Neighborhood in Austin, Travis County

Living in River Ranch, Austin

C-

147th of 206areas in Austin
Overall score 40 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Austin overall: B-

River Ranch is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 5,500 people. It gets a C-, just below the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 147th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on internet access and worst on health.

  • Well connected
  • Lots of parks
  • Health scores low (7 of 100)
  • Tornado risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store1.3 mi
Pharmacy1.7 mi
Park0.7 mi
Cafe1.9 mi
Restaurant0.7 mi
Gym0.7 mi
Hospital or urgent care3.3 mi
Childcare1.6 mi
Library1.8 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
5,500
Median rent
$2,350
Median home value
$417,000
Household income
$94,600
Average commute
26 min
Homes owned
49%
Loading map

What it's like to live in River Ranch

River Ranch is a neighborhood in Austin with about 5,500 residents, mostly newer homes (median year built 2019), a mix of owners and renters and 56% of households with children.

Our grade for River Ranch is C-. That puts it 147th of 206 areas we grade in Austin, a city that gets a B- overall.

Pros of living in River Ranch

No clear standouts in our data.

Cons of living in River Ranch

  • Pricier rent than the city. Median rent is $2,350, 36% higher than the Austin median.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes, heat waves and hail as very high in this part of town.

River Ranch report card

Each grade compares River Ranch with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade D+

    Median rent $2,350, homes cost 4.4x income.

    29 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade B

    Median household income $94,600, 4.1% unemployed.

    69 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade C-

    Nearby schools average 78 of 100 on the state rating.

    38 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 422 violent crimes per 100k, 3,099 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade D+

    Some everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    31 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade C

    Average commute 26 min, 26% work from home.

    44 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade B-

    51% have a bachelor’s degree.

    63 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade F

    28% of adults uninsured.

    7 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade B-

    49% of homes owner-occupied.

    61 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade A

    100% of homes have broadband.

    91 of 100 vs TX areas

River Ranch compared with Austin

Better than Austin

  • Home value to income: 4.4x26% lower than Austin (5.9x)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 39%9 points lower than Austin (48%)
  • People below the poverty line: 3.0%9 points lower than Austin (12%)

Worse than Austin

  • Median rent: $2,35036% higher than Austin ($1,729)
  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 28%13 points higher than Austin (15%)
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 51%9 points lower than Austin (60%)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • CDessau ElementaryElementary, Pflugerville ISD1.5 mi
  • CDessau MiddleMiddle, Pflugerville ISD1.5 mi
  • BPflugerville High SchoolHigh, Pflugerville ISD3.1 mi

Cost of living in River Ranch

Median rent in River Ranch is $2,350 a month, 36% higher than the Austin median. A household would need about $94,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $417,000, 25% lower than the Austin median, which means a monthly payment of about $2,707 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereAustinTexas
Median rent36% higher than Austin$2,350$1,729$1,403
Median home value25% lower than Austin$417,000$555,300$283,800
Home value to income26% lower than Austin4.4x5.9x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent9 points lower than Austin39%48%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them5 points higher than Austin49%43%63%
Vacant homes6 points lower than Austin0%5.6%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Austin201919941992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$2,707
Mortgage payment
$2,283
Property tax
$425
Median rent, for comparison
$2,350

Based on a $417,000 home in River Ranch, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereAustinTexas
Median household incomeAbout the same as Austin$94,600$93,658$78,476
Unemployment rateAbout the same as Austin4.1%4.7%5.3%
People below the poverty line9 points lower than Austin3.0%12%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher9 points lower than Austin51%60%34%
Average commute8% higher than Austin26 min24 min27 min
Workers who work from home5 points lower than Austin26%31%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit4 points lower than Austin1.0%5.3%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet6 points higher than Austin100%94%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingHigh
  • HurricanesModerate
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesVery high
  • WildfiresVery high
  • Winter stormsModerate
  • Strong windHigh

Who lives in River Ranch

Under 1835%
18 to 3430%
35 to 6428%
65 and over7.1%
Race and ethnicity
White29%
Hispanic or Latino21%
Black13%
Asian34%
Other or more than one race3.3%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Austin

  1. 1A+TarrytownMedian rent $3,280
  2. 2A+Glen RidgeMedian rent $1,190
  3. 3A+Appaloosa Run
  4. 4A+Northwest HillsMedian rent $1,900
  5. 4A+Westover HillsMedian rent $1,570
  6. 6A+The GroveMedian rent $1,870
  7. 7A+Violet Crown HeightsMedian rent $1,530
  8. 8A+Old West AustinMedian rent $3,270

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. C+FairhavenGeorgetown
  2. C-Northwest Fort WorthFort Worth
  3. C+West HoustonHouston

Questions about River Ranch

Is River Ranch a good place to live?

River Ranch is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 5,500 people. It gets a C-, just below the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 147th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on internet access and worst on health.

How much does it cost to live in River Ranch?

Renters in River Ranch pay a median of $2,350 a month, 36% higher than the Austin median. The median home is worth $417,000, 25% lower than the Austin median. A median home costs 4.4x the median household income, compared with 5.9x across Austin.

What schools serve River Ranch?

The closest rated public schools are Dessau Elementary (elementary, rated C), Dessau Middle (middle, rated C) and Pflugerville High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 1 Census block group closest to the River Ranch name on the map, so its edges are approximate. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.