Austin vs Seattle
Two markets on the list for people leaving LA. Here's how they stack up on price, pace and taxes, measured against what a typical LA home sells for.
| Austin, TX | Seattle, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $570K | $901K |
| Median single-family | $600K | $1.17M |
| Median condo | $365K | $503K |
| Median $/sq ft | $316 | $571 |
| Median days on market | 47 | 11 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 97.7% | 100.8% |
| Sq ft for $1M (at median $/sq ft) | 3,160 | 1,750 |
| Californians who moved to the state (2024) | 77,161 | 43,938 |
Redfin Data Center, May 2026, all residential unless noted. Typical LA County zip for reference: $904K median, $588/sq ft, 44 median days on market. Mover counts: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024, estimates with margins of error.
The short version
Austin is the less expensive of the two at the median, about $570K versus $901K in Seattle, roughly 37% less (Redfin, May 2026). $1 million covers roughly 3,160 square feet in Austin at the median price per square foot, versus about 1,750 in Seattle. Seattle homes have been moving faster, 11 median days on market versus 47 in Austin. Neither state taxes wage income, so the tax comparison comes down to property tax, insurance and sales tax on a specific home. In 2024 about 77,000 Californians moved to Texas and about 44,000 to Washington (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024).
Taxes
Austin: None on wages (Texas has no personal income tax). Seattle: None on wages (Washington has no personal income tax on wages). Property tax, insurance and HOA costs vary by address in both places and can matter as much as income tax, so price them for any specific home.
Go deeper
Read the full guides: moving from LA to Austin and moving from LA to Seattle.
Common questions
Is Austin or Seattle cheaper?
Austin had the lower median sale price, about $570K versus $901K in Seattle (Redfin, May 2026), roughly 37% less at the median.
Which has lower state income tax, Austin or Seattle?
Neither state taxes wage income. Texas has no personal income tax. Washington has no personal income tax on wages. Property tax, insurance and sales tax make the difference here. Rates change, so confirm with each state and a CPA.
What does $1 million buy in Austin vs Seattle?
At the median price per square foot, $1 million works out to roughly 3,160 square feet in Austin and 1,750 in Seattle, versus about 1,700 at the LA median. A rough illustration, not a listing.
