Congrats on the new role at Dell! If you’re moving to Austin for it, one of the first things to sort out is where to live. Dell’s headquarters isn’t in Austin itself. It’s in Round Rock, about 18 miles north of downtown, so a place that feels central to the city can still mean a long drive up I-35 every morning.
Finding a room to rent near Dell can be harder than it sounds, and if you’re an intern, a lease short enough for an internship or co-op is even harder to find. We have lease terms that work for interns too. Below are our top options, starting with the closest, plus what to know if you’re here for an internship or co-op.
Why does living close to Dell’s Round Rock campus matter?
You’ll likely be making the drive every day. In 2025, Dell ended hybrid work for employees who live near an office and asked them to be on-site five days a week. About 7,400 people work at the Round Rock headquarters, so the roads around One Dell Way get busy at the start and end of the workday.
From downtown Austin, the headquarters is about 23 minutes away on an empty road, and I-35 at rush hour can stretch that a lot further. Five days a week, a shorter drive adds up quickly.
How far are our homes from Dell in Round Rock?
These are door-to-door drive times, from each home’s front door to Dell’s headquarters at One Dell Way, closest first:
| Home | Area | Distance | Drive* | Open rooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arborside | North Austin | 10.5 mi | 16 min | — |
| Chapala | Manor | 16.9 mi | 23 min | 3 · from $800 |
| Caballo Blanco | East Austin | 24.9 mi | 30 min | — |
| Mary Lewis | South Austin | 27.8 mi | 39 min | 1 · from $750 |
*Typical drive without traffic; rush hour takes longer.
Drive times are for an empty road. Morning and evening traffic heading north toward Round Rock adds time, so it’s worth testing the drive at your real start time during your first week.
What is Arborside like for Dell employees?
Arborside is about 16 minutes and 10.5 miles from Dell’s headquarters. Most of Austin’s apartments and shared housing are closer to the city center, where the same drive is about 23 minutes without traffic, so Arborside cuts it by about a third. It’s in Pioneer Hill in North Austin, near the Tech Ridge Center, which puts you between Round Rock and the rest of the city.
Dell residents who have stayed at Arborside tell us they like being close to Austin while still being a short drive from work, and they’ve renewed their leases more than once.
If you’re at Dell’s Parmer campus instead, Arborside is even closer: about 9 minutes door to door.
Living near work doesn’t mean giving up the city. Downtown Austin is 15 to 20 minutes from Arborside, so it’s easy to get into town on the weekends.
The house has two stories, 4 bedrooms, and 3.5 bathrooms. The common areas are furnished, and the bedrooms are unfurnished, so you can set up your room your way. Housemates share the neighborhood’s community pool, and H-E-B and Walmart are 5 to 10 minutes away.
Should I just live in Round Rock?
It depends on what you want outside work. Round Rock is the shortest commute, and its one-bedroom apartments averaged about $1,208 a month in September 2026, less than Austin’s average of about $1,427. If you want a quiet suburb and your own place, it’s a good choice.
If you’d rather be closer to the rest of Austin, or want to spend less, a room in a shared home is worth a look. Rooms in our homes currently run $700 to $1,050 a month, with utilities set up for you and split evenly among housemates. For the full move-in math, try our Austin rent and move-in cost calculator.
Is Chapala in Manor a good option for Dell?
Chapala works if you want a bigger, newer house and don’t mind a slightly longer drive. It’s about 23 minutes to Dell’s headquarters and about 16 minutes to the Parmer campus. The 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom home is walking distance from historic downtown Manor, and every bedroom there can be furnished, which helps if you’re arriving with a suitcase and not much else.
Working at Dell’s Parmer campus instead?
Dell also has offices on East Parmer Lane in North Austin. If that’s where you’ll be, these are the door-to-door drive times from each of our homes:
| Home | Area | Distance | Drive* | Open rooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arborside | North Austin | 4.1 mi | 9 min | — |
| Chapala | Manor | 9.9 mi | 16 min | 3 · from $800 |
| Caballo Blanco | East Austin | 17.9 mi | 24 min | — |
| Mary Lewis | South Austin | 21.6 mi | 33 min | 1 · from $750 |
*Typical drive without traffic; rush hour takes longer.
Which rooms are open near Dell right now?
These are our open rooms, closest to Dell’s Round Rock headquarters first. Prices, bathroom setup, and move-in dates are on each room’s page.
Chapala — Unit B
Furnished private room with private bath
Available October 2026
Chapala — Unit C
Furnished private room with private bath
Available October 2026
Chapala — Unit E
Furnished private room with shared bath
Available October 2026
Mary Lewis — Unit D
Private room with shared bath
Available October 2026
Can I rent a room for a Dell internship or co-op?
Yes. Many of Dell’s internships are based at the Round Rock headquarters, and the ones we’ve seen listed run about 10 to 12 weeks. Our minimum lease is 3 months, which works for most internships, and longer co-ops fit easily. If yours is a little shorter, reach out and we’ll see what we can do. If your offer includes relocation assistance, a furnished room helps it go further, since you won’t need to buy or move furniture for a few months.
Why do Dell interns and new hires rent a room instead of an apartment?
We’ve had Dell employees live with us, mostly in full-time roles. The reasons residents give us most:
- It costs less than an apartment. You pay for your room plus an even share of utilities, not a full one-bedroom’s rent.
- It’s easier to make friends. Moving to a new city can be lonely at first, and a shared home gives you people to cook, work out, or explore Austin with.
- There’s less to set up. Common areas are furnished, utilities are coordinated for you, and shared spaces are cleaned monthly, so you can focus on your first weeks at work.
For the full numbers, including move-in costs and a first-year total, see Renting a Room vs an Apartment in Austin.
How do I rent a room near Dell?
- Fill out the interest form with your start date and lease length.
- We’ll set up a short intro call and a tour. Virtual tours are available if you’re moving from out of state.
- Complete the application and background check.
- Sign the lease and pay the deposit and first month’s rent to reserve the room.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Arborside from Dell’s Round Rock headquarters?
About 10.5 miles, or roughly 16 minutes door to door by car without traffic.
How long is the drive from downtown Austin to Dell in Round Rock?
About 18 miles, or roughly 23 minutes without traffic. Rush hour on I-35 takes longer.
How far is Arborside from Dell’s Parmer campus?
About 4 miles, or roughly 9 minutes door to door by car without traffic.
Is it cheaper to live in Round Rock or Austin?
For apartments, Round Rock is a little cheaper. One-bedrooms averaged about $1,208 a month in Round Rock and $1,427 in Austin in September 2026. A room in a shared home costs less than either.
Do you offer short-term leases for Dell interns?
Our minimum lease is 3 months, which works for most internships and co-ops. If yours is a bit shorter, reach out and we’ll see what we can do.
Are the rooms furnished?
Common areas are furnished in every home. Some bedrooms are furnished too; each room’s page says whether it is.