BY BROOKE SJOBERG
A closer look
What does it mean to be cost-burdened? According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, households become cost-burdened when they pay more than 30% of their total income on housing costs. The median annual income for a family of four in the Austin metro area is $133,800. Money available for housing before becoming cost burdened Median annual income for family of four
The city of Round Rock’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan outlines a goal to diversify housing types, including the built-to-rent model, to meet the com- munity’s needs with homes at various price points. Households become cost-burdened when more than 30% of income is spent on rent, mortgage pay- ments and other housing costs, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In the Austin metro, the area median annual income in 2025 is $133,800 for a four-person household. Missing middle housing types can provide an a ordable option, a spokesperson for Platform Ventures, the developer for Caso University Heights, told Community Impact. “With the rising cost of homeownership, espe- cially for rst-time buyers, there is a growing need for high-quality rental housing that still feels like home,” the spokesperson said. “Caso University Heights o ers the space and privacy people want, without long-term nancial commitment.”
Missing middle In 2024, 8.2% of Round Rock housing was missing middle—all single-family, attached homes or townhouses, such as The Depot. Single-family, attached Single dwellings that share one or more walls Townhouse Three or more units sharing one or more walls Live-work Living units on upper level, retail at street level Courtyard buildings Apartments oriented around a central courtyard
$150K
$133,800
$120K
$104,200
$90K
$80,280
$60K
$40,140
$31,260
$30K
$24,084
$0
60%
80%
100%
2025
SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: CITY OF ROUND ROCK COMMUNITY IMPACT
Looking forward
A spokesperson for Platform Ventures con rmed the developer is also exploring additional developments in the area. “We currently have two additional projects in Williamson County and are continuing to explore additional sites around the area for future developments,” the spokesperson said.
expensive. It is, but it’s there for a reason.” In today’s market, Graham said she’s seen sellers o er interest rate buydowns and to cover closing costs to entice buyers. If these conditions persist, Dushkin suggested there might be increased interest in providing more missing middle-type housing.
Graham said she expects the local housing market to stabilize in the coming months, as the Federal Reserve keeps interest rates higher to reduce in ation. “I know a lot of people have this fear that, ‘Oh my gosh, the economy is crashing,’” Graham said. “There’s so much in ation—everything is so
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