The Austin-Round Rock metro area is ranked No. 5 in the United States among the Best Cities for Relocating Families, according to a national study (PDF).

Best Cities for Relocating Families, conducted by Primacy and Worldwide ERC®, focuses on the ease with which a family can move to a new city and settle into a new life. Utilizing current data on the 150 most populous metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and encompassing nearly 50 factors important to relocating families, the report provides businesses, families, and the national media with one convenient resource for detailed information. The study is conducted in collaboration with Bert Sperling’s BestPlaces.

This year’s report puts increased emphasis on the real estate market, which is currently one of the most significant issues in relocation.

Key criteria include:

• Home prices
• Indexed home affordability
• Appreciation rates
• Property taxes
• Rent costs

At the same time, Primacy and Worldwide ERC® have continued to enhance and expand analysis of economic, educational, quality of life, and climate factors. New categories for 2007 include recreation and leisure, arts and culture, air quality, watershed quality, sales tax, unemployment rates, job growth, area educational levels, school expenditures per student, students in public school, SAT/ACT percentile, and population growth.

The final rankings represent one of the most sophisticated comparative research studies available on how location affects a family’s relocation success.