Round Rock, Texas, with a population of 92,557, is located 15 miles north of Austin in the Central Texas hill country. Major employers include Dell, Farmers Insurance Group and Cypress Semiconductor. Its combined property tax and utility rates are the lowest in the region. It has an award-winning park system, school district and is the 13th Safest City in the United States.
Round Rock is one of the fastest growing and best managed cities in Texas. The city has maintained high quality of life while becoming a major center for economic development in Central Texas. The City of Round Rock is known for its award-winning master plan, park system and school district as well as for having some of the lowest crime, property tax and utility rates in Texas.
Planning: As the winner of the prestigious Comprehensive Planning Award from the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association in 1999, the City prides itself on its long-term vision.
Crime: Round Rock is ranked the 13th Safest City in the United States by a national survey, and has the fourth lowest crime rate among Texas cities with populations of 50,000 to 100,000. Round Rock has the lowest crime rate for cities in that size category – nearly half that of the city with the next lowest crime rate – in Central Texas. In a year 2006 survey of city residents, 89 percent of respondents said they felt safe walking alone in their neighborhood at night.
Cost of living: The City of Round Rock’s property tax rate is one of the lowest in the region (37.1 cents per $100 of valuation). Also, residents pay the lowest combined average monthly utility and tax costs in Central Texas, while achieving an 82 percent satisfaction rating from its customers. Round Rock has the lowest ACCRA composite cost of living index rating among the three largest cities in the metro area.
Public Utilities: Over the last three quarters, 89 percent of the city’s water customers have rated the city as good or excellent. Sewer customers gave an 87 percent rating (keep in mind the customers that respond to the survey have had a work order on their service recently). Round Rock has not had mandatory water rationing during the past 21 years.
Traffic: The Round Rock City Council approved a Transportation Master Plan in January 1999. The City’s Transportation Capital Improvement Plan contains $415 million worth of projects. The City’s half-cent sales tax levy for transportation will pay for $125 million of that total.
Dell Diamond: The City of Round Rock’s stadium and conference center has drawn record crowds since opening in 2000. The ballpark is home to the Round Rock Express, the Triple A affiliate of the Houston Astros. The Dell Diamond is the No. 1 ballpark in the country out of more than 200 parks according to the Fifth Annual Minor League News rankings. It was named top Double A stadium by Baseball America in 2004. (The Express moved to Triple A in the 2005 season.) Construction of the $25 million facility was financed by $8.4 million in revenue bonds backed by the City of Round Rock’s hotel-motel tax revenues and cash from RSR Sports, owner of the Express.
Sales tax impact: The City of Round Rock ranks seventh among cities in the state of Texas for sales tax collections through November 2006, due in large part to the impact of Dell’s Texas sales. Round Rock is the 34th largest City in Texas, according to 2004 U.S. Census Bureau data.
Regional Information: Round Rock, Texas is one of the fastest growing and best managed cities in Texas. The city has maintained high quality of life while becoming a major center for economic development in Central Texas. The city is known for its award-winning master plan, park system and school district as well as for having some of the lowest
crime, property tax and utility rates in Texas.
Education: Access to quality education is a common response, when current residents are asked why they moved to
Round Rock. Test scores at the Round Rock Independent School District rank among the elite in public
education and twelve schools in the district have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools. The Round Rock
community, the city and the public school system recognize the importance of quality education.
Along with the economic growth that Round Rock has experienced over the last decade, the Round Rock
Independent School District has seen its student enrollment surpass 34,000. There are also alternatives to
public school education with private schools such as the Round Rock Christian Academy. Education in Round
Rock is definitely moving in the right direction.
Recreation: Round Rock is the ideal place for the outdoor enthusiast. With numerous surrounding lakes, parks and hike and bike trails, there is truly something for everyone. Whether you are exploring the historic Chisholm Trail, or
learning about the legendary local bandit Sam Bass, Round Rock abounds with many opportunities for cultural
and historic enrichment.
Each year Round Rock brings the community together for local festivals and fairs such as Taste of Round Rock,
Frontier Days, Daffodil Days and Fiesta Amistad. Local community theatre, movies in the park, live music and
local festivals are not only entertainment for Round Rock’s families, but are a key element in the cultural health
of the city.
Round Rock Express baseball and University of Texas athletics are only a small sample of the quality sports in
our vibrant community. Marketed as the “Sports Capital of Texas,” Round Rock’s athletic facilities are some of
the best in the nation. Along with the numerous golf courses in and around our community, Round Rock offers
quality athletic fields that vary from cricket to polo.
The Round Rock Express, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, has enjoyed seven outstanding seasons since
the Jackson Generals’ Texas League franchise relocated to The Dell Diamond for the 2000 season. After five
years in the Double-A Texas League and one league championship, the Express continued its success with a
move to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League for the 2005 season.
The Dell Diamond has been named the Playing Surface of the Year six times and was voted by ESPN Outdoor as
one of the top ballparks in the country to see a baseball game. Round Rock has welcomed more than 4.7
million fans to The Dell Diamond since opening its gates. In its very first season in 2000, the Express became
the most popular sports activity in Central Texas, drawing more fans to the Dell Diamond than the University of
Texas football team attracted to Royal Memorial Stadium. From the clean, modern stadium, professional and
friendly ball players, outstanding game announcing, between innings fun to the dazzling fireworks on Friday
nights, the Round Rock Express is focused on fans having a great time.
Round Rock is also home to several award-winning golf courses, which range in size, difficulty level, design
and amenities. Whether you are a “pro” or an “amateur”, Round Rock area courses will offer a pleasurable
golf experience.
Avery Ranch Golf Club was named “Best Overall Course, Best Clubhouse, Best Dining Area, Best Par 4’s, Best Par
5’s, Best Closing Hole, and Best Cart Girls” by Avid Golfer Magazine. Avery Ranch is a 226 acre, 7,121 yard, 18-
hole championship public course. Architect, Andy Raugust, has blended panoramic vistas and gentle rolling hills
with oak-lined fairways and a 60-acre lake. Also, Avery Ranch is host to the Dennis Quaid Charity Classic.
Forest Creek Golf Club a 7,147 yard golf course that has been nationally recognized as one of the finest
public courses in Central Texas. This Dick Phelps-designed championship course is known for its meticulous
maintenance and accommodating staff that complement the fantastic course design to create the total golf
package.
Teravista, an 18-hole championship golf course was designed by Floridian George Clifton, and is considered one of the premier golf courses in Central Texas. Golfers at Teravista can enjoy the beauty of the hill country while enjoying a stimulating day of golf. Although Teravista has a challenging layout, the course was awarded the title of “Beginner Friendly Course” by National Golf Course Owners.
In addition to sports, Round Rock host scores of retailers offering everything from apparel to beauty products to home decor. We invite you to shop at anyone of our retail centers such as La Frontera, Round Rock Crossing, Boardwalk or at the quaint speciality shops right in the heart of historic
downtown. Round Rock has a broad collection of department stores and specialty shops. With the addition of IKEA and Round Rock Premium Outlets there is well over 400 stores and restaurants. Round Rock is becoming the place to shop.
Surround yourself with fashion, food, and baseball in the "Sports Capital of Texas". With a distinctive collection of shopping, dining and entertainment, it's no wonder that visitors from across Texas find it as one of their favorite suburban attractions.
Location: Located 15 miles north of downtown Austin, Round Rock is the best destination for leisure guests, groups, reunions, and business travelers.
Quality of Life: Round Rock has been named one of the top 10 best places to live in America. Money Magazine ranked Round Rock number seven on the list. The best place to live reflects a low cost of living, rising incomes and job growth.
- Round Rock continues to be one of the safest cities in the US, according to a national crime survey.
- In January 2007, the City of Round Rock was selected in a national competition as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People.
- The Austin-Round Rock area is ranked 4th on the list of 5-Star Public Schools Metros in the Expansion Management, 2007 Education Quotient.
- The Austin-Round Rock area is ranked 5th on the list of Best Cities for Relocating Families in the 2007 Worldwide ERC and Primary Relocation Report.
- The Austin-Round Rock Metro area is listed as one of the 50 hottest metros for business expansions and location according to a survey by Expansion Management magazine.
Business Overview: Located 15 minutes north of Austin, Round Rock is the premier location for economic development projects in Texas. Discover why Dell, Inc. and Toppan hotomasks have their corporate headquarters in Round Rock. Discover why baseball legend Nolan Ryan chose Round Rock for his AAA baseball club the Round Rock Express. Discover how the pro-business climate, highly educated workforce, supportive city government, outstanding schools and
excellent quality of life make Round Rock a profitable and dynamic business location.
Unlike other areas in the country, Round Rock has avoided crippling taxes that burden industrial development. In fact, Round Rock offers tax breaks for business interests, and the State of Texas has no corporate or personal income tax. Best of all, Round Rock has the lowest property taxes in the region.
Round Rock has actually lowered property taxes while expanding services to citizens and businesses. In fact, one half-cent of the municipal sales tax collected is dedicated to the reduction of property taxes. Residents and businesses pay the lowest combined average monthly utility cost in Central Texas and Round Rock has a property tax rate that is among the lowest of any medium or large city in the state. City services continue to earn a 91%
satisfaction rating among residents and business owners alike.
Round Rock has the proper infrastructure in place to work with local industries to determine the best package that can be offered for each project. This is done in a refined and expedited manner. On a case-by-case basis, Round Rock offers a variety of incentives, which could include tax abatement, foreign trade zone, reinvestment zone, and Freeport exemptions.
