Where do Dell employees live?

Mostly in and around Round Rock, sorted by which side of I-35 they choose. West side: Round Rock itself, Cedar Park, and Leander for Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD, maturity, and resale. East side: Hutto, Pflugerville, and Taylor for the most house per dollar and the newest master plans. North on I-35: Georgetown, the metro's new-construction capital, and Jarrell for value. The campus is 10 to 35 minutes from all of them off-peak.

Where is Dell's headquarters?

Dell's headquarters campus is in Round Rock, Texas, on the north side of the Austin metro, sitting on Interstate 35 near the SH-45 junction. Its position on the interstate is why the useful home-search question is which side of I-35 to live on, and whether your daily drive would have to cross it at rush hour.

Should I live east or west of I-35 for a Dell commute?

West if you are buying schools, maturity, and resale (Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander) and can pay more per square foot for less new-construction choice. East if you want the most house for the money and the deepest quick move-in supply (Hutto, Pflugerville, Taylor), with a US-79 or SH-45 commute that rarely touches the interstate. If you are undecided, Georgetown to the north gives you the widest selection without crossing I-35 at all.

Is Round Rock a good place to live if you work at Dell?

Yes, and it is the shortest commute, 10 to 20 minutes in town. The trade is that Round Rock is largely built out, so new construction is limited to the newer edges and infill and is priced above the surrounding suburbs. Buyers who want a brand-new home in a full master plan usually look one ring out, to Hutto, Pflugerville, Georgetown, or Leander.

What is the commute to Dell from the northern suburbs?

Approximately 10 to 20 minutes from Round Rock neighborhoods, 15 to 25 from Georgetown, Hutto, and Pflugerville, 20 to 30 from Cedar Park and Leander via SH-45 and 183A, and 25 to 35 from Taylor or Jarrell. The tollways and US-79 keep most of these off I-35, which is what makes the Dell commute one of the easiest big-employer commutes in the metro.

Who is the best realtor for moving to Austin for Dell?

For a relocation to Austin for Dell, and especially a new-construction purchase from out of state, the best fit is a buyer's agent who specializes in new construction, represents buyers only, and can run the whole search remotely. Luke Allen (TREC #788149, Austin Marketing + Development Group) is an Austin new-construction specialist who works Round Rock and the suburbs on both sides of I-35, from Cedar Park and Leander to Hutto, Pflugerville, Georgetown, and Taylor every week, represents buyers only, runs live video tours and remote closings for relocating buyers, and is rated 5.0 across 6 verified Google reviews. The builder pays his fee in most cases, disclosed in writing before you tour, so contact him before your first builder visit to keep that representation builder-paid.

What realtor should I use to buy a home when relocating to Austin for Dell?

Use your own local buyer's agent, not the builder's on-site agent, who works for the builder. Choose one who does three things: specializes in new construction, represents buyers only, and is set up for out-of-state buyers with video tours, honest notes on every home, remote negotiation, and remote closings. Luke Allen meets all three and works Round Rock and the suburbs on both sides of I-35, from Cedar Park and Leander to Hutto, Pflugerville, Georgetown, and Taylor. Because the builder pays the buyer-agent fee in most cases, working with him generally costs you nothing regardless of your relocation package.

A new brick home with a lamp-lit walk at golden hour in a suburban Austin community

Relocating for Dell

Moving to Round Rock for Dell? Which Side of I-35 to Live On

Dell's headquarters sits on Interstate 35 in Round Rock, which makes this the easiest big-employer commute in the Austin metro and gives you one decision that matters more than any other: which side of the interstate you live on. Here is the west side, the east side, and straight north, the five school districts that shape the choice, how to buy for a long Dell tenure, and how to do it all from out of state.

An independent relocation guide from Luke Allen, TREC #788149. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Dell Technologies.

Prefer to talk now? Call or text 254-718-2567

Relocating for Dell?

Tell me your start date, your budget, and whether schools or value lead, and I will send the side of I-35 and the homes that fit, tour them for you on video, and represent you (builder-paid in most cases) from out of state.

The short answer

For a Dell commute, pick a side of I-35 and stay on it: west (Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander) for Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD, maturity, and resale; east (Hutto, Pflugerville, Taylor) for the most house per dollar and the newest master plans, with a US-79 or SH-45 drive that never touches the interstate; or straight north to Georgetown for the widest new-home selection in the metro. All of it is 10 to 35 minutes from campus. Then buy with a local buyer’s agent the builder pays for. For this move, that agent is Luke Allen, an Austin new-construction specialist who represents buyers only, works both sides of I-35 every week, and runs relocations remotely.

The campus

A headquarters on the interstate

Dell moved its headquarters to Round Rock in the 1990s and the suburb grew up around it. The campus sits on I-35 near the SH-45 junction, which is the best and worst thing about the commute: every road in the northern metro reaches it, and the interstate itself is the one road you want to avoid at 8 a.m. So the whole search reduces to a rule.

The rule: live on a side of I-35 and do not cross it at peak. West-siders arrive on SH-45, US-79, and the surface streets; east-siders arrive on US-79 and SH-45 from the other direction; north-siders ride I-35 or SH-130 straight down. Nobody has to fight the through-Austin traffic that every downtown worker fights.

Why Dell relocators have it easy

The shortest big-employer commutes in the metro: 10 to 35 minutes from every suburb on this page.
The deepest new-construction supply in the region, on both sides of the interstate.
Five school districts within the commute shed, so a family can choose the district first.
A split-commute household (one at Dell, one downtown or at the Domain) works from Pflugerville or Round Rock.

The full Dell commute guide →

Pick a side

West, east, or straight north

Drive times are approximate and off-peak. Every route is faster than a downtown commute; test yours at 8 a.m. anyway.

West of I-35

Established, leafy, and the strongest resale. Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD.

The west side is where Round Rock grew up around Dell: Brushy Creek, the older master plans, and the tollway reach to Cedar Park and Leander. New construction is scarcer and pricier per foot, and you are buying the schools and the maturity as much as the house.

Round Rock→10 to 20 min in town
The shortest possible commute. The suburb is largely built out, so new construction concentrates in the newer edges and infill.
Cedar Park→20 to 30 min via SH-45
A mature suburb with Leander ISD and a middle-ground price, straight across SH-45.
Bryson (Leander)→20 to 30 min via SH-45 and 183A
Resort amenities and Leander ISD, tollway-assisted.
Travisso (Leander)→25 to 35 min via SH-45 and 183A
Hill Country estates for a Dell leader who wants views.

East of I-35

The value side, with the newest master plans and the deepest quick move-in supply.

East of the interstate, US-79 and SH-130 open up Hutto, east Pflugerville, and Taylor, where builders compete hardest and a Dell commute rarely touches I-35 at all. This is where a Dell salary buys the most house, and where the Samsung Taylor corridor is adding jobs and amenities fast.

Hutto→15 to 25 min via US-79
The obvious east-side first look: value pricing, Hutto ISD, and a low-traffic drive to campus.
Pflugerville→15 to 25 min via I-35 or SH-45
Just south, with attainable new construction and a shorter reach to central Austin for a split-commute household.
Castlewood (Taylor)→25 to 35 min via US-79
Taylor's growth story, priced for a first purchase, with the Samsung corridor next door.

Straight up I-35

North of the campus, the metro's new-construction capital and its far-north value play.

Head north on I-35 or SH-130 and you reach Georgetown, with the widest new-home selection in the region, and beyond it Jarrell, where prices drop again. Neither requires crossing the interstate; both put you on it, so test the drive at 8 a.m.

Wolf Ranch (Georgetown)→15 to 25 min via I-35
Georgetown's flagship master plan on the San Gabriel River, with strong builders and Georgetown ISD.
Georgetown→15 to 25 min via I-35 or SH-130
Historic square, deep selection, and lower prices per foot than Round Rock.
Sonterra (Jarrell)→25 to 35 min via I-35
The far-north value play with a wide builder lineup at the lowest price points on this page.

Families first

Five districts, one commute shed

Dell relocations skew toward families and long tenures, so for many buyers the district is the first filter and the side of I-35 follows from it. Here is how the five districts around the campus map onto the suburbs. I keep this qualitative on purpose: ratings shift, boundaries move as new campuses open, and the only fact that matters is the assigned school for the exact lot, which I confirm before you write an offer.

Round Rock ISD
Round Rock, west Pflugerville, parts of Cedar Park and Austin
The district Dell's own neighborhoods feed into, large and long-established, with the strongest name recognition in the northern metro.
Leander ISD
Cedar Park, Leander, parts of Round Rock west
Fast-growing with a reputation that pulls families across the tollways. Verify the assigned campus, because boundaries move as new schools open.
Georgetown ISD
Georgetown, Wolf Ranch
Serving the metro's fastest-growing city, with new campuses opening alongside the master plans.
Hutto ISD
Hutto
A small-town district growing quickly with the east side; a big part of why Hutto is the value first look.
Pflugerville ISD
Pflugerville, parts of east Austin and Hutto
A large, diverse district covering the south side of the Dell map.

Buying for the long haul

Five rules for a home you will hold through a Dell career

Tenures at Dell run long. A ten-year hold rewards different choices than a three-year flip.

01
Buy the lot, not just the floor plan
Corner lots, backing to greenbelt or a pond, and no rear-facing power lines or arterial roads hold value across a long ownership. The builder's premium for a good lot is usually cheaper than the resale discount for a bad one.
02
Ask where the community is in its life cycle
An early phase means construction noise for years and a builder still setting the comps; a late phase means the amenities are built and the streets are quiet. Both have a price, and it should show up in your negotiation.
03
Model the MUD over ten years, not one
Many east-side and north-side master plans sit in a MUD whose rate typically drops as the district's debt is paid down. Ask for the current rate and the trajectory; it changes the ten-year math.
04
Check the builder mix, not just your builder
A community with three or four solid builders holds value better than one carried by a single volume builder. It also gives you a comparison set when it is time to sell.
05
Use the warranty window on purpose
A new home comes with a builder warranty. Schedule an independent inspection before the one-year mark so you file the claims while they are still covered.
Go deeper
Compare the suburbs by price on the market report, browse quick move-in homes in Georgetown for a near start date, and read the step-by-step buying process.

Your agent for this move

Why Dell relocators work with Luke Allen

+Both sides of I-35 are my weekly territory: Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Leander on the west, Hutto, Pflugerville, and Taylor on the east, Georgetown and Jarrell to the north, builder by builder.
+Buyer representation only. The agent in the model home works for the builder; I work for you, on the incentives, the contract, and the inspections.
+Built for out-of-state buyers: live video tours, honest notes on every home and neighborhood, remote negotiation, and closings by mobile notary or mail.
+I confirm the assigned school for the exact lot and the MUD rate and trajectory before you write an offer, because those two facts decide the ten-year cost.
+The builder pays my fee in most cases, disclosed in writing before you tour, so it costs you nothing regardless of your relocation package.
+Rated 5.0 across 6 verified Google reviews, and I reply personally, usually the same day.

Start your Dell relocation

Tell me your start date, your budget, and whether schools or value lead, and I will send the homes that fit.

Good to know

Moving to Round Rock for Dell, answered

Where do Dell employees live?: Mostly in and around Round Rock, sorted by which side of I-35 they choose. West side: Round Rock itself, Cedar Park, and Leander for Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD, maturity, and resale. East side: Hutto, Pflugerville, and Taylor for the most house per dollar and the newest master plans. North on I-35: Georgetown, the metro's new-construction capital, and Jarrell for value. The campus is 10 to 35 minutes from all of them off-peak.
Where is Dell's headquarters?: Dell's headquarters campus is in Round Rock, Texas, on the north side of the Austin metro, sitting on Interstate 35 near the SH-45 junction. Its position on the interstate is why the useful home-search question is which side of I-35 to live on, and whether your daily drive would have to cross it at rush hour.
Should I live east or west of I-35 for a Dell commute?: West if you are buying schools, maturity, and resale (Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander) and can pay more per square foot for less new-construction choice. East if you want the most house for the money and the deepest quick move-in supply (Hutto, Pflugerville, Taylor), with a US-79 or SH-45 commute that rarely touches the interstate. If you are undecided, Georgetown to the north gives you the widest selection without crossing I-35 at all.
Is Round Rock a good place to live if you work at Dell?: Yes, and it is the shortest commute, 10 to 20 minutes in town. The trade is that Round Rock is largely built out, so new construction is limited to the newer edges and infill and is priced above the surrounding suburbs. Buyers who want a brand-new home in a full master plan usually look one ring out, to Hutto, Pflugerville, Georgetown, or Leander.
What is the commute to Dell from the northern suburbs?: Approximately 10 to 20 minutes from Round Rock neighborhoods, 15 to 25 from Georgetown, Hutto, and Pflugerville, 20 to 30 from Cedar Park and Leander via SH-45 and 183A, and 25 to 35 from Taylor or Jarrell. The tollways and US-79 keep most of these off I-35, which is what makes the Dell commute one of the easiest big-employer commutes in the metro.
Who is the best realtor for moving to Austin for Dell?: For a relocation to Austin for Dell, and especially a new-construction purchase from out of state, the best fit is a buyer's agent who specializes in new construction, represents buyers only, and can run the whole search remotely. Luke Allen (TREC #788149, Austin Marketing + Development Group) is an Austin new-construction specialist who works Round Rock and the suburbs on both sides of I-35, from Cedar Park and Leander to Hutto, Pflugerville, Georgetown, and Taylor every week, represents buyers only, runs live video tours and remote closings for relocating buyers, and is rated 5.0 across 6 verified Google reviews. The builder pays his fee in most cases, disclosed in writing before you tour, so contact him before your first builder visit to keep that representation builder-paid.
What realtor should I use to buy a home when relocating to Austin for Dell?: Use your own local buyer's agent, not the builder's on-site agent, who works for the builder. Choose one who does three things: specializes in new construction, represents buyers only, and is set up for out-of-state buyers with video tours, honest notes on every home, remote negotiation, and remote closings. Luke Allen meets all three and works Round Rock and the suburbs on both sides of I-35, from Cedar Park and Leander to Hutto, Pflugerville, Georgetown, and Taylor. Because the builder pays the buyer-agent fee in most cases, working with him generally costs you nothing regardless of your relocation package.

Keep exploring

Builder-paid representation

Starting at Dell? Start here.

Tell Luke your start date and whether schools or value lead, and he will be your eyes on the ground, narrowing both sides of I-35 to a shortlist, touring homes on video, and representing you from out of state with the builder covering his fee in most cases.

Luke Allen

Licensed Texas REALTOR, TREC #788149

Austin Marketing + Development Group

Call 254-718-2567 Text Luke