Real Estate Photographer in Leander, TX

The latest U.S. News & World Report rankings for 250 Best Places to Live in the U.S. are out, and let's just say the Live Music Capital isn't exactly headlining the charts. While several of our Central Texas neighbors are basking in the top 30, Austin seems to have taken a leisurely stroll down to the 164th spot. Perhaps we're just playing hard to get?

The rankings, which crunch everything from housing affordability to desirability, are based on a mix of public data and user opinions. So, if you've been grumbling about traffic or the price of a decent single-family home, congratulations, your feedback has been heard.

Central Texas suburbs outshine Austin, claiming top 30 spots in national rankings

Our more suburban counterparts are clearly thriving. Leander, the little engine that could, roared into the 8th position, boasting a median household income that could make a downtown condo owner weep ($131,822, for those keeping score at home).

Close behind, Pflugerville clocked in at 15th, and Cedar Park at 23rd, proving that perhaps a shorter commute to H-E-B is the true secret to quality of life. Even Round Rock, with its formidable outlet mall and beloved baseball team, snagged a respectable 28th.

Here are the Central Texas cities that made the top 30 spots in the list:

El Paso, Georgetown beat Austin in top 200 rankings of best places to live

Even further down the list, we find New Braunfels (77th), Georgetown (113th), and then a significant drop-off for El Paso (107th).

Meanwhile, Austin, with its nearly one million residents and a median household income of $96,149, seems to have been weighed down by, well, probably everything that makes Austin, Austin.

Our "net migration" might be booming, but apparently, the public survey prioritized factors that our rapidly expanding metropolis is struggling to keep up with, like, you know, not being stuck in traffic for half your waking hours.

Here are some Texas cities in the top 200 spots:

Texas metros lag in rankings

Then comes Fort Worth (212th) and San Antonio (236th). It seems the larger the city, the more the metrics penalize.

So, while we continue to embrace our weirdness and cheer on our booming music scene, it seems the rest of the country (or at least the survey respondents) prefers a slightly less "Keep It Weird" approach to their living arrangements.

What are the best 10 cities to live in according to U.S. News?

For those curious about the truly top-tier locales, prepare for a geographical tour that mostly bypasses the Lone Star State (save for a couple of honorary mentions):

Liberty Hill ISD said the child attends Bar W Elementary.

First measles case in Williamson County

What we know:

The school-aged child, who attends Bar W Elementary, is currently recovering at home under isolation, says the Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD).

The child was reportedly contagious from May 15 until possibly May 24. It's unknown if the child was infectious at school.

Families of Bar W students should monitor for symptoms through June 14 and contact their healthcare provider if symptoms develop.

WCCHD says it has limited information regarding the child's vaccination status or recent travel history, as their family has chosen not to share those details, which limits its ability to fully assess potential exposure risks and determine the source of infection.

What they're saying:

"We respect the privacy of families while emphasizing that timely communication is critical in protecting the health of our Williamson County community," said Dr. Amanda Norwood, Medical Director and Health Authority for the Williamson County and Cities Health District. "We strongly urge our neighbors in Williamson County to stay alert and take extra precautions at this time. It’s critical to recognize the early signs of measles and act quickly to protect your family and those around you."

The statewide measles outbreak is hitting close to home in Williamson County.

"Measles is a serious disease, and it merits a serious response," said Norwood.

According to a press release from the Williamson County and Cities Health District, the family has chosen not to share the vaccination status or recent travel history with health authorities.

"That’s what we are trying to figure out and put together," said Norwood. "If there’s concern for spread because we know how contagious measles is, we need to operate as though that could be a potential reality."

What you can do:

Anyone who believes they have been exposed to measles or begin showing symptoms is urged to call their healthcare provider before going to a clinic or hospital. Calling ahead allows medical staff to take appropriate precautions and helps keep others safe, says WCCHD.

WCCHD offers low-cost MMR vaccinations for individuals who qualify for the Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC) program or the Adult Safety Net (ASN) program. These programs help ensure that eligible children and adults have access to critical immunizations, regardless of insurance status. For more information on eligibility and vaccine availability, call 512-943-3600.

WCCHD Public Health Centers do not offer measles testing.

Measles in Central Texas

Local perspective:

This announcement comes two days after health officials say a Kyle resident tested positive for the virus, marking the first case confirmed in Hays County.

Officials say the case was confirmed by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The resident was considered to be unvaccinated due to being unable to provide documentation of getting the measles vaccine. The resident was contagious from May 11-19. They have also received care.

Officials are working to identify and notify those who may have been exposed.

Measles in Texas

Big picture view:

DSHS says that four new cases were reported in Tuesday's update.

722 cases have been identified since the outbreak started in January and there are fewer than 10 confirmed cases believed to be actively infectious in the state.

Gaines County, the center of the outbreak, reported no new cases. The county has reported 406 cases since the outbreak began in January. The county accounts for more than half of the state's cases.

What is measles?

Why you should care:

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.

Measles virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.

Illness onset (high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes) begins a week or two after someone is exposed. A few days later, the telltale rash breaks out as flat, red spots on the face and then spreads down the neck and trunk to the rest of the body.

A person is contagious from about four days before the rash appears to four days after. People with measles should stay home from work or school during that period.

Common symptoms of measles include:

The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.

Some vaccinated people can occasionally develop measles; however, they generally experience milder symptoms and are less likely to spread the disease to other people.

If you think you have measles or have been exposed to someone with measles, isolate yourself from others and call your healthcare provider before arriving to be tested so they can prepare for your arrival without exposing other people to the virus. Measles is extremely contagious and can cause life-threatening illness to anyone who is not protected against the virus. Review your and your child’s vaccination history to see if you are up-to-date on your measles vaccines. Additionally, discuss with your provider your vaccination history and any questions about these vaccines.

People with confirmed or suspected measles should stay home from school, work, and other group settings until after the fourth day of rash onset.

During an outbreak, people without documented immunity from vaccination or previous measles infection should be isolated from anyone with measles to protect those without immunity and control the outbreak.

According to the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Rule §97.7, schools and childcare settings shall exclude unimmunized children for at least 21 days after the last date the unimmunized child was exposed to a measles case.

A 65-acre, mixed-use project in Leander is under construction with one restaurant already open and luxury apartments ready for lease.

Crystal Village is expected to be completed by 2030 with retail, offices, a hotel, conference and meeting spaces and more residential units, said Jamie Forbes, the project's development manager.

The project, expected to cost more than $250 million, is at the southeast corner of the 183-A tollway and East Crystal Falls Parkway.

"Culver’s (restaurant) opened in February this year, with a record-setting opening day for the franchise in the state of Texas," Forbes said. The QuikTrip convenience store has been open at the project since early 2024, he said.

"Estancia Brazilian Steakhouse, Willie’s Grill & Ice House, Southside Market & BBQ, and Texas Roadhouse are all in progress, and there is a recently completed 3.2-acre park at the south side of the Village, which is part of the city of Leander Park System," Forbes said in an email.

The city of Leander has agreed to provide a sales tax rebate of $400,000 to the steakhouse to open at the village if the restaurant invests a minimum of $7.5 million in its building and employs at least 75 people, according to an economic agreement.

The Evergrove at Crystal Village, a 348-unit luxury, garden-style apartment community, is leasing and expected to complete construction in the early summer, Forbes said. The developer of Crystal Village is Alaska-based Koniag Inc. It bought the 65-acre property in 2010, Forbes said.

"Koniag has explored options for developing the property over the years, and, along with the tremendous growth of the Leander community, began moving forward with the plans for the current development in January 2020," Forbes said.

Koniag chose to develop in Leander because it has been identified as one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, Forbes said.

"This is an exciting time for expansion to support the evolving needs of the growing residential community," he said. "This location provides convenient access for residents to shop, dine, work, live, and enjoy time with family and friends."

Leander's population is estimated at 86,469, according to the city's website.

Crystal Village is being developed in three phases. Phase one is about 18 acres, phase two is more than 20 acres, and phase three is 24 acres, Forbes said.

"Phase three will be the heart of Crystal Village, and the vision for the entire project is to be a hub for area residents to enjoy and highlight the vibrancy that the Leander community has to offer," said Forbes. "We are refining the exact configuration of Phase Three, but it is slated to include mixed-use space for family-friendly entertainment, dining, retail, professional offices, hotel, conference and meeting spaces, and further residential units."

Another Leander development, the Northline project, will have "significant" retail development and townhome construction underway by the middle to late third quarter of this year, Alex Tynberg, the developer of the project, said Friday. He said an office building is expected to break ground this year. The 116-acre Northline project is between U.S. 183 and the 183-A tollway.