Wondering where to live in Austin? There are more than one hundred Austin, Texas neighborhoods, each with its own character and vibe. These neighborhoods are divided into nine regions including Central Austin, West Austin, North Austin, South Austin, and more.
Ready to discover the best Austin neighborhoods you might want to call home? Here’s a look at cool neighborhoods in Austin for young professionals, families, renters, and more broken down by the main Austin districts.
North Austin Neighborhoods
North Austin is one of the best places to live in Austin, Texas for families with quiet, established neighborhoods, plenty of parks, and family-friendly amenities. You’ll also find several award-winning breweries in North Austin and large mixed-use developments for shopping and dining. Because it’s close to major employers like AT&T and Dell as well as downtown, it’s also popular with tech workers and professionals.
Northwest Hills – Family-Friendly Suburban Neighborhood Great for Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Median home price: $890,000
- Median rent: $1,630
Northwest Hills or Far West is one of the best places to live in Austin if you’re looking for a quiet, suburban atmosphere. Far removed from the urban core, you’ll find dozens of subdivisions in this affluent North Austin neighborhood with large homes, gorgeous views, excellent schools, and boating on Lake Austin right down the street.
Northwest Hills has mostly single-family homes in subdivisions, but there are some clusters of multi-family housing options. You’ll love exploring the rugged outdoors in the area and watching the sunsets at Mount Bonnell. You’ll feel far from the city, but downtown is less than 15 minutes away!
Allandale – One of the Best Areas to Live in Austin TX for Families
- Median home price: $1 million
- Median rent: $1,620
Allandale is a desirable and quiet North Austin neighborhood known for its close-knit community and award-winning schools. Families love this picturesque neighborhood with mature trees and quiet, established residential streets with many mid-century homes that have been completely updated.
Burnet Road is the main commercial area of the neighborhood with restaurants and shopping while the main park is Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park with a duck pond, pool, and sports courts.
While living in Allandale, Austin, you’ll still enjoy easy access to surrounding communities with downtown Austin just 6 miles away.
West Austin Neighborhoods
West Austin is known for its excellent schools, outdoor recreation, and very safe neighborhoods. While it lacks diversity, West Austin is the place to live if you want to escape urban sprawl in favor of picturesque lakes and rolling hills.
Tarrytown – Best Place to Live in Austin for the Best of Urban and Suburban Living
- Median home price: $2 million
- Median rent: $3,225
There’s a reason Tarrytown Austin is one of the most expensive Austin neighborhoods! This desirable community seemingly has it all: access to public transportation, very low crime, highly rated schools, and plenty of green space. You’ll enjoy convenient shopping in the neighborhood and a small-town feel with a close-knit community and regular events. It’s one of the most popular Austin neighborhoods for families thanks to its excellent schools and family-friendly amenities, but retirees also flock to Tarrytown with its large homes, lush green spaces, and the popular Lions Municipal Golf Course.
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Central Austin Neighborhoods
Home to Downtown Austin, Central Austin is one of the best places to live in Austin for young professionals and singles. It’s close to many of the city’s top destinations.
Hyde Park – Historic Planned Community Near Downtown Austin Perfect for Families
- Median home price: $817,000
- Median rent: $1,840
Hyde Park, Austin isn’t just one of the best neighborhoods in Austin for families, it’s overall one of the best areas to live in Austin TX with a strong sense of community, very low crime, and comparative affordability. You’ll love the tree-lined streets and beautiful Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, Victorian, and Craftsman bungalow homes surrounding Hyde Park’s most well-known landmark: the Elizabet Ney Museum, a castle-like home and art studio built in 1893 to showcase Ney’s work.
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Hyde Park is one of the best neighborhoods in Austin to buy a house thanks to its location just 4 miles from downtown, access to good public transportation, and idyllic atmosphere. It’s easy to see why young professionals and families find Hyde Park such a desirable place to live!
Downtown Austin – Best Neighborhood in Austin for Young Professionals & Singles
- Median home price: $790,000
- Median rent: $3,380
Popular with transplants as well as Austin natives, there’s nothing like living in Downtown Austin. It’s the most expensive Austin neighborhood, but it offers a great lifestyle with a thriving business district, exciting nightlife, and gorgeous views.
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You’ll find many high-rises and condos with Colorado River and skyline views with luxury amenities. The best Austin attractions and top employers will be within walking distance!
Want to explore the best Central Austin apartments? Gables Republic Square is right on the central Republic Square public square and farmer’s market and steps from public transit. You can walk to Ballet Austin, the new Block 185 Google office, and nightlife destinations like the Roosevelt Room. The Beverly Austin is in the heart of the Financial District near the Texas Capitol and Waterloo Park and backed by the Waller Creek preserve.
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Rosedale – One of the Best Austin Neighborhoods for Families in Central Austin
- Median home price: $1.3 million
- Median rent: $1,600
Looking for downtown Austin neighborhoods that are family-friendly? You won’t want to pass over Rosedale, a beautiful Austin neighborhood with historic charm. Rosedale is an affluent neighborhood with more than 1,200 homes, most built in the 1930s and 1940s for architectural appeal you won’t find in the new developments. Families love the strong sense of community with many businesses and amenities within walking distance.
Rosedale is home to the central Ramsey Park with picnic areas, playgrounds, tennis courts, and a swimming pool. It’s close to the Capitol, Downtown Austin, and the University of Texas at Austin.
South Austin Neighborhoods
South Austin is the place to be for Austin’s famous food and music culture and the “old Austin” vibe. It’s one of the primary Austin regions people think of when they think of the “weird Austin” atmosphere.
South Congress (SoCo) – Best Place to Live in Austin for the “Weird Austin” Atmosphere
- Median home price: $1.2 million
- Median rent: $1,870
South Congress Austin is one of the most iconic Austin neighborhoods that personifies the “Keep Austin Weird” manta. A popular hangout spot for locals, South Congress is one of the best places to live in Austin for singles and young professionals. You’ll love the walkability, sense of community, great nightlife and dining options, and fun bohemian atmosphere.
You can catch plenty of live shows in your own neighborhood, witness the largest urban bat colony in the world take flight in the evening from the Congress Avenue Bridge, and stop by the famous Cathedral of Junk, one of the most fun “Weird Austin” attractions around!
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South Lamar (SoLa) – One of the Best Neighborhoods in Austin to Rent Just Outside Downtown
- Median home price: $890,000
- Median rent: $2,030
South Lamar or SoLa is an iconic South Austin neighborhood that’s become one of the most trendy places to live. It’s become one of the most desirable places to rent in Austin TX thanks to its affordable rent prices compared to downtown which is just minutes away. It offers a vibrant nightlife and fun places to hang out with dive bars, boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and thrift shops that help it maintain its artistic roots.
South Lamar’s most famous attraction is the Broken Spoke, a landmark honky-tonk since 1964.
Circle C Ranch – One of the Best Family Neighborhoods in Austin with Plenty of Amenities
- Median home price: $1.05 million
- Median rent: $1,870
Circle C Ranch is just 12 miles south of Downtown Austin in the desirable Southwest Austin region. This family-friendly neighborhood is a group of master planned communities with common amenities like parks, pools, and a golf club with the first homes built in 1986.
Circle C Ranch is one of the best Austin neighborhoods thanks to its luxurious lifestyle yet rural vibe not too far from downtown attractions. The community has a large community center and central pool plus two swim centers with toddler pools, lap swimming, sand volleyball, playscapes, and sports courts. There are six playscapes in the Circle C development and several local amenities like the Circle C Tennis Club and Circle C Metropolitan Park. Families love life surrounded by green spaces and mature oak trees!
You can learn more about amenities and activities through the Circle C Ranch HOA.
East Austin Neighborhoods
East Austin has an unfair reputation as a gritty or even dangerous Austin area, but the truth is it’s one of the most diverse areas of Austin, Texas and most areas are very safe. It’s one of the most affordable regions of the city with many fun, desirable communities.
Mueller – Eco-Conscious, Mixed-Use Community for Families & Singles
- Median home price: $1 million
- Median rent: $1,700
One of the newest Austin neighborhoods, Mueller was built in 2007 on the site of the former Robert Mueller Airport. Its former life is still visible in the street layout and hangars transformed into performing spaces and studios. Mueller was built as a “transit-oriented community” with plentiful green spaces, easy access to downtown and the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and a popular farmer’s market.
It’s ideal location and environmentally friendly design makes it one of the best places to live in Austin, Texas for families, singles, and seniors alike. The highlight of this hip Austin neighborhood is Mueller Lake Park with scenic paved paths and frequent community events.
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Central East Austin – Best Neighborhood in Austin for Young Professionals Outside Downtown
- Median home price: $695,000
- Median rent: $2,550
Want to stay close to downtown without the high prices? Central East Austin is a great alternative to living in Downtown Austin for singles and young professionals.
One of the most unique cool neighborhoods in Austin, it embodies the “Keep Austin Weird” slogan with trendy bars, music venues, small shops, and unique attractions. You’ll find older homes and classic architecture alongside new condo developments with lower rent than downtown. It’s right alongside I-35 and adjacent to Downtown Austin, plus you’re minutes from the Colorado River, the University of Texas at Austin, and top attractions.
Map of Austin Texas Neighborhoods
Ready to explore the best neighborhoods in Austin ahead of your big move? Below is a map showing the largest and most well-known neighborhoods. For a funny and helpful take, check out the Hoodmaps Austin neighborhood map that’s crowdsourced with tags and colors to find hangout spots, cool areas, affluent areas, and Austin neighborhoods for young professionals.
You can also explore Austin neighborhoods through the Austin Open Data Portal which shows more than 500 self-registered neighborhood associations and community organizations. This can be a good way to discover HOAs and subdivisions in the city.
Does one of these cool Austin neighborhoods sound perfect for you? Once you know where to live in Austin to fit your lifestyle and budget, Unicorn Moving & Storage is ready to give you the stress-free moving day you deserve. Give us a call today for a free, personalized quote from the best Austin movers so you can settle into your new neighborhood without the worry and hassle.
