Moving to Austin, Texas? You need to learn about where to live. Because of mild weather, great quality of life, and one of the best employment markets in the United States, Austin, and its neighboring areas have seen dizzying recent growth in population, turning it into the fastest-growing major metro in the country for the past nine years.
If you are planning to be one of the multitudes moving to this great and vibrant city, you may not know where exactly to call home. Consider reaching out to long distance moving companies for assistance in making your move to Austin a smooth and hassle-free experience.
Each neighborhood in Austin has its personality and feel and finding the perfect one is important to have a successful Austin experience. While some neighborhoods are no going areas due to crime rate, there are a number of them that are safe and booming.
Below is the breakdown of our preferred local neighborhoods and why you should choose them
1. Downtown Austin
This neighborhood has a thriving business district, a booming entertainment district, as well as luxurious urban dwellings. Metropolitan enthusiasts residing here love the sophisticated lifestyle with a luxurious feel.
Housing here tends to be costlier than other neighborhoods in Austin, representing its location in the middle of the city with biking, walking, and metro access to local employers, gourmet dining, relaxing recreation, and world-class shopping.
Downtown Austin is characterized by beautiful views of the Colorado River and its listings generally include high-rise lofts, small, garden-style condos, and luxury condos, most with individual parking spaces.
The average home price in Downtown Austin is $587,000. Children who reside in this neighborhood attend schools in the Austin Independent School District or can benefit from the lots of private and charter schools in the neighborhood.
2. Allandale
Surrounded by the bustling city life, this neighborhood is a different enclave of calm suburban streets just a few minutes from downtown with convenient access to the rest of the city. Residents of Allandale enjoy a great mix of local shops and eateries as well as many local parks, which include the just-remodeled Northwest Recreational Center.
The average home price in this neighborhood is $680,000. Buying houses here are normally 1-or-2-bedroom homes in a combination of ranch and mid-century modern styles. Families relocating to Allandale will enjoy their top-rated public schools.
3. Cherry Wood
This neighborhood is located in East Austin and is a favorite location among singles and young professionals. Those living here can find different Mid-Century Modern ranches, newly-built apartments, contemporary bungalows, and condos at a reasonable price, and those that want to buy in Cherrywood will find nice bungalows and craftsman-style homes abundant here.
The average home price here is $502,000.
Although it is a bit far from the action of the city center, Cherrywood is famous for its quirky charm and friendly residents. It is also a nice location for healthcare professionals to live in because the neighborhood is not far from St. David’s Medical Center as well as Dell Children’s Medical Center located in Central Texas.
4. Barton Hill
Nature lovers will enjoy the combination of Hill Country landscape as well as the city convenience of Barton Hills. Those living here can benefit from the multiple natural attractions close to them, such as the lush Barton Creek Greenbelt, Barton Springs, and Zilker Park, while they also enjoy residing in the middle of Austin. Calm household streets and a friendly atmosphere are the beauties of this highly beloved community.
The average home price in Barton Hills is $775,000 and the styles, as well as ages of homes, are significantly different. Schools in Barton Hill are top-rated, increasing the appeal of the area.
5. Hyde Park
This neighborhood draws a young multitude from the surrounding University Campus. A combination of students, young professionals, and professors reside in Hyde Park. They enjoy the historic structures, beautiful streets and great atmosphere.
However, rents are on the high side in this trendy neighborhood. You will be open to varieties of cafes, restaurants, and pubs to enjoy the weekend; the good news is, it is calmer than Downtown Austin and features a lot of a small-town feel.
6. Buda
The town of Buda is one of the many bedroom communities in Austin and is a perfect choice for people in search of a highly suburban lifestyle. It has a small-town vibe in the mix with a downtown historic district together with seasonal events like the Movies in the Park, the yearly county fair, farmer’s market, and Weiner dog races. The 21-minute travel to downtown Austin is what makes this neighborhood a great option for people who work in the city.
The average home price for this neighborhood is $299,500, but Buda is also home to the upscale community of Oak Forest, with custom-built brick and stone homes. Public schools in this neighborhood are more than average.
7. East Austin
This is one of the rapidly-growing neighborhoods in Austin, and is famous for its combination of bungalows, hip cocktail bars, and modern condos. Have a bite of the brisket at the famous Franklin Barbecue, including ethnic eateries from all around the globe. There are many great locations to reside around East Austin, from calmer, family-friendly neighborhoods that feature green spaces and parks, to waterside views with running trails.
The average price of a home in East Austin is $454, 500.
8. Old West Austin
Do you want to live in a place with easy access to Downtown Austin? Old West Austin is the ideal neighborhood for singles and young professionals who desire the convenience of an urban location mixed with the spread-out properties of a suburban location. You can find all you want from modern townhomes as well as condos to old historic homes and trendy single-family ranches here.
Those living in Old West Austin have access to a lot of green space with nearby parks, such as Pease District Park, Bailey Neighborhood Park, the Shoal Creek Greenbelt, and Hartford Park.
9. Cedar Park
This neighborhood can be found on the northwest border of Austin and is situated within reach of some of the largest employers in Austin, such as Apple, Dell, and National Instruments, including local tech and manufacturing companies together with the Cedar Park Medical Center. This perfect location makes Cedar Park a beautiful choice for executives as well as industry professionals.
The neighborhood has variety of local shopping and dining spots and also easy access to Hill Country and Austin.
Also, Cedar Park is a nice place to raise a family. Wide Open Country and Family Circle Magazine both recognize it as one of the 10 best towns for families. Cedar Park is served by the award-winning Leander and Round Rock Independent School Districts.
The average home price in this neighborhood is $365,000 but there are lots of available options, starting from 1,400 sq-ft homes in the low $200’s up to large, several millions of dollar mansions.
10. South Congress
There is always something happening around this neighborhood which is famously known as SoCo. Residents come to enjoy award-winning restaurants, live music, and quirky boutiques. South Congress is also where some historic spots and attractions can be found; for instance, the iconic Congress Avenue Bridge and the Continental Club. That is where you will find one of the largest urban bat colonies in the world.
South Congress’ easy access to Downtown is a major attraction for its residents. Just like the nightlife and offbeat flavor. Rents are expensive, so you need to plan your budget accordingly if you desire to live in this upscale neighborhood of Austin.
11. Dripping Springs
This neighborhood is the Gateway to the Texas Hill Country and is a luxurious but revealing city situated right in the middle of rolling hills, rock-bottom creeks, and oak trees located about 25 minutes southwest of the city of Austin. This gorgeous Hill Country is filled with amenities so there is easy access to places you visit on daily basis.
Charro Ranch Park and Dripping Springs Sports and Recreation Park are two great places to have a nice weekend picnic enjoyment, and you are just 10 miles away from the beautiful Hamilton’s Pool Preserve. This neighborhood offers ranch-style homes on large plots, a great school system, and a cheap, rural lifestyle.
The average home price in Dripping Springs is $577,300.
12. Ziker
This neighborhood is located just over the Colorado River from Downtown Austin and is famous for its cold feel and lots of things to do. It is obvious why Zilker is one of the best Austin neighborhoods for singles and young professionals. This area doesn’t only have lots of new buildings with trendy houses and condos, but the neighborhood is also closer to Zilker Metropolitan Park which is the home for the yearly Austin City Limits Music Festival, which draws several people from all over the nation every year.
If you are searching for a fast commute into downtown and a location that has a good mix of Austin’s natural beauty and great culture, Zilker is the best location for you. The average home purchase price is $482,871 while the average monthly rental price is $1,231.
13. South Lamar
This Austin neighborhood is referred to as SoLa and has experienced a little resurgence; thanks to the new buildings, local business development, and more influx of singles and young professionals. With cheap single-family homes, a 10-minute drive to Downtown Austin, friendly neighbors, and safe streets, and outdoor attraction centers like Barton Creek Greenbelt, South Lamar is one of the best neighborhoods in Austin for young adults.
SoLa is also a perfect neighborhood for people who plan to start a family soon, as the schools in the neighborhood’s Austin Independent School District are top-rated. The average purchase price of a home is $282,267 while the average monthly rent costs $1,122.
14. Georgetown
Beautiful Georgetown is divided into two different parts: the Hill Country to the west and the farming land to the east. This area has been developing faster in recent years both in the economic aspect and in population. Georgetown was named as one of the best locations to live and launch by CNN money and the United States Census Bureau in 2016 named it as Fastest Growing City in America.
Small town feel and closeness to big-city bustling and the Hill Country implies that this neighborhood has something for everyone. Check out any of the closest outdoor attractions, such as Lake Georgetown, Blue Hole Park, and the Inner Space Cavern, or go shopping in the beautiful stores of Historic Georgetown Square.
Real estate in Georgetown offers a huge varied option, starting from modest starter bungalows costing $100,000 to wide luxury homes that cost about millions. The average home price is $349,900. Students in Georgetown schools, Georgetown Independent School District and Georgetown High School attend one of the National Blue Ribbon Schools.
15. North University
Named for its closeness to the University of Texas situated at Austin, the neighborhood of North University has been long to classic Austin Culture. Together with families and old residents, students and tenured faculty both live in this neighborhood, providing it a lot of energy and sophistication. It is easy to commute to downtown and has great walkability to daily necessities. Torchy’s Tacos, Hemphill Park, and the Wheatsville Food Co-op are located here together with many top trending cafes and restaurants in Austin.
North University is a great choice for those looking for that classic Austin vibe. Many of the homes in this neighborhood are 1-to-3-bedroom craftsman or bungalow-styled. You will also find a charming enclave of homes from around 1910 to 20s in the Aldridge Place Historic District of this neighborhood.
The average home price in North University is $350,000 and is serviced by the Austin Independent School District. Kirby Hall School is private and is found in North University.
Conclusion
Relocating to Austin with an easy and smooth moving experience? Our movers can make this life transition easy for you. Check out our cross country movers to take you to any of the neighborhoods.
