Austin’s hyper‑growth party is still going (although a little more restrained than a few years ago), with the metro adding 29,000 jobs last year and projections calling for 3 million people by 2030, especially as housing affordability increases. Median list prices slid to $510,000 in March (‑7.2% year over year) while active listings rose 28% and new supply jumped 10%, giving buyers a rare breather. The skyline isn’t resting, however: the 66‑story Sixth & Guadalupe stacked 589,000 square feet of offices above 349 rentals in 2023, and the 1,022‑foot Waterline is halfway to its 2026 crown. Office vacancies are over 25%, but the city’s booming creative-media cluster is expected to help things this year, as should Austin’s #4-ranked Labor Force Participation and Top 10 Business Ecosystem (and #11 spot in our overall Prosperity index). Samsung’s $17-billion Taylor fab is now scheduled for 2026 mass production, while Tesla is doubling Gigafactory Texas for cheaper EVs and future robotaxis, and has filed plans for an adjacent 3.8‑mile riverfront “ecological paradise.” It can only help the city’s current Top 10 Nature & Parks spot. Austin’s buzzing airport (#31) handled 21.8 million passengers in 2024 and is working on much-needed light rail infrastructure.