Evaluating the 7 Best Neighborhoods in Austin
Our evaluation of Austin’s neighborhoods considers several key factors to help you find the perfect place to call home:
- Atmosphere: The character of the area, including nightlife, dining options, and community feel.
- Amenities: Access to schools, public transportation, and local services.
- Experience: Factors like safety, affordability, and walkability.
Here’s a breakdown of the top neighborhoods, ranked according to these criteria.
The Best Neighborhoods in Austin
8. Riverside
Ideal For: Students and young professionals
Price Range: Low to moderate
Highlights: Riverside offers an affordable, walkable environment with vibrant nightlife and easy access to Downtown. It features running paths along the Colorado River and a diverse selection of restaurants and bars.
- Affordability: 💸💸💸💸
- Beauty & Parks: 🌳🌳🌳
- Nightlife: 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
- Points of Interest: 📍📍📍
- Public Transit: 🚃🚃🚃🚃
- Safety: ✅
- Schools: 🍎🍎🍎
- Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍🛍🛍
- Walkability: 🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️
7. South Lamar
Ideal For: Young professionals and families
Price Range: Moderate
Highlights: South Lamar, or SoLa, is a lively area with a dynamic food and nightlife scene. It features a mix of new apartments and businesses, with iconic spots like the Broken Spoke dance hall adding to its unique character.
- Affordability: 💸💸💸
- Beauty & Parks: 🌳🌳🌳🌳
- Nightlife: 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
- Points of Interest: 📍📍📍
- Public Transit: 🚃🚃🚃🚃
- Safety: ✅✅✅
- Schools: 🍎🍎🍎🍎
- Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍🛍🛍🛍🛍
- Walkability: 🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️
6. East Austin
Ideal For: Independent movers
Price Range: Moderate
Highlights: East Austin is known for its vibrant culture and eclectic vibe, featuring a mix of historic homes and new developments. It offers unique restaurants, bars, and a growing arts scene.
- Affordability: 💸
- Beauty & Parks: 🌳🌳🌳
- Nightlife: 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
- Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍
- Public Transit: 🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃
- Safety: ✅✅
- Schools: 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎
- Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍🛍🛍🛍🛍
- Walkability: 🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️
5. “78704”
Ideal For: Adventure-seekers
Price Range: Moderate to high
Highlights: The 78704 area, including Zilker, Bouldin Creek, South Congress, and Travis Heights, offers a vibrant cultural scene with river views and numerous local events. It’s perfect for those who enjoy arts and music.
- Affordability: 💸
- Beauty & Parks: 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳
- Nightlife: 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
- Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍
- Public Transit: 🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃
- Safety: ✅✅✅
- Schools: 🍎🍎🍎🍎
- Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍🛍🛍🛍🛍
- Walkability: 🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️
4. Mueller
Ideal For: Families with young children
Price Range: Moderate to high
Highlights: Mueller is a modern development known for its green spaces and family-friendly atmosphere. With parks, bike trails, and a focus on sustainability, it’s ideal for those who value outdoor living and community events.
- Affordability: 💸💸💸
- Beauty & Parks: 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳
- Nightlife: 🎉🎉🎉🎉
- Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍
- Public Transit: 🚃🚃🚃
- Safety: ✅✅✅
- Schools: 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎
- Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍🛍🛍🛍🛍
- Walkability: 🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️
3. Hyde Park & North Loop
Ideal For: Outdoorsy folk and students
Price Range: Moderate
Highlights: Hyde Park and North Loop feature historic architecture and a vibrant local scene. Ideal for students and professionals, these areas offer local shops, parks, and a unique community vibe.
- Affordability: 💸💸
- Beauty & Parks: 🌳🌳🌳🌳
- Nightlife: 🎉🎉🎉
- Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍
- Public Transit: 🚃🚃
- Safety: ✅✅✅
- Schools: 🍎🍎🍎
- Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍🛍🛍
- Walkability: 🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️
2. Barton Hills
Ideal For: Nature lovers and families
Price Range: High
Highlights: Barton Hills is renowned for its proximity to Barton Creek Greenbelt, offering extensive hiking and biking trails. With high-end homes and a serene environment, it’s ideal for families and outdoor enthusiasts.
- Affordability: 💸💸💸💸💸
- Beauty & Parks: 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳
- Nightlife: 🎉🎉🎉
- Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍
- Public Transit: 🚃🚃
- Safety: ✅✅✅✅✅
- Schools: 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎
- Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍🛍🛍🛍
- Walkability: 🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️
1. Downtown Austin
Ideal For: Urbanites and professionals
Price Range: High
Highlights: Downtown Austin delivers the ultimate urban experience with its bustling nightlife, diverse dining options, and cultural hotspots. It’s perfect for those who thrive in a city environment and want to be close to work, entertainment, and amenities.
- Affordability: 💸💸💸💸💸
- Beauty & Parks: 🌳🌳🌳
- Nightlife: 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
- Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍📍
- Public Transit: 🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃
- Safety: ✅✅✅
- Schools: 🍎🍎🍎
- Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍🛍🛍🛍🛍
- Walkability: 🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️
Austin’s neighborhoods each offer distinct advantages, whether you’re looking for vibrant city life, scenic parks, or family-friendly environments. This guide should help you navigate the diverse options and find the perfect spot in the heart of Texas.