Austin Texas Neighborhoods & Areas (scroll down)

Where Are the Wealthiest Neighborhoods in Austin?

Commute Times to Downtown

Central Austin is a very desirable area to live, and for good reason. Residents enjoy easy access to all that makes Austin one of America's top ranking cities to live in.  Some of the attractions that define this area (and our great city)include:Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail, 6th Street live music venues and clubs, great restaurants, the Texas State Capitol, the University of Texas, Austin Children's Museum, Whole Foods International World Headquarters and flagship store.

North Central Austin neighborhoods stretch from the heart of Austin to Round Rock and Pflugerville with noteworthy new development. The Domain shopping center and residential area opened in 2007 and is home to Neiman Marcus and other high-end retail and restaurants. Just south on Mo-Pac is Arbor Walk, another new shopping center. IBM, the University of Texas JJ Pickle Research Campus, and the Texas Culinary Academy are located in North Central Austin. You’ll find established neighborhoods with homes from the 1950s in Allandale and Crestview, and newer homes further north.

East and NE Austin has experienced a construction boom in recent years, a bittersweet fact for those who depend on the affordable housing and community life the area offers.  The area boasts great local restaurants (e.g. Hoover’s, Eastside Café, Juan in a Million, Nuevo Leon), businesses (Boggy Creek Farm, Big Red Sun), attractions (French Legation Museum, Huston-Tillotson College, Texas State Cemetery), and new developments (e.g. Saltillo Lofts, Guadalupe 31, Mueller). You’ll find some of the least expensive homes in Austin here ($65K+) with manufactured and pier and beam homes to restored Victorians, new condos and production homes

South Austin  Home to the zip code (78704) and the slogan "Keep Austin Weird". You don't have to be weird to live there, but if you want to get a feel for what Austin is all about, this is a great place to start. Great neighborhoods like Barton Hills, Travis Heights and Bouldin Creek are in South Austin, and SoCo (South Congress) is about the hippest place you'll find with it's funky shops, cool bars (Continental Club, Doc's), great restaurants (Mars, Guero's, Home Slice), and great parties (First Thursday). Auditorium Shores, the Palmer Events Center, and St. Edwards University (one of the prettiest campuses we've seen) are also located in South Austin.

Southeast Austin, a large region, includes areas like East Riverside, where you'll find affordable college apartments and housing, and rural towns just outside the Austin city limits like Del Valle, Creedmoor, and Mustang Ridge. In the southern part of the region you'll find Onion Creek, a neighborhood that gained recognition in the 1970's for hosting what is now the PGA Champions Tour.  Here you will find, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, McKinney Falls State Park, municipal golf courses (Riverside, Roy Kizer, and Jimmy Clay), Pleasant Valley District Park, the Colorado River Greenbelt, and Austin's Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail. Home prices in Southeast Austin are generally lower than in other parts of Austin. 

Northwest Austin is home to the Arboretum and Gateway Center, as well as many high tech employers such as Texas Instruments, Motorola, and Motive. Most of this area is considered the suburbs, but part of the area is still considered central and is a very desirable place to live with larger older custom homes and hill country settings and easy access to downtown.

Southwest Austin Most neighborhoods in the area have a suburban feel. You'll find newer production neighborhoods such as Legend Oaks, the Village of Western Oaks, Shady Hollow, and in Circle C. Circle C is one of Austin's largest and most desirable suburban communities near the The Golf Club at Circle C. Rural areas off 1826 add to the diversity of the area, as do older homes in Oak Hill near the Y (Hwy 290 & Hwy 71 intersection).

West Austin is home to many of the most prized neighborhoods in Austin: Davenport, Seven Oaks, Rob Roy, Rollingwood and the Hills of Westlake, just to name a few. The exemplary schools of Eanes ISD,are located in this area. Many of the homes overlook Lake Austin or have spectacular views of downtown Austin. No doubt, it is one of the most beautiful areas in Austin.

Far West Austin is mainly defined by water. Lake Austin and Lake Travis, both part of the Colorado River system, run through this expansive Austin region. Most of the area is outside the Austin city limits with the cities of Bee Cave and Lakeway south, and the cities of Lago Vista and Jonestown to the north. These wonderful lake communities boast beautiful hill country, casual lake atmosphere, and proximity to Austin.  The area is booming. The Hill Country Galleria, including Whole Foods grocery, and soon to be complete Lakeway Regional Medical Center is a sign of this growth. 

Dripping Springs is quiet hill country living.  The region is southwest of Austin, in Hay's county. Rural communities with easy attitudes and beautiful scenery. Most communities here are ranch properties and homes on acre+ lots.  A large, newer community east of Dripping Springs, Belterra, has a fabulous suburban feel.

Twenty miles north of central Austin is the Cedar Park / Leander region. The cities that make up this area are located in both Williamson and Travis Counties. Touted as one of the fastest growing regions in the Austin area, Cedar Park and Leander have become a favorite living area. Golf, shopping, water sports and the famed Cedar Park Center make this a great place to live. Visit the City of Cedar Park website to learn about area attractions.

North of Austin, Round Rock is home to headquarters for Dell, Inc., one of the world's leading computer companies. The city is one of the fastest growing in Texas, and was recently named one of the 100 Best Places to Live in the US.  Getting from Round Rock to Austin is now easier with the recent opening of Austin's first toll road, SH 45. Home to the Round Rock Express baseball team, new IKEA, and Round Rock Premium Outlets there is plenty to do living here.  Round Rock includes the master planned communities of Avery Ranch, Forest Creek, and Mayfield Ranch.