Best Neighborhoods in Austin Texas
Austin, the capital of Texas is located in the South Central part of the lone star state. It is the seat of Travis County. The City is located where the Colorado River crosses the Balcones Escarpment. Austin’s metropolitan area encompasses the counties of Hays, Williamson, and Bastrop and includes the cities of San Marcos and Round Rock.
The city occupies an area of 790.1 square kilometers or about 195,237 acres. Much of east Austin is flat while the western part and the western suburbs have rolling hills which mark the edge of the Texas Hill Country.
History
Austin traces its roots to a riverside village called Waterloo, located in a buffalo-hunting region that was inhabited by the Tonkawa and Comanche peoples.
In 1839 it was chosen as the site for the capital of the Republic of Texas. The place was named in honor of Stephen Austin the father of the Texan Republic.
The city became progressive when it became a trading center for farmers and ranchers. Many of them arrived when the Houston and Texas Central Railroad was built and a permanent bridge across the Colorado River was completed.
Today Austin is a modern contemporary city hosting several industries such as manufacturing, which produces computers, computer equipment, and semiconductors. It is also home to several firms engaged in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
One of the World’s Best Cities
One study listed Austin as one of the world’s 100 best cities. The 2023 listing ranks it as number 43 (Houston is at 42).
The study cites Austin’s livability as attracting tech investments such as Oracle (one of the world’s largest software developers) aside from being a magnet for Global 500 headquarters. Also pulling in high marks for the city is the No. 23 ranked the University of Texas in Austin and the annual summit of business, music, and creativity South by Southwest is also a major draw.
Neighborhoods in Austin
With a large area, Austin has many neighborhoods which run north to south of the city.
From the lively downtown area to the quiet suburbs, there's a neighborhood that will fit your lifestyle perfectly here in Austin.
Downtown Austin is such a lively and colorful place to visit. it has varied entertainment venues with numerous restaurants, bars, and cafes making it an ideal place for those who love urbanity.
The suburban areas have several residential communities complete with amenities such as green spaces and community facilities.
If you want to live in Austin, here are the best neighborhoods in the city which you can choose as a location to reside (listed in no particular order):
South Lamar
Just south of downtown Austin, SoLa is sandwiched between Galindo and Barton Hills. This neighborhood is lined with apartment buildings alongside shops and restaurants perfect for urbanites.
A working-class community dotted with low-income housing and used car lots, South Lamar or SoLa transformed in the previous two decades with Austin’s economic boom. It has now become a hub for retail, restaurant, and nightlife owing to being near downtown Austin.
Among its attractions include parks and easy access to hiking trails in the west, near Zilker Park. This south Austin neighborhood is home to aspiring entrepreneurs, artists, and musicians making it a perfect spot for forward-looking families.
East Austin
Noted as the fastest growing neighborhood in Austin, it is described as a hip and trendy locale known for its “coolness” factor aside from offering a quality of life for its residents.
East Austin has a robust restaurant scene, the neighborhood dotted with restaurants and food trucks. There are bars and pubs and if you are a coffee lover there are several good coffee shops nearby.
For retail, there are many trendy and creative shops and boutiques within the area. There are museums and live music venues in the location, indeed the Austinite battlecry “Keep Austin Weird” resonates in the area.
The neighborhood is a walkable area and is near to the downtown and the airport. New modern apartments are being built and offered to people wanting to move to this neighborhood.
Riverside
It is considered one of the best places to live in Texas, Riverside is a neighborhood located in Travis county. It is popular among students as it is close to the campus of the University of Texas.
East Riverside Drive, which is the thoroughfare bisecting the middle of Riverside has an array of nice must-visit bars, cafes, stores, and restaurants. If you want to burn some calories there are running paths next to the Colorado River which will lead you to the Lady Bird Lake Boardwalk.
The neighborhood is home to many artists and musicians which provides color to the community. Residents include working professionals and their families, there are many student renters as it is adjacent to the university.
Though there is general concern about safety in this neighborhood. Riverside scores high marks for affordability, walkability, entertainment/nightlife.
South Manchaca
A low-key neighborhood is known for affordable housing and easy access to downtown Austin, local highways, and shopping centers.
It's a family-friendly community that has good schools and green parks. It is also one of the safest parts of the city.
The St. David South Austin Hospital is located in South Manchaca, an ideal place for those working in healthcare. Or for seniors with health issues, being near a major hospital is a major consideration for relocating here.
South Manchaca also has local businesses such as nice shops and restaurants. And if you want to burn those extra calories there is the Gold’s Gym Austin located within the neighborhood.
78704
This Austin neighborhood takes its name from the zip code that encompasses Zilker Park and Lady Bird Lake, Bouldin Creek, South Congress, and Travis Heights.
This place is perfect for adventurous young professionals to settle down. It has a myriad of attractions and point-of-interests, in certain spots you get a view of the Colorado River. There are music festivals, art exhibitions, and many things to do here that perhaps can satisfy your restless soul. You will never get bored here.
In SoCo or South Congress, you can find shops, cafes, restaurants, and food trucks. This is the hip and trendy part of Austin. In Zilker Park, you will have music festivals such as the Austin City Limits and South by Southwest.
Franklin Park
A neighborhood located in south-central Austin near the downtown area, Franklin Park is quiet and affordable with lots of greenery. This is a good option for students, young professionals, or families raising teenage kids with its suburban vibe.
Parks within the neighborhood include the Mckinney Falls State Park, Battle Bend Park, Garrison Park, and Onion Creek. The parks provide opportunities for family-friendly activities such as camping, biking, fishing, and nature hiking. Aside from parks, there are also coffee shops and restaurants in the vicinity.
Franklin Park’s eco-attitude shaped by its parks and greenery has attracted a younger crowd. Within the community are students and young professionals. The neighborhood has a close-knit yet vibrant community that you would want to be part of.
Hyde Park
Hyde Park is considered the first true historical suburb of Austin while the neighboring North Loop is one of the first suburbs in the city.
Hyde Park traces its roots in 1891 as a development by Monroe M. Shipe who planned a “white only” streetcar suburb with an artificial lake and has become one of the most densely populated sections of the city. It is declared a historic district by the National Registry of Historic Places in 1990.
Tree-shaded avenues lined with pecan trees and red oaks dot the area which hosts bungalows and beautiful Victorian houses.
The 19th-century architecture mixed with a hip, up-and-coming vibe makes this place popular for students and academics who consider its proximity to the University of Texas campus which is just a seven-minute drive or a 35-minute walk.
There are trendy coffeehouses, vintage stores, museums, and art galleries in this walkable neighborhood.
North Loop
Located northeast of the University of Texas and just south of Hyde Park. The North Loop is one of Austin’s first suburbs.
Many of these homes date back to just after World War 2 when returning soldiers went to Austin to take advantage of the G.I. Bill which gave them opportunities to go to college such as the University of Texas. Most of these houses built during the 1940s and 1950s are two-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalows to accommodate the influx of ex-servicemen coming to the city.
North Loop borders I-35 which makes it accessible from the rest of the city. This community now hosts an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants, making it a popular hang-out spot for college students and young professionals. This quaint neighborhood also has a vibrant nightlife.
Rosedale
Located in the northern portion of Central Austin, Rosedale has about 1,200 homes in the neighborhood alongside a wide variety of businesses that are a walkable distance.
Rosedale used to be a farm and dairy land in the 1860s. In the 1900s nurseries and flower farms flourished in the area. Housing development came in the 1930s and 1940s and is one of Austin’s traditional residential neighborhoods.
It is a charming neighborhood that is perfect for young families and retirees. This is a safe place and easily accessible through its main thoroughfares that leads you to the rest of the city.
Allandale
A traditional, family-friendly neighborhood developed in the 1950s. Its tree-lined streets lead you to mid-century houses which are mostly quaint ranch-style bungalows, though some have given way to contemporary residential structures. Its large lots are perfect for raising families.
A traditional suburban neighborhood Allandale has numerous greeneries which host a variety of fun-filled activities such as tennis, swimming, running, and baseball. Its shaded wide and winding streets are popular among residents where they bike, jog or walk. There are several nice restaurants in the neighborhoods.
Barton Hills
Regarded as Austin’s most nature-friendly neighborhood Barton Hills has wide green spaces such as lush park pools and botanic gardens. It is bordered by the 385-acre Zilker Park to the north and the Barton Creek Greenbelt to the south.
Homes have lush greenery and mature trees providing shade. Homes come in a variety of sizes, colors, and sizes and each design corresponds to the hilly nature of the terrain.
Barton Hills has good schools and several local businesses in the area including restaurants and cafes. Plus the shops and restaurants along South Lamar and Barton Springs Road are just nearby.
Mueller
Mueller is a master-planned community located in the heart of Austin, the neighborhood is a redevelopment of the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport.
The community was designed to become a transit-oriented and pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. A template for new urbanism and sustainability.
This is a perfect place for young families. There are many single-family homes in the community with a broad range of architectural styles. These designs conform to eco-friendly standards such as resource efficiency and are made of non-toxic, recyclable materials. The office buildings in the mixed-used community are considered green buildings conforming to its standards in sustainability.
There are large areas of green space and 750,000 square feet of planned retail space that is aimed to host businesses like shops and restaurants.
If you would want to live in a city of the future, Mueller is a showcase for it.
Westfield
Known as the location of the Lions Municipal Golf Course or Muni, Some people refer to Westfield as old Enfield, West Enfield, or Old West Austin. Many of the homes are mid-sized houses with high value.
Developed as a master-planned community in 1939 it has continually grown coinciding with Austin’s progress, located in the neighborhood is Texas' oldest swimming pool, the Deep Eddy Municipal Pool which opened in 1926.
Another attraction is the 18-hole Lions Municipal Golf Course which is considered the jewel of the neighborhood. Bordering Westfield is the Johnson Creek Greenbelt where a 3-kilometer hiking trail will lead you to a restored windmill. Nearby are running trails along Lady Bird Lake.
The neighborhood is known as a quiet and beautiful neighborhood with plenty of sizable green spaces nearby, perfect for families and retirees.
Tarrytown
West of Austin downtown is Tarrytown. Originally situated in the area was the 365-acre Woodlawn Estate in the 1800s. In 1857 the estate was sold to Texas Governor Elisha M. Pease and in 1916 the estate was subdivided and became residential neighborhood.
Located in the neighborhood is the Tarrytown Shopping Center located at Exposition Boulevard and Windsor Road.
Tarrytown is known for its historic houses and tree-lined streets offering a sophisticated charm with a small-town vibe considering that it is just adjacent to downtown Austin.
Combining a quiet neighborhood with easy access to the urban center, Tarrytown represents the best of both worlds making it popular for families and for those people wanting something serene while not being situated far from city life.
West Lake Hills
This suburban neighborhood is 10 miles from the edge of downtown Austin. Yet its hilly terrain and tranquil streets feel like you are far from the city center.
This family-friendly community has good schools plus it has shops and nice restaurants. This is a posh neighborhood as the streets are lined with beautiful palatial homes. Based on the 2020 census, the median income for a household in West Lake is twice higher than the average median household income in Austin thus the high market value for homes in this neighborhood.
Apache Shores
A popular neighborhood along the Lake Travis area, Apache Shores gives you the best qualities of lakeside living. Residents can enjoy the view of Lake Austin through its Lake Park which has picnic tables, day docks, and grills.
This master-planned community features a community center complete with a swimming pool, and tennis and basketball courts, the neighborhood also has an 18-hole disc golf course. Plus there are hiking trails along Indian Creek or Lake Apache.
Clarksville
Clarksville was rated as the number-one place to live in Austin for the year 2022. It presents the best of two worlds; a quiet, beautiful place while being a stone's throw away from downtown Austin.
This neighborhood is classic Austin. A historic part of the city which traces its roots as slave quarters for those working under Texas Governor Elisha Pease. In 1865 after the emancipation, Governor Pease gave his land to the newly freed workers.
In 1870 several freedmen purchased land on the property and were named after Charles Clark, a freedman who was the first to purchase property in the area
The neighborhood is filled with historical landmarks, beautiful houses, and nice instagrammable parks.
Clarksville is popular for its unique restaurants, bars, cafes, and coffee shops along with shops and galleries. The place ably represents “Make Austin Weird” and this curiosity drives many people to visit the historic district.
The land values are high though but many buyers considered factors like beauty, serenity, and safety in owning a home in Clarksville. Other considerations also include the presence of nightlife and entertainment, shopping and restaurants, good schools in the vicinity, walkability, and varied points of interest in the neighborhood.
Live in Austin
Austin, Texas is one of the most dynamic cities in America. It has a booming economy and is a relatively safe place to live.
More than just jobs and business, Austin offers a lot more. It has a vibrant creative culture. music festivals such as the Austin City Limits, and the South by Southwest which is a convergence of tech and creatives alongside a plethora of activities and events created by its many residents of artists and creative Austinites bring such interest to the place.
Austin is known for its warm weather (it never snows in the winter here). It is moderately expensive to live in the city (though it's least costly than major cities in the nation) Austin has comparably high wages to offset the costs of living.
Building and Buying a Home
The city has many neighborhoods where you could choose to buy, build or rent a home. These communities have peculiarities and perks of each own. Either a master-planned community or a historic district, a bustling area, or one that is serene and quiet.
The cost of owning a house in Austin is more expensive than the average cost of owning a home in the lone star state. A median home in Austin costs $378,300 while the Texas median home costs $200,400. You might as well rent a home here as it is more affordable.
if you're looking for the right community to live in Austin, check out the several advantages and disadvantages of each neighborhood. You can choose one which suits your preference.
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