Austin, TX
Cities to watch in 2024: This Texas hub is attracting more homebuyers than Austin and Dallas with its affordability and jobs
Anna Lagos, 38, moved to Texas from California in 2014 with her husband and two children, joining her parents and most of her siblings who had already relocated to the state.
Lagos, a realtor, believed that Texas would offer her family a better chance at realizing the homeownership component of the often expensive American dream.
“The opportunities were much greater for us in Texas than they were in California,” Lagos told Business Insider. “We always wanted to own a home. It was pretty evident that we’d have to work for many years before we’d be able to purchase one in California.”
During the early years after their move, Lagos and her husband lived in San Antonio and Austin. However, in 2021, driven by a desire for greater affordability and to be even closer to her parents, who had already established themselves in New Braunfels, the couple moved to the small city in Central Texas.
Courtesy of Anna Lagos
Lagos, who bought a 2,700-square-foot home for $325,000 in New Braunfels, said she fell in love with its “small-town” charm.
“I wouldn’t say that it is a small town anymore, but somehow it still manages to retain the feeling of a small town,” she said, adding it’s one of those places ” you won’t find anywhere else.”
Over the past few years, hundreds of thousands of people have moved to the Lone Star state, drawn by its affordable housing, political environment, and abundant job opportunities. According to Census Bureau data, Texas welcomed 670,000 new residents between 2021 and 2022, ranking second to Florida.
While big cities like Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio have traditionally been real estate hotspots, recent Census estimates from 2020 to mid-2022 show that smaller places, such as New Braunfels and Katy, have experienced significant population growth, while their larger counterparts have seen minimal growth — or in some cases, population declines. It’s a trend that may persist as Americans continue to reassess notions of affordability and community.
BI interviewed homebuyers and real estate agents to explore the factors contributing to New Braunfels’ rising popularity. Residents said its rich German heritage, tight-knit community, rapidly expanding business sector, and affordable real estate market have made it an ideal place to raise a family and settle down.
One of the fastest-growing cities in America
New Braunfels has emerged as one of the fastest-growing cities in the US. Census data shows that its population has surged by over 15% since 2020. As of July 2022, the city’s population has reached 104,707.
Its growth is as remarkable as its origin story: Evolving from a humble settlement founded by a German prince to a thriving and rapidly expanding city.
In 1844, Prince Carl of Soms–Braunfels, a German prince and military officer, was appointed the commissioner of the Adelsverein, a group of aristocrats united with the singular aim of creating a “new Germany” on Texan soil.
Although New Germany was never realized, the colony succeeded, and to this day, New Braunfels retains much of its German heritage.
Erich Schlegel/Getty Images
The city, which is home to the famous Schlitterbahn Waterpark, hosts the annual Wurstfest celebration — a 10-day German cultural festival dedicated to sausages and Oktoberfest. Drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees from around the world, it has become an internationally famous event.
The city’s economy and job sector are booming
New Braunfels’ economy is growing rapidly alongside its population. A 2023 report from the New Braunfels Economic Development Foundation shows that the city’s gross regional product — a measure of an area’s economy — reached $2.8 billion in 2021, nearly double the amount from a decade earlier.
The EDC also reports that since 2003 the city has created 16,434 new jobs. In 2022, New Braunfels welcomed a $110 million automotive manufacturing plant by Continental, a tech company serving major car manufacturers like Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota, Porsche, which will create more than 500 new jobs. Additionally, business outsourcing company TaskUs increased its operations in the city, adding 750 new positions.
“When I was growing up here, you worked at the mill, or you worked for local government, and there were ancillary jobs to those, but there weren’t many opportunities for employment,” Mayor Neal Linnartz, told the San Antonio Express News in July. “Nowadays, there are so many opportunities that when kids get out of school, they don’t have to leave New Braunfels to find good employment. We have good jobs here.”
According to the Texas Economic Development Corporation, key industries in New Braunfels encompass financial services, information technology, aerospace, and aviation, as well as military and tourism.
The homes are attractive to homebuyers
According to software data company Payscale, the cost of living in New Braunfels is 15% below the national average. [is this for 2022?]
Easton Smith, the founder of the Emerald Haus Group with Keller Williams, moved from Oxnard, California, to New Braunfels in 2016. He told BI that the area’s affordability is really what’s winning people over.
“What I can speak of, on behalf of our clients and ourselves, is that the affordability here is greater,” he said. “What you’ll find is people want to come here and spend less and have more freedom.”
Regan Bender/Shutterstock
Take Janelle Crossan, a 44-year-old single mother who moved to New Braunfels in 2020 for a fresh start with her son.
Having faced financial challenges as a divorcée in Mesa, California, she sought an affordable place to buy a home and a stable environment for her family. After moving to the city, she purchased her first home for $240,000.
“I paid $1,750 for rent in a crappy little apartment in California,” Crossan told BI’sErin Snodgrass earlier this year. “Now, three years later, my whole payment, including mortgage and property taxes, is $1,800 a month for my three-bedroom house.”
The city is experiencing growing pains
Crossan told BI she’s been amazed by New Braunfels’ growth since moving there in 2020 but believes that the expansion has strained the local infrastructure.
“We have construction everywhere,” she said. “I really can’t complain because I’m one of the people who are helping the area grow bigger, but there’s so much traffic.”
Doney Cowey, a realtor with Keller Williams who moved to New Braunfels 32 years ago, told BI that the city’s growth is pushing some locals out.
“At the time I moved here, the town had a population of 19,000,” Cowey said. “The dynamics have changed now that we have at least 100,000 people in the surrounding area. We get people that are moving here because it’s a small town and we also have people moving away because it’s gotten too big.”
Lagos, who now runs a Facebook group for newcomers moving to New Braunfels said there has been some tension between locals and transplants.
“A lot of people, especially those that grew up here, feel like all the people coming in have ruined the small town that they were used to and have driven up prices,” she said. “A lot of them are priced out of their homes right now, unfortunately.”
Courtesy of Janelle Crossan
Despite the tension, Crossan remains optimistic about New Braunfels, emphasizing its safe and ideal place to live.
“It still has, I hate to say, but the American dream, in a timeframe when people feel like they can’t afford to buy houses and don’t have the same privileges of older generations,” she said. “This is an affordable, fun, cute, nice place to raise kids. I didn’t think that still existed anymore.”
From street fairs to cultural celebrations, Austin is packed with action this weekend! Check out the best local spots for free food, live music, and family fun. FOX 7 Austin’s Amanda Salinas shares the details all in the FOX 7 Weekend.
Austin, TX
Austin Shower Glass Expands Custom Shower Glass Services to Meet Growing Demand in Austin, TX
AUSTIN, TX – April 30, 2026 – As residential design trends continue to evolve across Austin, homeowners are placing greater emphasis on modern, functional bathroom spaces. Austin Shower Glass is responding to this shift by expanding its custom shower glass services to support increasing demand for tailored, design-focused glass installations throughout the region.
The growing preference for clean, open bathroom layouts has led to a rise in demand for frameless and custom shower glass solutions. Austin Shower Glass operates within this evolving market by providing installations designed to enhance both visual appeal and everyday usability. The company’s approach aligns with broader industry trends that prioritize minimalism, natural light, and efficient use of space.
As more homeowners in Austin and surrounding areas invest in bathroom upgrades, custom shower glass has become a central feature in modern remodeling projects. Rather than relying on standard designs, many homeowners are choosing solutions that are measured and fabricated specifically for their spaces, allowing for greater flexibility and a more refined finish.
Within this context, Austin Shower Glass offers services that include custom shower glass installation, shower glass replacement, and tailored glass solutions for a wide range of bathroom layouts. Each project is approached with attention to detail, focusing on precise measurements, secure installation, and long-term performance.
“Homeowners today are prioritizing both design and functionality when upgrading their bathrooms,” said a company representative. “Custom shower glass allows for a more personalized solution that enhances the overall feel of the space while supporting daily use.”
Austin’s continued population growth and ongoing residential development have contributed to increased demand for modern interior upgrades, including custom glass installations. Austin Shower Glass serves this demand by delivering professional shower glass solutions tailored to the needs of homeowners across the area.
For more information about custom shower glass services in Austin, TX, visit https://austinshowerglass.com/ or click here to get directions.
About Austin Shower Glass
Austin Shower Glass is an Austin, Texas-based company specializing in custom shower glass installation, shower glass replacement, and modern glass solutions for residential spaces. The company focuses on delivering high-quality, precision-based installations designed to enhance both functionality and design.
Media Contact
Company Name: Austin Shower Glass
Contact Person: Stefan F.
Email: Send Email
Phone: +17374653141
Address:12600 Hill Country Blvd R-275
City: Bee Cave
State: Texas
Country: United States
Website: https://austinshowerglass.com/
AUSTIN, Texas — Camp Mystic on Thursday halted plans to reopen this summer on the Texas river where floodwaters killed 25 girls and two teenage counselors, backing down in the face of outraged families and investigations that accused the all-girls Christian camp of dangerous safety and operational deficiencies.
The decision, a striking reversal of the camp owners’ determination to reopen, follows weeks of testimony in court hearings and legislative investigations. Those hearings laid bare the camp’s lack of detailed planning for a flood emergency, reliance on poorly trained staff and missed chances for an evacuation that came too late as floodwaters ripped through the camp over the July 4 weekend last year.
“We never imagined a world without our daughters, and no decision made now can change that,” Matthew Childress, father of 18-year-old counselor Chloe Childress who died, said in a statement.
The camp’s owner, Dick Eastland, also died in the flooding.
“No administrative process or summer season should move forward while families continue to grieve, while investigations continue and while so many Texans still carry the pain of last July’s tragedy,” Camp Mystic said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed Thursday that the camp has withdrawn its application.
The decision was praised by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who opposed the camp’s reopening while investigations were ongoing.
“I am thankful to hear that, today, the Eastland family withdrew their application,” Patrick said in a statement. “Given the tragic circumstances, this is the correct decision to protect Texas campers and to allow time for all investigations to be completed.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has not weighed in publicly on whether the camp should reopen, noted in a statement Thursday that the result of ongoing investigations into Camp Mystic by the Department of State Health Services and the Texas Rangers “will be made public as soon as possible.”
The families of the victims packed the court and legislative hearings, often wearing “Heaven’s 27” pins with photographs of their daughters. They listened to the details of missed flood warning signs, the descriptions of the flood and the decision to leave the girls in their cabins until it was too late. The testimony included video of the raging floodwaters as a girl repeatedly screamed for “help!” somewhere in the distance.
Edward Eastland, one of the camp directors and a member of the Eastland family that owns and operates the 100-year-old camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River, offered a tearful public apology to the victims’ families on Tuesday.
“We tried our hardest that night. It wasn’t enough to save your daughters,” Eastland said, with the victims’ families sitting behind him. “I’m so sorry.”
Still, Camp Mystic seemed determined to reopen. Camp officials invited journalists and lawmakers to review safety improvements at the camp, promised that no camp activities would take place in the low-lying area that was devastated and impressed that hundreds of families wanted to return, underscoring how special a place it was for generations of Texans.
A least 850 campers signed up to return this year. Reports that so many families were prepared to send their daughters back this summer caused divisions within the close-knit community of Mystic alumni.
All told, the destructive flooding killed at least 136 people along a several-mile stretch of the river, raising questions about how things went so terribly wrong.
Texas health regulators have said they are investigating hundreds of complaints against the camp’s owners. The Texas Rangers are also looking into allegations of neglect, according to the Texas Department of Safety, although the scope of the state’s elite investigations unit was not immediately clear.
The camp, established in 1926, did not evacuate as the storm rolled in and was hit hard when the river rose from 14 feet to 29.5 feet within 60 minutes.
Vertuno and Murphy write for the Associated Press. Murphy reported from Oklahoma City.
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