Austin Ranked No. 1 State Capital to Live in

Austin isn't just a good place to build. It also affords one of the best lifestyles of all capital cities in the country.

A new WalletHub ranking named Austin the No. 1 state capital to live in for 2026, comparing all 50 state capitals across 48 metrics including affordability, economic well-being, education, health, and quality of life.

The numbers explain why:

• No. 1 state capital to live in
• No. 1 for economic well-being
• No. 1 for education and health
• No. 2 for affordability
• No. 10 for quality of life
• $93,902 median household income adjusted for cost of living

Austin's super power is the combination of earning power, business formation, education, health, restaurants, attractions, and lifestyle that makes people want to stay.