Neighborhoods in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas, and quality of life are synonymous. Whether you're looking for authentic chicken-fried steak, celebrity spotting, blues or a float along the river, Austin offers it all.
Austin is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States according to 2008 Census Bureau data released in 2009. When combined with the population growth of Round Rock, Texas, a suburb of Austin, the Austin-Round Rock metro area was the second-fastest growing area in America from July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008. Austin is considered the "live music capital of the world" and hosts the world-famous Austin City Limits television show and summer music festival as well as the South by Southwest (SXSW) music, film and technology festival.
Town Lake in the downtown area of Austin divides the city into north Austin and south Austin. East of Interstate 35 there are some pretty rough neighborhoods, but Austin officials and developers are trying to change that. West of the MoPac Expressway are Austin neighborhoods that meander through the start of central Texas hill country and extend out to Lake Travis.
Traffic in Austin can be a big problem. If you have to frequently travel to and from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport located in East Austin, you'll need to factor a commute of an hour or more into your decision to live in north or west Austin neighborhoods. If you are a college student, the University of Texas has an extensive shuttle system that goes to almost all area neighborhoods of Austin.
Here are some of the popular Austin neighborhoods and suburbs:
Central Austin Neighborhoods: 16 Total
Generally, the central Austin neighborhoods are made up mainly of college students, but also of people who attend or work at the University of Texas, are longtime Austin residents, politicians or retired. The median age of central Austin residents is 21.82 and the median age of downtown Austin residents is 36. The average household income in central Austin neighborhoods is around $31,000. The average home price is around $300,000. Apartments rent from $500 to $2,000 per month depending on the neighborhood.
North Austin Neighborhoods: 21 Total
North Austin neighborhoods are made up of people who are more suited to the urban, fast-paced, big city lifestyle. North Austin neighborhoods are home to big businesses like Dell, IBM, Motorola, Texas Instruments, Samsung and 3M, so if you're in the high-tech business you might want to consider the north Austin popular neighborhoods. The median age of north Austin neighborhood residents is around 30. The average household income is $51,000 and 77 percent of the residents have white-collar jobs. Home prices range from $250,000 to millions depending on the neighborhood. Apartments rent from $550 to $2,000 per month.
South Austin Neighborhoods: 17 Total
Generally, south Austin neighborhoods are made up of people who prefer the laid-back, hip and small-town party lifestyle that Austin has to offer. The median age of south Austin neighborhood residents is around 33. The average household income is $71,000. Price ranges of homes, condos and lofts are between $75,000 and $4 million. Apartment rentals range from $550 to $2,000 per month.
West Austin Neighborhoods: 5 Total
Generally, west Austin neighborhoods are upscale, trendy, and are located around the most beautiful hills and lakes in the Austin metro area. People who live in west Austin neighborhoods want to get away from the big city hustle and bustle and relax in nature's best paradise. Most of the mansions of the Austin rich and famous are located in west Austin neighborhoods. The median age for west Austin neighborhoods is 39 and the average household income is $92,000.
East Austin Neighborhoods: 11 Total
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is located about 5 miles east of downtown Austin on Highway 71. Many of the east Austin neighborhoods are made up of low-income, disadvantaged residents, but the city of Austin is trying to change that by offering incentives to developers who have built some nice trendy condos on the east side.
By Aly Adair
