What "gated and secure" actually means here
In Pflugerville, this category covers apartment communities that control who gets onto the property, not just who gets into a unit. That usually means a perimeter fence or wall with a gated vehicle entry, a keypad or key fob system, and in some cases an on-site courtesy officer or controlled visitor access at the leasing office. Some communities pair this with camera coverage on parking areas, package rooms, and pool gates. It's a different level of protection than a standard deadbolt and a lit parking lot, which is what you'll find at most non-gated complexes in the area.
What to check before you sign
Ask how the gate is actually enforced. A gate that's propped open during move-in season or broken for weeks isn't doing its job. Find out if the code or fob system is changed regularly, whether guests can be buzzed in remotely, and whether the perimeter fence actually wraps the whole property or just the front entrance. Walk the grounds at night if you can. Check whether package areas and mail kiosks are inside the gated zone, since that's a common gap. Also ask about response time for maintenance on gates and cameras, since a broken entry system that stays broken tells you a lot about management.
How we scored the 37 communities
Our rankings weigh access control, lighting, camera placement, staff responsiveness, and how consistently residents report the security features actually working day to day, not just what's advertised in the leasing brochure. See the full breakdown in our methodology, and check the ranked guide to Pflugerville apartment complexes for how these communities stack up against the rest of the market.