Small city in Travis County, part of the Austin metro

Living in Wells Branch, TX

C+

86th of 192Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people
Overall score 56 of 100
28th of 58 in the Austin area

We give Wells Branch a C+. It ranks 86th of 192 Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people. It does best on errands and things to do and education levels, and trails on home ownership and cost of living. It is a strong pick for young professionals.

  • Good for young professionals
  • Home ownership scores low (11 of 100)
  • Tornado risk is very high
Map of Texas showing where Wells Branch isHoustonSan AntonioDallasFort WorthWells Branch
Where Wells Branch is in Texas.
Population
13,523
Median rent
$1,54410% higher than Texas
Median home value
$401,10041% higher than Texas
Household income
$66,656Median
Average commute
22 minOne way
Violent crime
No dataNo full-year report

What it's like to live in Wells Branch

Wells Branch sits about 11 miles from downtown Austin, in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro. About 13,523 people live here. It is densely built.

Places locals use include Mills Pond Recreation Area, Katherine Fleischer Park and Vista Park.

The median age is 33.9, 24% of households have children, 31% of homes are owned by the people living in them and the typical household earns $66,656 a year (15% lower than the Texas median).

Pros of living in Wells Branch

  • Short commutes. The average trip to work takes 22 minutes, against 27 across Texas.

Cons of living in Wells Branch

  • Homes are pricey for local incomes. The median home costs 6.0 times the median household income, against 3.6 times across Texas.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes and hail as very high here.
  • Long, hot summers. Expect about 114 days a year at 90°F or hotter.

Who Wells Branch suits

  • FamiliesA reasonable fit: 50% of rated schools earn an A or B. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 47% for families.
  • Young professionalsA strong fit: household income is 15% lower than the Texas median, with 51 restaurants and 2 cafes in town. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 83% for young professionals.
  • RetireesA reasonable fit: 15% of working-age adults are uninsured. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 56% for retirees.
  • Remote workersA reasonable fit: 94% of homes have broadband and the median rent of $1,544 is 10% higher than the Texas median. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 67% for remote workers.
  • People on a budgetNot the best fit: the median rent of $1,544 is 10% higher than the Texas median. Compared with similar Texas places, it beats 6% for people on a budget.

Wells Branch report card

Ten grades, one for each part of daily life we measure. Most compare Wells Branch with other US cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people. Schools, safety and errands compare it with other Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people.

  • Cost of living: grade D

    Median rent $1,544, homes cost 6.0x income.

    22 of 100 vs US cities

  • Jobs and income: grade C+

    Median household income $66,656, 2.8% unemployed.

    50 of 100 vs US cities

  • Schools: grade C+

    4 rated campuses, 50% rated A or B.

    52 of 100 vs TX cities

  • Safety: no grade

    No full year of crime data from local police.

    No score vs TX cities

  • Errands and things to do: grade A

    1 grocery store, 51 restaurants, 10 parks mapped in town.

    90 of 100 vs TX cities

  • Getting around: grade D+

    Average commute 22 min, 26% work from home.

    31 of 100 vs US cities

  • Education levels: grade B+

    49% have a bachelor’s degree.

    74 of 100 vs US cities

  • Health: grade C

    15% of adults uninsured.

    41 of 100 vs US cities

  • Home ownership: grade D-

    31% of homes owner-occupied.

    11 of 100 vs US cities

  • Internet access: grade B

    94% of homes have broadband.

    66 of 100 vs US cities

Where Wells Branch stands out compared with Texas

Better than Texas

  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 49%16 points higher than Texas (34%)
  • Average commute: 22 min19% lower than Texas (27 min)
  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 15%5 points lower than Texas (20%)

Worse than Texas

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 31%31 points lower than Texas (63%)
  • Home value to income: 6.0x66% higher than Texas (3.6x)
  • Median household income: $66,65615% lower than Texas ($78,476)

Cost of living in Wells Branch

Rent is the cost most newcomers feel first. The median rent in Wells Branch is $1,544 a month, 10% higher than the Texas median of $1,403. To keep that rent at 30% of income, a household needs to earn about $62,000 a year. Right now 54% of renters here pay more than 30% of their income on rent.

HUD sets fair market rents for this area at $1,530 for a one-bedroom, $1,817 for a two-bedroom and $2,292 for a three-bedroom (fiscal year 2027). These figures include utilities and describe a modest unit, so newer apartments often ask for more.

The median home is worth $401,100, 41% higher than the Texas median. With 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28%, the monthly payment comes to about $2,196 before tax, or $2,689 with property tax. That is $1,145 a month more than the median rent, so renting is the cheaper monthly choice unless you plan to stay for years.

Texas has no state income tax, but property taxes are among the highest in the country. The median homeowner in Wells Branch pays $5,916 a year, 40% higher than the Texas median of $4,232. Budget for it, along with homeowners insurance, which our numbers do not include.

See the full cost of living breakdown for Wells Branch

Typical rent by apartment size

Fair market rent by bedroom count in Wells BranchStudio$1,4471 bedroom$1,5302 bedrooms$1,8173 bedrooms$2,2924 bedrooms$2,689
HUD fair market rent for FY2027, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA. This is what a typical, modest unit rents for, including utilities.
MeasureHereTexasUS
Median rent10% higher than Texas$1,544$1,403$1,413
Median home value41% higher than Texas$401,100$283,800$332,700
Home value to income66% higher than Texas6.0x3.6x4.1x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent2 points higher than Texas54%52%51%
Median property tax per year40% higher than Texas$5,916$4,232$3,119
Homes owned by the people living in them31 points lower than Texas31%63%65%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Texas199219921980

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$2,689
Mortgage payment
$2,196
Property tax
$493
Median rent, for comparison
$1,544

Based on a $401,100 home in Wells Branch, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median paid locally, or the county median where the local figure is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Schools in Wells Branch

Wells Branch has 4 public school campuses with a 2025 state rating inside the city, and 50% of them earn an A or B. Most students here are served by Chaparral Star Academy, Valor Education and Round Rock ISD.

Top-rated campuses include Chaparral Star Academy and Valor North Austin. The average rating score across all campuses is 81 out of 100, against a Texas median of 81.

Texas districts usually assign students by attendance zone rather than the closest campus, so check the zone for a specific address with the district before you sign a lease or buy.

Schools grade
52
of 100 vs Texas cities
Average rating
81
Texas median 81

Ratings are the 2025 Texas Education Agency A to F accountability ratings. Always check which school serves a specific address with the district.

Top-rated schools

  • AChaparral Star AcademyOther, Chaparral Star Academy98 of 100
  • AValor North AustinOther, Valor Education90 of 100
  • CWells Branch ElementaryElementary, Round Rock ISD76 of 100
  • FNorthwest ElementaryElementary, Pflugerville ISD59 of 100

Best neighborhoods in Wells Branch

We grade 3 areas inside Wells Branch. The top three are Jack's Pond (C), Central Wells Branch (D+) and Bratton Park (D). Use the map to color the city by any grade, or the sliders to rank areas by what you care about.

Loading map
    All 3 Wells Branch neighborhoods, A to Z

    Daily life in Wells Branch

    Everyday places mapped inside Wells Branch, from Overture Maps. Well-known spots include Mills Pond Recreation Area, Katherine Fleischer Park, Vista Park.

    The average one-way commute is 22 minutes, 19% shorter than the Texas average. 26% of workers work from home. Fewer than 3% walk, bike or take transit to work, so plan on driving for almost everything.

    Downtown Austin is about 11 miles away in a straight line. Many people who live in Wells Branch work elsewhere in the metro, so test the drive at rush hour before you commit.

    The median household income is $66,656, income per person is $46,773, unemployment is 2.8% and 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree.

    Grocery stores
    1
    Pharmacies
    1
    Restaurants
    51
    Cafes
    2
    Bars
    5
    Parks
    10
    Gyms
    5
    Hospitals and urgent care
    0
    Childcare
    3
    Libraries
    2

    Jobs, income and education

    MeasureHereTexasUS
    Median household income15% lower than Texas$66,656$78,476$80,734
    Income per person15% higher than Texas$46,773$40,752$44,673
    Unemployment rate2 points lower than Texas2.8%5.3%5.2%
    People below the poverty lineAbout the same as Texas13%14%12%
    Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher16 points higher than Texas49%34%36%
    Adults with a high school diploma or higher9 points higher than Texas95%86%90%
    Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance5 points lower than Texas15%20%11%
    Homes with broadband internet3 points higher than Texas94%91%91%

    Getting to work

    MeasureHereTexasUS
    Average commute19% lower than Texas22 min27 min26 min
    Workers who work from home11 points higher than Texas26%14%15%
    Workers who work from home26%
    Workers who take transit0.3%
    Workers who walk0%
    Workers who bike0.1%

    Who lives in Wells Branch

    Under 1817%
    18 to 3436%
    35 to 6436%
    65 and over11%

    Median age 33.9 years. 24% of households have children.

    Race and ethnicity
    White40%
    Hispanic or Latino31%
    Black15%
    Asian7.7%
    Other or more than one race5.9%

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

    Weather in Wells Branch

    Wells Branch has a hot Texas climate. July highs average 96°F and January lows about 38°F. There are about 114 days a year at 90°F or above, and about 37 inches of rain a year.

    Average monthly high and low temperatures in Wells Branch30°50°70°90°60J65F72M79A84M92J96J96A89S80O69N61DRain

    Average daily high and low by month, °F, with rain below. NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from Austin Great Hills, 5 mi away. Orange months average 90°F or more.

    Natural hazard risk

    FEMA's National Risk Index says river flooding risk is low, hurricane risk is moderate, tornado risk is very high and hail risk is very high. Even in lower-risk areas, check the FEMA flood map for the exact address before you buy.

    • River floodingLow
    • HurricanesModerate
    • TornadoesVery high
    • HailVery high
    • Heat wavesHigh
    • WildfiresModerate
    • Winter stormsLow
    • Strong windLow

    Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025, Census tract level averaged for the city. Check the FEMA flood map for any address before you buy.

    Places near Wells Branch

    Nearby, Pflugerville gets a B+, Brushy Creek gets an A+ and Round Rock gets a B+. Each is graded against Texas places of its own size, so a small town and a big city can both earn an A.

    1. B+PflugervilleCity, 65,971 people4 mi
    2. A+Brushy CreekSmall city, 19,576 people6 mi
    3. B+Round RockCity, 127,786 people6 mi
    4. B-AustinCity, 979,539 people9 mi
    5. ACedar ParkCity, 78,301 people10 mi
    6. B+HuttoSmall city, 35,483 people10 mi

    Wells Branch in the Austin area

    How it ranks among 58 places in the metro.

    1. 1A+The Hills2,516 people14 mito downtown
    2. 2A+Rollingwood1,316 people3 mito downtown
    3. 3A+Brushy Creek19,576 people15 mito downtown
    4. 25BShady Hollow5,709 people11 mito downtown
    5. 26BFlorence1,061 people38 mito downtown
    6. 27B-Austin979,539 people0 mito downtown
    7. 28C+Wells Branch13,523 people11 mito downtown
    8. 29C+Bastrop11,156 people29 mito downtown
    9. 30C+Wyldwood4,934 people20 mito downtown
    10. 31C+Bartlett1,941 people39 mito downtown

    See all of the best suburbs of austin

    Living in Wells Branch: common questions

    Is Wells Branch, TX a good place to live?

    We give Wells Branch a C+. It ranks 86th of 192 Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people. It does best on errands and things to do and education levels, and trails on home ownership and cost of living. It is a strong pick for young professionals.

    How much does it cost to live in Wells Branch?

    Median rent in Wells Branch is $1,544 a month, 10% higher than the Texas median. The median home is worth $401,100, 41% higher than the Texas median. A median home costs 6.0x the median household income, compared with 3.6x across Texas. With 20% down at a 7.28% rate, the monthly payment on a median home is about $2,689, including property tax.

    Are the schools good in Wells Branch?

    We found 4 rated public school campuses inside Wells Branch. 50% are rated A or B by the Texas Education Agency. Its schools score is 52 of 100 compared with other Texas cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people.

    What are the best neighborhoods in Wells Branch?

    Based on our scores, the top-rated areas in Wells Branch are Jack's Pond, Central Wells Branch and Bratton Park. We score 3 areas in the city.

    Does Wells Branch flood?

    FEMA rates river flooding risk in Wells Branch as low, and coastal flooding as not rated. Hazards rated high or very high here: tornadoes, heat waves and hail. Always check the flood map for a specific address before you buy.

    What is the weather like in Wells Branch?

    Summers in Wells Branch peak at about 96°F in July, and January nights fall to about 38°F. Expect around 114 days a year at 90°F or hotter, and 37 inches of rain.

    How long is the commute in Wells Branch?

    The average one-way commute is 22 min, 19% lower than the Texas average. About 26% of workers work from home. It is about 11 miles from downtown Austin.

    Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year and 2025 population estimates, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings, FBI Crime Data Explorer, FEMA National Risk Index, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, Overture Maps. Updated 2026-10-04. How we grade.