facility is roughly 50% leased to the Travis Association for the Blind.

US Army Facility in Taylor (Image Courtesy of Costar)

Texwood Plant is another large industrial property in Taylor. Located along the city’s bustling West Second Street, the site is fully leased by Burrows Cabinets, one of the city’s largest employers. 

Large Office in Taylor

One of the largest office properties in the city is the 80,000-square-foot ERCOT building, located next to Taylor Municipal Airport.

Large Retail in Taylor

The city’s big-box retail is located along Main Street (SH-95), with Walmart and HEB located at the intersection of Carlos G Parker Blvd. 

Conclusion

Taylor is a quickly growing small town that is rapidly becoming more connected to the Austin metro. Taylor’s growth and incentives have given it a positive reputation as a great city for successful business development. For those who want access to Austin and all the benefits of a small close-knit community, Taylor is the perfect place for your company and employees.

Looking to learn more about Austin’s surrounding cities? Check out some of these other Austin suburbs:

• Your Guide to Leander, TX: One of the Nation’s Fastest-Growing Cities
• Your Guide to Hutto, Texas: Austin’s Newest Northeast Neighbor
• Your Guide to Georgetown, Texas: Gateway to the Austin MSA