Dancers perform for a big crowd during the 4th of July street parade in Round Rock Texas
City of Round Rock

No. 25

Round Rock, Texas

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County: Williamson
Nearest big city: Austin

Round Rock was named after a literal round rock in the 1800s — a stone that marked a safe place for wagons and cattle to cross Brushy Creek, which now runs through the town. These days, it’s got a population of nearly 125,000 people and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.

Located near Austin, Round Rock takes the No. 1 spot on our list for projected job growth through 2025. Savings on taxes may be, in part, why: Not only does Texas not charge corporate or personal income tax, but Round Rock itself also boasts low property taxes and tax breaks for businesses.

In addition to containing Dell’s headquarters and a bevy of rapidly expanding housing options, the city offers robust education opportunities. Round Rock has eight International Baccalaureate (IB) schools as well as regional campuses for colleges like Texas State University. After school, you’ll find teenagers packed around the wooden tables at Hoody’s, chowing down on cheesesteaks. — Julia Glum

Round Rock, Texas

  • Population

    124,697

  • Median Household Income

    $95,302

  • Median Home Price

    $314,258

  • Unemployment Rate

    5.2%

Sources: Population and median household income provided by Synergos Technologies Inc.; unemployment rate (by county) provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and median home price provided by ATTOM Data Solutions.

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