Austin MSA

Bee Cave leads the Austin metro in affordability spread — not in price, but in inequality. ALEX Intelligence’s new data shows a 1.6x gap between the most and least affordable cities in the region, with Bee Cave at 7.0x and the median city at 4.4x. This isn’t about income; it’s about zoning, access, and where value is concentrated. As Austin grows, the median city is becoming the new frontier — not the top, not the bottom, but the middle. The real estate market is no longer expanding into the cheapest places, but into those that are just within reach. This is a policy-driven divide, not a market one. Intelligence · Published November 08, 2026. https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-08-austin-msa-spread-value-to-income-place Top-to-Median Affordability Gap, top 9 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Census Bureau 2024) #1 Bee Cave — 7.0x #2 Wells Branch — 6.0x #3 Shady Hollow — 4.4x #4 Lakeway — 4.4x #5 Steiner Ranch — 4.3x #6 Manor — 4.1x #7 Lago Vista — 3.7x #8 Lockhart — 3.7x #9 Hornsby Bend — 3.5x Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=79564830; Slide 2: Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=57909076; Slide 3: JAGarcia (CC BY 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=54497911; Slide 4: Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=57938409 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-08-austin-msa-spread-value-to-income-place View and join any or all of our communities — AI, quantum, and real estate: https://alex-companies.com/reports/linkedin-groups If there's an AI, quantum, or real estate community you'd like to see us convene, tell us — this portfolio grows by request. Real Estate Strategy & Intelligence Leader. Democratized Blue Ocean Strategist & Operator. Diane Hart Alexander, MBA, MHA Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies Designated Broker, Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC dba ALEX.realestate, et.al. Texas License #574877-B · Broker License #565194-BB [email protected] · +1 713.591.9902