Austin Neighborhoods

A huge part of the charm of Austin, Texas is its neighborhoods. Austin is a collection of over a hundred different neighborhoods, each unique with its individual flair and character. Together, they add up to a wonderfully diverse range of neighborhood personalities.

Maybe you're looking for somewhere to rent for a year or two. Or perhaps you're looking to settle down and find a place to buy and call your own. Whatever you want in a home, you'll find many choices in the Texas Capital City.

From the proud quirkiness of SoCo to the quiet residential community of North Shoal Creek; from the urban bustle of Downtown to the natural beauty of Barton Creek and the breathtaking hill country views of Cat Mountain - no matter what kind of locale you'd like to call home, chances are there's a area of Austin that's just right for you.

On these pages we profile a sample of the many neighborhoods in and near Austin. Browsing through these descriptions will show you the diversity of Austin's people, scenery, and local businesses. We invite you to take a virtual tour of Austin through these neighborhood profiles.

Then, once you're actually here, we encourage you to explore a handful of neighborhoods that appeal to you. Whether you end up staying for a few months or a few decades, you'll soon be writing your own chapter in the continuing story of our city.

NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILES

Austin's neighborhoods are grouped into nine geographical regions, each named for its location relative to the state capitol, in the heart of the city. Below is a sketch of the Austin area and the nine regions comprising it.

The major boundaries are Hwy. 1 (MoPac), Interstate Hwy. 35, and Lady Bird Lake. The lake separates central Austin from south Austin, and east Austin from southeast. Hwy. 1 forms the boundary between central and west, and I-35 divides central Austin from east.

Click on the links below to learn more about each of the different regions. Or Return to Austin Texas Insider


NORTHWEST

Excellent livability and panoramic views of the central Texas Hill Country are some of the benefits of choosing a home in northwest Austin. So are excellent schools, ... read more

NORTH

Quiet, established, family-oriented neighborhoods, parks, restaurants, stores, and cafes, central location in Austin ... read more

NORTHEAST

Northeast Austin has similarities to east Austin: steeped in history; longtime residents whose families have lived there for generations; some quiet residential areas, ... read more

WEST

Outstanding natural scenery and ambiance, beautiful homes, plenty of outdoor recreation options, and nationally ranked schools combine to make west Austin a highly desirable area to live, ... read more

CENTRAL

Central Austin is one of the most desirable Austin regions to live in as it provides close access to some of Austin's most popular attractions: the Texas State Capitol and Visitor Center, ... read more

EAST

Despite a reputation in some local circles for being gritty, rundown, and dangerous, in reality east Austin is quite possibly the most diverse, and in many ways, most intriguing part of the city ... read more

SOUTHWEST

Southwest Austin encompasses some older, established neighborhoods and many newer developments. It has become an increasingly sought-after living area ... read more

SOUTH

South Austin runs the gamut from the wide open green spaces of Barton Springs, to the trendy shopping/dining/artist/music districts in and around SoCo, ... read more

SOUTHEAST

Southeast Austin is a large, diverse region. Some sections include residential communities with bungalow-style homes, others have college apartment complexes and commercial storefronts, ... read more

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Neighborhood Suggestions

For a mid-sized town, Austin presents many choices of where to live. It can get confusing and maybe overwhelming. The table below offers some suggestions on areas to begin your search, depending on your situation and preferences.

If you're looking for a neighborhood that ...	Then you might consider ...
Has Good Dining	South Congress, Zilker, Old West Austin, Downtown, Hyde Park, South Lamar, North Burnet, Bouldin Creek, Travis Heights, Hancock
Is Near Parks and Green Spaces	Zilker, East Oak Hill, Mueller, Barton Hills, Lost Creek, River Place, Barton Creek, Steiner Ranch, Jester Estates, McKinney, Rob Roy, Belterra, Highpointe, Avery Ranch
Has Good Nightlife	Downtown, South Congress, University of Texas, Old West Austin, South Lamar, East Cesar Chavez, Zilker, Central East Austin, Bouldin Creek, Triangle State
Is Family-Friendly	Cat Mountain, Hyde Park, Northwest Hills, Tarrytown, Old West Austin, Rosedale, Old Enfield, Barton Hills, Highland Park West Balcones, Allandale, Circle C Ranch
Has A Strong Sense of Community	Balcones Woods, Bryker Woods, Hyde Park, Holly, Govalle, South Congress, Crestview, Battle Bend Springs, Allandale, Tarrytown
Has Good Shopping Nearby	South Congress, North Burnet, North Loop, Travis Heights, Mueller, Bouldin Creek, Triangle State, Old West Austin, Angus Valley, Great Hills
Is Good For Singles	University of Texas, South Congress, Triangle State, Downtown, Bouldin Creek, Old West Austin, Central East Austin, Zilker, North Loop
Is Good For Seniors	Allandale, Highland Park West Balcones, Rollingwood, East Oak Hill, Steiner Ranch, Tarrytown, Rosedale, West Oak Hill, Bryker Woods, Lost Creek, Windsor Hills
Is Quiet	Highland Park West Balcones, Highland Park West Balcones, Rollingwood, Cat Mountain, Jester Estates, West Lake Hills, Gracy Woods, Barton Creek, Lost Creek
Has Good Public Transportation	University of Texas, Hyde Park, Mueller, Triangle State, Tarrytown, West Congress, Chestnut, Rosedale, Bryker Woods, Barton Hills, Saint Edwards, Highland
Is Safe	Lost Creek, Cat Mountain, West Lake Hills, Rollingwood, Tarrytown, Jester Estates, East Oak Hill, West Oak Hill, Rob Roy, Austin Lake Estates, Belterra, Highpointe, River Place, Lakeway

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