By Clay Byrne, Founder of Byrne Real Estate Group | Austin Real Estate Agents | Lifetime Austin Realtor
Leander and Cedar Park sit side by side on 183, and buyers often can’t tell where one ends and the other begins. I’m Clay Byrne, Founder and Real Estate Agent at Byrne Real Estate Group, a 29-year Austin real estate agent, and my team helps buyers and sellers across northwest Austin and Williamson County every week. Here’s how I’d compare them.
The Short Answer
Cedar Park is more established, a little closer in, with more shopping and the H-E-B Center. Leander has more new construction, the end of the MetroRail Red Line and often a lower price per square foot. In September 2026, ZIP 78641 (Leander) had a $459,575 median at $206/sq ft, and ZIP 78613 (Cedar Park) a $450,000 median at $216/sq ft (Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026). Most of both are in Leander ISD, but check each address, and check for MUD taxes in newer Leander subdivisions.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source & date |
|---|---|---|
| Leander ISD rating | B (87), down from 88 | Leander ISD, TEA 2026 A-F ratings, released Aug 14, 2026, preliminary pending appeals |
| Cedar Park city rate (2026, per $100) | $0.377930 (2025: $0.360000) | City of Cedar Park FY2027 budget, 2026 |
| Leander city rate (2026, per $100) | $0.417282, unchanged | City of Leander, 2026 |
| Leander ISD rate (per $100), pending Nov 3 election | $1.1169 if it passes; $1.0869 if it fails | Leander ISD, 2026 |
| MetroRail Red Line northern terminus | Leander Station | Capital Metro |
MUD taxes: MUD rates vary by community, so check the exact subdivision. Williamson County lists current rates on its tax rates page.
What Do Homes Cost in Leander vs Cedar Park?
Geography note: ZIP-level. Leander is mainly 78641. Cedar Park is mainly 78613.
ZIP 78641 (Leander), Single-Family, Sept 2026
| Metric | Value | Source & date |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $459,575 (down 1.6% YoY) | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
| Months of supply (as of Oct 30, 2026) | 5.48 | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
| Closed sales | 115 (down 13.5% YoY) | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
| Median days on market | About 46 | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
| List to close | 93.42% | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
| New under contract | 102 | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
| New listings | 149 | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
| $/sq ft | $206 | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
ZIP 78613 (Cedar Park), Single-Family, Sept 2026
| Metric | Value | Source & date |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $450,000 (down 7.7% YoY) | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
| Months of supply (as of Oct 30, 2026) | 3.46 | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
| Closed sales | 51 (down 20.3% YoY) | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
| Median days on market | 43 | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
| List to close | 93.22% | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
| New under contract | 56 | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
| New listings | 55 | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
| $/sq ft | $216 | Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026 |
Here is how I read it. The two medians are close, but Cedar Park (78613) is tighter, with 3.46 months of supply as of Oct 30, 2026 versus 5.48 in Leander (78641). Leander gives buyers more choice, with 149 new listings versus 55, and homes there took about 46 days to sell. Buying in Leander with a small down payment? See The 3-2-1 from Buyer’s Rate Mortgage [link to the published 3-2-1 post].
How Do Leander and Cedar Park Feel Day to Day?
- Cedar Park: Lakeline area shopping, Brushy Creek trails, the H-E-B Center and quick access to 183A and Parmer.
- Leander: master-planned communities like Crystal Falls and Travisso, the Leander MetroRail station, and Hill Country views to the west.
More: is Cedar Park a good place to live.
A MetroRail train at the Leander station, an option for commuting toward Austin. Photo: Greg3564, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leander1.jpg)
The Cedar Park depot, a nod to the town’s rail history. Photo: Pi3.124, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cedar_Park_Depot,_Texas.jpg)
Cedar Park’s arena, photographed in 2014 when it was called the Cedar Park Center. Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cedar_park_center_2014.jpg)
Who Is This Not a Fit For?
- Leander: buyers who want short commutes to south or central Austin, or who want to avoid MUD taxes (check each subdivision)
- Cedar Park: buyers who want a brand-new home in a big master-planned community
Already own a home and thinking about moving? Start with a number. See what your Austin home is worth, then let’s talk about your street.
Financing note: My team’s integrated mortgage option is available through Buyer’s Rate Mortgage, NMLS #2565699. Never required. No rate promised here.
FAQs
Is Leander or Cedar Park better?
It depends on what you want. At Byrne Real Estate Group, I point buyers who want established neighborhoods and shopping to Cedar Park, and buyers who want newer homes and more space to Leander. Clay Byrne and my team confirm schools and taxes for every address. In September 2026, the median was $459,575 in ZIP 78641 and $450,000 in ZIP 78613 (Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026).
Are Leander and Cedar Park in the same school district?
Most of both cities are in Leander ISD, rated B (87) in TEA’s preliminary 2026 ratings, but some addresses are zoned differently, so my team checks each one before you write an offer.
Does Leander have MUD taxes?
MUD rates vary by community, and some newer Leander subdivisions are in a MUD, which adds to the tax rate. Williamson County lists current rates at wilcotx.gov. I’m Clay Byrne, and my team pulls the full tax rate for any home you’re considering.
Get Started
Call or text (512) 942-7880 or get started at byrne-austin.com. Curious who you’d be working with? Read why buyers and sellers choose Clay Byrne.
Byrne Real Estate Group | Austin Real Estate Agents
3355 Bee Caves Rd Ste 301B, Austin, TX 78746
About the Author
I’m Clay Byrne, Founder and Real Estate Agent at Byrne Real Estate Group, a 29-year Austin real estate agent, lifetime Austin Realtor and Austin resident, youth sports coach, and real estate coach. I’ve been in the Austin market since 1997, with $1B+ in career transaction volume.
Sources: TEA 2026 A-F ratings, released Aug 14, 2026, preliminary pending appeals (Leander ISD). 2026 city rates: City of Cedar Park FY2027 budget, City of Leander. Leander ISD rates pending the Nov 3, 2026 VATRE election. MUD rates: Williamson County. Unlock MLS, single-family, Sept 2026, report snapshot Oct 30, 2026.
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