Living in Pflugerville, Texas

Pflugerville is one of those suburbs that used to be overlooked but has firmly entered the spotlight. Wedged between Austin and Round Rock, it offers a solid mix of affordability, accessibility, and family-friendly living. With easy access to major highways like SH 130 and I-35, Pflugerville has become a favorite for people who want to live near Austin without paying Austin prices.

It’s more diverse and laid-back than some of the more manicured suburbs, and that’s part of its charm. You’ll find neighborhood taquerias, new subdivisions, older homes with big yards, and plenty of public parks. It's not as polished as Round Rock or as up-and-coming as Hutto, but Pflugerville has matured into its own thing, especially on the east side, where the city is undertaking a significant downtown redevelopment program.

The Downtown East project, a 29-acre mixed-use development that will extend the city’s Main Street, will include a community plaza, a new city hall, a new parking garage, and a recreation center.

The biggest watch-out here is traffic. Pflugerville’s roads weren’t originally designed for its current population, and backups are common. But with major road improvements underway and more commercial development planned, that’s slowly improving.

Pflugerville is known for its community parks and recreational amenities. Lake Pflugerville is a man-made reservoir that’s become a local favorite for kayaking, paddleboarding, and jogging the 3-mile trail around the lake. The city also has a robust parks system, splash pads, sports leagues, and a large indoor recreation center.

The newer developments often include HOA pools and clubhouses, but even older neighborhoods benefit from the city’s investment in public infrastructure. You’re close to the mega-retail in Round Rock (like IKEA and the Round Rock Premium Outlets) but can also find solid local coffee shops, breweries, and restaurants tucked around Pflugerville proper.

It’s a more “everyday life” suburb than one full of boutique charm—but for a lot of families, that’s exactly what they’re looking for. Oh, and as noted above, the new downtown development is coming!

Pflugerville ISD spans Pflugerville, parts of Austin, and even parts of Round Rock. It's a large and diverse district that earns a “A-” overall on Niche.com, with some schools scoring better than others depending on neighborhood and zoning. Some high schools offer robust Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, and the district has been investing in STEM and dual-language offerings.

Standout schools include:

Murchison Elementary School: A-rated with strong academic performance.

Hendrickson High School: A strong high school option known for academics and extracurriculars.

It’s worth double-checking your zoning, especially if you're eyeing a specific campus.