Your Guide to Leander, Texas: One of the Nation’s Fastest Growing Cities

This article is updated annually and was last updated in October 2023.

Located 22 miles northwest of Austin, Leander, Texas is home to award-winning school districts, natural attractions, a commuter rail to Downtown Austin, and booming demand for business. According to the US Census Bureau, Leander was the fastest-growing large city in the country from 2018 to 2019.

In this article, we guide you through everything you need to know about Leander including:

Where is Leander, Texas?

Leander is located 22 miles northwest of Austin, along US-183 between Cedar Park and Liberty Hill.

How big is Leander?

Leander’s growing population is currently at 74,375 people, based on 2022 estimates. In 2019, Leander was named The Nation’s Fastest-Growing Large City by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Leander encompasses 23.02 square miles, plus an additional 45+ square miles of extra-territorial jurisdiction, north of Cedar Park and west of Georgetown.

What are the key demographics in Leander?

In Leander, 62.6% of people are between the ages of 18 and 65. This means that there is a large talent pool and a large number of consumers.

Age of Leander Population
< 18 Years of Age	29.7%
18 – 65 Years of Age	62.6%
> 65 Years of Age	7.7%

^{Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022}

The vast majority of Leander’s residents have at least a high school education with 92.8% aged 25 and older having a high school diploma or higher. Additionally, 41.0% of the city’s population hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, nearly 10 percentage points higher than the state.

The median household income in Leander is $117,090, which is well above the national median of $67,321.

Leander Demographics Compared to Austin and Texas
	Leander, TX	Austin, TX	State of Texas
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	94.6%	90.6%	84.8%
Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+)	45.4%	55.1%	31.5%
Median Household Income	$117,090	$78,965	$67,321

The majority of people in Leander are married (64.42%), 24.69% have never married, 7.42% are divorced, and 3.46% are widowed.

The average travel time to work is 29.8 minutes, slightly higher than the U.S. average of 26.8 minutes.

What makes Leander an attractive place for people to live?

For those who want access to Austin without having to pay Austin prices, Leander offers a multitude of amenities that attract families and businesses alike.

Schools in Leander

For families with school-age children, Leander offers exceptional educational opportunities. Leander ISD was named the 2016 HEB Excellence in Education Large District Award Winner for its commitment to student achievement, community involvement, and professional development opportunities for educators.

Leander ISD encompasses six high schools and educates more than 43,000 students. The district covers Leander, Cedar Park, Northwest Austin, and a small portion of Georgetown and Round Rock.

Of its six high schools, three are ranked in the top 200 high schools in the state of Texas by U.S News & World Report, with Vandegrift High School ranked No. 79 in the state.

The school district holds an A+ rating and is ranked the best school district in Williamson County by Niche.com.

CapMetro Commuter Rail

For families and businesses alike, access to US-183 and the CapMetro Commuter Rail is one of the signature amenities of living in Leander. For residents that commute from Leander to Downtown Austin and anywhere in between, the Capital MetroRail can take you there.

The MetroRail offers Wi-Fi access, bike racks, and real-time data for arrival times. Additionally, the commuter rail’s northern terminus is located in Leander. The surrounding area of the rail end has been referred to as, “The Transit Oriented Development Area,” making it a prime location for commercial development.

Housing Prices in Leander

According to Redfin, the median sale price of a home in Leander is $457,320 while the median sale price of a home in Austin is $558,000.

	Median Housing Price	Price Per SF
Leander, Texas	$457,320	$213
Austin, Texas	$558,000	$319
Texas	$489,000	$180

^{Source: Redfin, October 2023}

What is there to do in Leander, Texas?

Leander’s Natural Attractions

Leander is just a short drive from Lake Travis, and the city offers a variety of parks and outdoor spaces to enjoy both the lake and the beautiful Hill Country.

Access to the lake is available through parks like Sandy Creek Park or Lakewood Park, where you can go swimming, camping, hiking, fishing, and bird-watching. Sandy Creek Park also provides a more secluded area for boaters to enjoy the waters of Lake Travis without all of the boat traffic found in other parts of the lake.

Lakewood Park has splash pads, kayak rentals, a playground, and more. Photo Courtesy of Mike Neu with the City of Leander.

Austin Community College – San Gabriel Campus

Another amenity for residents of Leander is the Austin Community College – San Gabriel Campus. The campus is the newest addition to Austin Community College and opened its doors to Leander in 2018. The campus also recently won the 2019 award for Excellence in Construction.

The ACC San Gabriel Campus offers programs for associate’s degrees, career-technical training, and individuals who want to transfer to a four-year university. The campus also offers a unique service in its ACCelerator, an innovative interactive learning center.

Old Town Leander

If you’re looking for a spot in Leander that has it all, historic Old Town Leander is perfect. Located in the heart of Leander, here you can find restaurants, breweries, wineries, a farmer’s market, shops, and more. An annual street festival and Christmas festival are also held in Old Town Leander.

Old Town Leander Christmas Festival. Photo Courtesy of Mike Neu with the City of Leander.

What kind of businesses are located in Leander, Texas?

Leander is growing rapidly, and a variety of businesses are migrating to the suburb. Retail, industrial, and medical businesses have all begun to make their mark on the city.

Some industrial businesses that have set roots in Leander include businesses like Emi, an electronics and metals manufacturer, which leased 32,972 square feet at a warehouse on 17414 FM 1431. Another notable industrial business in Leander is HL Chapman Pipeline Construction, which has leased 57,077 square feet at an industrial property on 9250 FM 2243.

Some retail giants that have already popped up in Leander are HEB, Lowe’s, Goodwill, and Randall’s. With 143,414 square feet, the HEB Plus in Leander is the third-largest HEB location in Texas.

What are the main reasons tenants choose to locate their businesses in Leander?

Leander has also proven itself a stronghold for business development. According to the City of Leander, sales tax collections have steadily increased over the years indicating strong economic growth. Businesses are seeing the growing workforce in Leander and capitalizing on the land available for development.

Leander’s proximity to Austin and access to US-183 attract businesses that are able to gain from the urban amenities and close-knit community. Additionally, there is a strong demand for goods and services in Leander. Leander’s population expansion has greatly outpaced business development so there is a strong demand for businesses to fill that gap. Additionally, with a highly skilled and educated population, there is a large talent pool that is continuously growing.

Leander poses a unique opportunity for businesses with the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) area and CapMetro commuter rail. The commuter rail and TOD coupled with Leander’s rapid growth allow for a thriving economy and opportunities for expansion. Accessibility to these transportation amenities is beneficial for business development.

According to the Leander Chamber of Commerce, there are nearly 8,400 acres available for commercial development within the community.

Who are the largest tenants in Leander?

Some of Leander’s largest tenants are in industrial, retail, and education-related spaces. In terms of industry, Leander is home to multiple construction, wholesaler, manufacturing, and retailer companies.

Industrial Tenants in Leander

Tenant	Square Footage Occupied	Property
SunCoast Post Tension	41,910	1500 Leander Dr
CDN Systems, LLP	83,839	12510 Trails End Rd
EMI Wholesaler	32,972	17414 Ranch Rd 1431
HL Chapman Pipeline Construction	57,077	9250 FM 2243

Retail Tenants in Leander

Tenant	Square Footage Occupied	Property
HEB Plus	143,414	651 N. U.S. Hwy 183
Lowe’s	138,634	1495 S. U.S. Hwy 183
Randall’s	61,508	3441 Lakeline Blvd

Office Tenants In Leander

Tenant	Square Footage Occupied	Property
Leander ISD	23,365	204 W South St

What are the largest properties in Leander, Texas?

Leander is growing fast and seeing multiple industrial, office, and retail developments. One highly-anticipated new development is a 115-acre mixed-use development called Northline, which broke ground in early 2020. The Northline project will include retail, office, multifamily, dining, and a town center. The location of the project will be at the TOD area at the northern terminus of the CapMetro commuter rail line.

Large Industrial Space in Leander

Although Leander isn’t considered a major industrial hub in the Austin area, there are various industrial properties in Leander.

Industrial properties include:

Crystal Falls Business Park (68,750 SF)
12510 Trails End (83,839 SF)
Business Park 2243 (51,500 SF)
Bagdad Meadows (62,990 SF)

Large Office Space in Leander

The majority of office space is dominated by Leander’s education and medical sectors. Leander ISD’s central administration office operates from a 23,365-square-foot building on 204 W. South St. and the district currently includes 200 square miles. Another one of Leander’s largest office properties is the 59,482-square-foot medical office property on 505 St. David’s Loop.

Large Retail Space in Leander

The Leander HEB Plus is also part of a 225,000-square-foot shopping center. Additionally, The Gateway at Leander is a 300,000-square-foot retail center home to tenants like Lowe’s, Kohl’s, and a variety of fast-food chains.

Conclusion

Leander is a rapidly growing Austin suburb that offers multiple amenities for families and businesses alike. Leander’s growth gives it a positive reputation for being family-friendly and a great city for successful business development. For those who want access to Austin and all the benefits of a small close-knit community, Leander is the perfect place for your company and employees.

Is Leander not the place for you? Check out some of these other Austin suburbs:

Where is Leander, Texas?

How big is Leander?

What are the key demographics in Leander?