Your Guide to Austin Neighborhoods
If you're planning to move to Austin there are so many neighborhoods to choose from! It can almost get overwhelming. Well, we're here to help you out with your guide to Austin neighborhoods.
Every neighborhood and area is different in this city. Depending on which neighborhood you move to, it can feel like you're living in an entirely different Austin. Needless to say, it's important to do your research on neighborhoods and decide on the right fit for you. The diversity in neighborhoods is what makes this city appealing. Austin has so much to offer and can fit a variety of lifestyles. So, it's important to pick a neighborhood that would fit your lifestyle.
Understanding Austin's Geographic and Cultural Landscape
Austin is unique from other Texas cities, as it's located in the heart of the Texas hill country! This means rolling topography and some serious views. The city of Austin prioritizes environmental protection. This has made us known for our outdoor areas like the Barton Creek Greenbelt, Lady Bird Lake, and state parks that surround the city. This is one factor that truly separates Austin from other Texas cities. However, the climate in Austin is the typical Texas weather. We have long hot summers and mild and short winters. The summer temperatures get up to the 100's, so you need to be ready to face the heat. The summers are sunny with 75% sunny skies. Generally, Austin gets slightly below the national average of rain. Severe weather comes in the spring and can bring hail and strong winds. Certain areas of Austin are more prone to severe weather. For more information on Austin's climate, you can visit weather.gov.
Austin's motto is "Keep Austin Weird," and we mean it! Also, Austin is the "Live Music Capital" of the world. Needless to say, we have a robust music and art scene. However, there are several niche clubs and groups to join. You can pretty much find almost any activity in Austin! If you're active, pickleball is huge here, along with a large running community. With all of the outdoor spaces, outdoor activities and clubs flourish. We have a strong job market with companies like Dell, Oracle, IBM, Whole Foods and more headquartered here. There are large manufacturing facilities like Amazon, Tesla, and Samsung. All of these jobs bring people from all over the United States and world creating a unique cultural mix.
Let's dive into the neighborhoods!
Central Austin
Central Austin includes downtown and central neighborhoods. This area is north of the Colorado River and west of Interstate 35. If you want to be in the heart of the city, central Austin is the way to go.
Downtown
Downtown is the heart of the live music scene and is the most walkable area of Austin. If you want to have easy access to nightlife and events, downtown could be a great choice. You won't be finding any lots in this area and will need to opt in for an apartment or condo. Several new luxury apartment and condo buildings offer spectacular views of the city. Depending on which area you choose, you can be a minutes walk away from Lady Bird Lake (or town lake as the locals call it) trail. Downtown is more suited for the younger more single crowd or older retirees ready to live a little.
Hyde Park
Hyde Park is Austin's original suburb. It's located just north of downtown and close to the University of Texas campus. This neighborhood is historic so you'll find eclectic homes styled in Victorian and Craftsmen architecture. While it's mostly residential there are some restaurants and retail in the neighborhood. The famous Antonellis Cheese Shop is located in Hyde Park, along with The Flightpath Coffeehouse a favorite for college students. If you want a hip neighborhood close to the action and full of character, Hyde Park is the place for you.
Old West Austin Historic District
The Old West Austin Historic District is west of downtown and stretches from Mopac east to Lamar Boulevard, and from 13th Street north to 35th Street. There are 3 distinct neighborhoods, Old Enfield, Pemberton Heights, and Bryker Woods. Here you'll find a well-preserved selection of early-to-mid-20th-century homes. Austin's oldest colonial-style homes are in Old Enfield. For example, the famous Woodlawn which built by Texan's Governor's Mansion architect Abner Cook. Pemberton Heights was mostly developed between 1927 and the 1940s and has one to two-story single-family style residences. Pemberton Heights features the largest houses and most spacious lots in Old West Austin, which comes at a hefty price tag. Bryker Woods is the northernmost suburb of the district. Old West Austin is a desirable place to live if you like historic homes, being close to the lake and easy access to the heart of the city.
Clarksville
Clarksville is just west of downtown and is a desirable neighborhood in Austin. It's very close to Old West Austin Historic District and has many similar traits. Clarksville is walkable with easy access to some of the best restaurants. The neighborhood is full of history and historic homes, but it's still close to downtown and all of the action.
North Austin
This area is neighborhoods north of central Austin. North Austin can be more affordable than central Austin as it's less accessible to downtown.
Allandale
Allandale is a beloved part of Austin, bordered by 35th Street, Burnet Road, Anderson Lane, and Mopac. Here you'll find spacious lots and tree-lined streets. Its proximity to Mopac gives the residents easy access to most areas of Austin. Homes in this neighborhood were built in the 1950s and are very charming. Real Estate in Allandale is generally more affordable than other central Austin locations and is very family-friendly. There are so many restaurants and bars in this area as it's close to the Burnet and 35th Street shopping districts.
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a rapidly changing neighborhood thrusted by recent developments in the area. The boundaries of this area are 51st Street to the south and Highway 290 to the north. Mueller, a new development nearby has made Windsor Park a more desirable area with easy access to shopping and dining. Windsor Park features older ranch style homes built in the 1950's and 60's. Most ranch homes still stand, with some remodeled. However, new construction homes are being built especially on the east side. Windsor Park can be a more affordable place to build compared to central Austin especially if you want to be close to Mueller. In this neighborhood, you'll find a diverse background of renters and homeowners alike
Northwest Hills
Northwest Hills is located in northwest Austin as you may have guessed. It stretches from Mopac on the east and goes deep into the residential homes on the west before reaching close to the Capital of Texas Highway. It features a large commercial area between Mopac and Mesa Drive which hosts local and national businesses, stores, restaurants, apartments, and business offices. Most of the houses in Northwest Hills are colonial, California ranch, or Texas Tuscan style. This upper-class community is an upscale neighborhood. If you're interested in nature and views, this could be the neighborhood for you. It's known for being scenic, with subdivisions even coining the names like Scenic View. There is also vast access to greenbelts. If you're looking for a family-friendly neighborhood surrounded by nature and views, but with easy access to the city, shopping and dining then this might be the place for you.
East Austin
This area is east of Interstate 35 and north of the river. East Austin is an eclectic area with a lot of experiences to offer. It's been growing tremoundsly with new construction residential and retail developments.
Central East Austin
This neighborhood is bounded by the south to East 7th Street, to the west by Interstate 35, to the north by by East Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and to the east by Chicon Street, Rosewood Avenue and Northwestern Avenue. This neighborhood is 12 minutes to downtown and has been growing for the past several years. Home prices in this area are rising but are generally in the $500,000 - $700,000 range, with larger homes in the $1,000,000 range. Most residents in this area rent their homes. You'll find many young professionals living in this area. Which makes sense with the walkability to local restaurants, retail, and nightlife. There are also a lot of parks. This area has an urban/suburban feel being so close to downtown.
Mueller
This area is east of Interstate 35 and is just north of Martin Luther King Blvd. Mueller is an up-and-coming and coveted development. It was developed from the old Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. This neighborhood is popular because of its walkability and green spaces. It's comparable to the domain with a large shopping district. Even better, there is a large park, Lake Park, in the middle of this neighborhood that hosts farmers markets, events, and more. Plus, there are multiple smaller parks and trails to enjoy. While there are some residential lots, you'll mostly find condos and townhomes in this area. You'll mostly find young to middle aged adults living in this area, with 30% of residents having kids.
West Austin
West Austin is bounded by Mopac Expressway to the east, the Colorado river to the south and west, and Northland Drive (RM 2222) to the north. However, we will also dive into an area just outside of West Austin.
Tarrytown
This neighborhood is just west of Mopac Expressway, east of the Colorado River, north of Lake Austin Blvd, and south of 35th street. Tarrytown is one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Austin. It was established as a subdivision in 1915, so you'll find older renovated homes. Anywhere from twenties-era cottages to grand Tudors. This area will keep you in the action being a few minutes away from downtown Austin, and give you access to the beautiful Lake Austin. Properties here are in high demand, so houses and lots will go quick. Tarrytown houses are well maintained. You'll find unique homes due to the variety in architecture. There are plenty of shops and restaurants in Tarrytown! Some favorites are waterside restaurants, like Mozarts, Hula Hut, and Abel's on the lake.
Rollingwood
This area is a suburb of Austin and is south of the Colorado River, west of Mopac expressway, and east of Westlake Hills. Rollingwood is rated by many publications as the best place to live in Travis County. Almost all residents own their homes in this neighborhood. This is a very family friendly neighborhoood known for it's outstanding public schools. All of the entertainment and restaurants of central Austin are less than a 15 minute drive away. Rollingwood is adjacent to Zilker Park and some homes are within easy walking distance. Rollingwood is unique as residents have easy access to the city of Austin as well as the beauty and community of West Lake.
Westlake and Westlake Hills
The city of Westlake homes parts of Westlake HIlls. While other parts are in Travis County. These areas contain many subdivisions and neighborhoods. However, we will give a general overview of the area. Most of the wealthiest and high profile residents of Austin live in the Westlake. It's a family focused community with some of the best schools in the state. The most cherished part of the neighborhood would be the beautiful large and rolling hills. You'll find plenty of properties with the most stunning views. North Westlake is lined with lake front properties which are some of the most costly homes in the Austin area. You'll be sure to find plenty of retail at local shoppin centers and restaurants. Just don't expect much nightlife or places to stay open late. If you're upper middle class and family-oriented, high profile, or looking for a peaceful abode nestled in the hills to retire to, this is the place for you. As a luxury home builder, most of our projects are located in this area and all of our clients are happy to be home owners in West Lake!
Bee Cave
Bee Cave is it's own small city and suburb nestled into the hills far west of Austin around Highway 71. In recent years, 2 new huge residential developments have been built in the area which has dramatically increased the population. Bee Cave can be a good choice if you're willing to live a little further away from the heart of the city with easy access to Lake Travis and the hill country. Lake Travis ISD is a renowned school district that encompasses Bee Cave. Bee Cave has the views and the hills, with a touch of rural living. If you're a big golfer, there are several golf courses just a few minutes away. Bee Cave offers a ton of shopping and restaurants, and you'll have access to almost anything you would need within the neighborhood. If you're looking to settle down with a family and want to be closer to the Texas Hill Country, this could be the area for you.
South Austin
South Austin generally includes any area south of the Colorado River. Several areas of south Austin tend to be more affordable than central Austin.
Barton Creek
Barton Creek is just a few miles southwest of Downtown Austin. This community was named after the Barton Creek that runs through it. It's an older community with homes dating back to the 1950s. However, many homes have been remodeled or replaced with contemporary styles. If you like the outdoors, you'll love living here as there are about 7 miles of greenbelt that run through this community. Sculpture Falls, Twin Falls, and Barton Creek Wilderness are all popular areas to run, bike, swim, and rock climb. It's home to the Barton Creek Mall, the only indoor mall in the city. One of the greatest draws of West Barton Creek is the Barton Creek Country Club which features the Omni hotel, resort, and spa. Some of the best private schools are in this area. This neighborhood is perfect for families and professionals willing to commute. You'll enjoy a safe residence surrounded by wooded hills and accessible to family activities like the world-class country club.
Barton Hills
Barton Hills is just south of the Colorado River and east of the Mopac Expressway. This area has easy access to a string of trails and Zilker Park. The Barton Creek Greenbelt runs right through the middle of the neighborhood. Not to mention, Barton Springs is the backyard of Barton Hills. Barton Springs is a famous landmark of Austin with hundreds of thousands of people taking a dip in this huge pool every year. It's the epicenter of hip in Austin. You'll find many quaint and eclectic shops and restaurants throughout the neighborhood. Barton Hills has pockets of culture and art everywhere. If you live here you'll be in the heart of events like the Austin City Limits Festival that takes place at Zilker Park annually. Modest homes built in the 1940s and 1950s still stand, however many homes are being rebuilt in Austin's contemporary style. It's a popular area for renting as well, as there are multifamily apartments and condos sprinkled throughout. Young adults and professionals will enjoy living in this area to live in the heart of the action while taking in what Austin is known for it's weirdness and nature.
South Congress
South Congress is south of the Colorado River and Highway 71 and west of Interstate 35. This area's affordability made it a haven for artists and musicians in the 1970s, but it also developed a seedy reputation. By the 1990s this area was booming with eclectic storefronts, motels, and homes. It has still been exploding to this day. Now, South Congress is a popular tourist destination with residential single-family homes on side streets and high-end condos and apartments living down South Congress St. South Congress is now a shopping district with boutiques and designer stores lining the street. However, there are still landmark stores and restaurants that have been there since the 1970s or longer. You'll find some of the best eateries Austin has to offer in the South Congress area with new spots continuing to pop up. Most of the residents in this area are young adult renters. If you want easy access to downtown, don't mind renting, and want next-level shopping and dining, this will be the area for you.
This neighborhood guide is just scratching the surface, as there are so many areas and neighborhoods of Austin! Whichever area you choose, you won't be disappointed to live in a city that prioritizes the