State of Austin
Why Study Our City?
At the beginning of 2025, when the Greater Austin Mission Society was simply an idea, we focused on the exercise of “thinking like missionaries” in this city. While there are many mission strategies, one prevalent exercise that is often commended is called Asset Mapping as someone enters a new context. We decided to see what kind of information would be publicly available to gain insight into God’s activity in the Greater Austin area over time.
Simply put, we wanted to understand what was before we set out by faith to build what may be. And as we chart a course for the future, we’re committed to being Spirit-led and data-informed.
The following data is without commentary, but you can find our perspective in the expanded report below.
Data Sources
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A demographic data summary can provide a statistical snapshot of a population's characteristics, including key attributes like age, gender, ethnicity, income, education, and employment status.
The summary helps understand community needs, identify trends, and inform decision-making for various sectors, from government policy to business strategy. We utilize the United States Census Bureau ACS 5 Year Estimates data sets.
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Geographic, theological, and denominational data provides insight into potential partnerships that can emerge in a city for the sake of the gospel.
Additionally, having a visualization of this information can help understand the gaps in the kingdom ecosystem. We utilize data specific to Austin and collected and evaluated by the Greater Austin Mission Society.
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Organizations like Barna Research and the Pew Research Center regularly provide data insight into spiritual trends, including religious identification, church participation, spiritual practices, and worldview formation.
They also provide localized data, and this study references information specific to the Greater Austin area, which we track over time.
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Data can certainly provide rich insight, but it sits on top of history, stories, and human experience. Over time, this research will enrich data insights through the history of God’s activity and interviews with kingdom leaders, saints, and additional perspective.
Basic Demographic Overview
Population Growth Over Time
Between 2008 and 2023, the Austin/Round Rock/San Marcos Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) experienced a growth rate of more than 50%, which has had profound implications. Since 2000, the MSA has approximately doubled in population.
Ethnographic Distribution - 2013
Ethnographic Distribution - 2023
From 2013 to 2023, the ethnographic distribution of Austin saw declines in the White, Black or African American, and American Indian or Alaska Native groups, while seeing an increase in Asian, Native Hawaiian, Hispanic or Latino, or multiple races.
Ethnographic Change - 2013 to 2023
Church and Ministry Data
Church Denominational Affiliation
The above data is based on analyzing the publicly available information from reviewing individual church websites by the Greater Austin Mission Society. It is subject to error, but sufficiently accurate to reflect the overall distribution of church affiliation.
Churches and Population per Census County Division
The above data is based on the Greater Austin Mission Society church study and US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates for 2023. With respect to gospel saturation, there is no standard of measurement, but Tim Keller suggested the following in Center Church:
When we have 1 church per 10,000 people, approximately 1% of the given population attends
When we have 1 church per 1,000 people, approximately 15-20% of the given population attends
When we have 1 church per 500 people, over 40% of the population attends
Churches in the Greater Austin MSA
*Special thanks to Scott Sperling for developing the tool above….it’s best viewed on a desktop! If you’d like access to the data, please email info@missionatx.org.
Spiritual Data
Religious Identification Categories - 2024
The above data is based on survey participants self-identifying alone, and is not related to practices of that person relative to their selected religious category.
Practicing Christians vs. Non-Christians Over Time
The above data considers religious practice based on self-identification. A Practicing Christian, by Barna’s definition, “identifies with a Christian denomination, attends a worship service at least once a month, and says their faith is very important in their life.”
Non-Christians include those identifying with non-Christian faiths, and additionally agnostic, atheist, or as having no faith.
County Census Division Overviews
