With every passing day, the city of Austin, Texas, is getting bigger. This is excellent news for small business owners like our home inspectors.
The Greater Austin area encompasses five counties and more than 2 million people. Between 2010 and 2015, the population of Greater Austin increased by over 16 percent—the second-fastest growth margin of any American city in that time period (the fastest growing was Charlotte, NC). This growth shows no signs of stopping, and for good reason: Austin has it all.
Some people come for school and end up staying for the epic music scene. Others take a job in the tech industry and enjoy the relatively low cost of living with a high-paying professional position. The urban setting also offers a haven of diversity for left-leaning folks in a predominantly conservative state. Food trucks, SXSW, a burgeoning creative scene, green space… whatever you’re into, you’re likely to find it in this diverse city.
Families, seniors, students, professionals—there is something for everyone in this growing city. Here are five idyllic Austin neighborhoods that have become more popular in recent years.
Windsor Park
Located north of downtown Austin, the Windsor Park neighborhood (zip code 78723) offers convenience, affordability, and family-friendly living within a 15-minute drive of the University of Texas. The community offers easy access to Interstate 35 and Highway 290, allowing residents to quickly commute to other areas of the city.
Windsor Park was developed on farmland in the 1950s. The 2,300-square-mile neighborhood had a population of about 16,500 in 2013.
The median age of Windsor Park residents is mid-thirties. The neighborhood is very popular with both single folks and young families: almost a quarter of the area’s residents have children. Windsor Park has a variety of amenities to appeal to these demographics, such as parks, schools, and libraries.
One of the area’s most popular and impressive amenities is Bartholomew District Park, a 57-acre green space that includes a playground, swimming pool, tennis courts, a course for disc golf, and more.
Windsor Park housing costs are comparable to the rest of the city. According to 2016 data from the Austin Board of Realtors, the median home cost in Windsor Park is $342,500. Most of Windsor Park residents rent, while about 37% own property in the area. Windsor Park’s median household income is just under $45,000.
There is also a decent selection of schools in the area. Within Windsor Park, there is a single high school, two gender-specific middle schools (one all-boys school and one all-girls), three elementaries, and two preschools.
With an easy drive to both downtown and the University, Windsor Park is a great choice for commuter families and individuals who are seeking a tranquil, suburban lifestyle.
Old West Austin
If the suburban dream isn’t exactly your idea of a good time, but you still don’t want to deal with the hustle-bustle of downtown full-time, Old West Austin (zip code 78703) might be more your speed.
The 5.6-square-mile area is actually a collection of three neighborhoods: Pemberton Heights, Old Enfield, and Bryker Woods. The neighborhoods are united by a historic feel, each dotted with old homes and buildings. House sizes are limited by a community ordinance, so development is controlled and the district’s old-fashioned character is maintained.
Old West Austin’s location is one of its most appealing qualities. The district is just a short drive north of Lady Bird Lake, a well-loved, 168-hectare body of water that offers boating and fishing recreation as well as 10 miles of trail for hiking and biking around the lake’s edge.
The district’s eastern border is marked by the long strip of the Johnson Creek Greenbelt, offering additional outdoor recreation opportunities. To the west is the MoPac Expressway, making for an easy commute to the north part of the city or across the river to the south. Perhaps most appealingly, Old West Austin residents can walk to downtown’s plentiful array of restaurants and bars.
About 20,500 people lived in Old West Austin in 2015—a number that has surely grown in recent years. Residents are generally in their mid-thirties and less than 40 percent of residents had children in 2015.
Old West Austin is one of the most popular districts in the Greater Austin area, which makes for a very competitive housing market. The median household income for residents in 2015 was about $88,000. At that time, the area was split almost fifty-fifty between renters and property owners. The Austin Board of Realtors reported a median home cost in the area of $747,500 in 2016.
Avery Ranch
A residential community with 4,000 homes spread out over 1,800 acres, Avery Ranch (zip code 78717) is one of Austin’s most rapidly growing areas.
Located about 20 minutes north of downtown Austin near Round Rock, Avery Ranch is a relatively new community. The neighborhood has a variety of amenities, including a golf course, five community centers with pools and sports courts, more than 8 miles of hiking and biking trails, a 60-acre lake, and an outdoor amphitheater.
Avery Ranch is an affordable neighborhood for families: over 65% of Avery Ranch residents have children and the median sales price for an Avery Park home in 2016 was just over $348,000—slightly lower than other popular neighborhoods in Austin. More than 60% of the neighborhood are property owners; rental options are limited.
The school selection is plentiful, with multiple school choices at all levels both nearby and within the community. For young families or quiet-craving individuals, Avery Ranch provides convenient access at a reasonable price.
Mueller Neighborhood
Mueller
Even newer than Avery Ranch, the Mueller community (zip code 78723) broke ground in 2007 and is fast becoming one of Austin’s hottest neighborhoods. Mueller is expected to reach completion with 5,700 homes this year.
The Robert Mueller Municipal Airport closed in 1999, leaving over 700 acres available for development of the Mueller urban neighborhood. Perhaps the most appealing quality of the Mueller neighborhood is its 3-mile proximity to downtown. Mueller also provides easy access to the University of Texas just across Interstate 35. The community is well-served by public transportation routes.
Mueller shares a border with the Windsor Park neighborhood and also reaps the benefits of nearby Bartholomew District Park. Mueller is dotted with a number of other green spaces, totaling 140 acres available to outdoor lovers. Ella Wooten Park includes a public pool and the aptly-named Lake Park features a 6.5-acre lake.
Despite it’s proximity to downtown, Mueller is meant to be a self-sufficient community with a fully-developed shopping center. Residents will have access to a variety of restaurants, a major grocery store, and a children’s hospital and research center.
Mueller residents are young—the median age is about 32 and almost 50 percent of them have children. More than half of the residents were renters in 2015. At the end of 2016, the median asking price for homes in this neighborhood was $342,500.
Mueller provides a centrally-located, convenient living option for almost anyone.
Central East Austin
As Austin has grown more popular in recent years, the Central East Austin (zip code 78702) neighborhood has seen some changes. Several long-time residents—many of them retired seniors— are witnessing the arrival of younger students and professionals who have flocked to the area because of its excellent location and affordability. This migration has resulted in some new construction and revitalization of the once-rundown area.
University of Texas students can be found at the neighborhood’s 24-hour coffee shop, Bennu Coffee, or chowing down on a slice at local staple East Side Pies. Families can enjoy the water play pad and playground at Chestnut Park and nature lovers can explore the nearby Boggy Creek Greenbelt. Central East Austin is the picture of urban living in a tiny space: the neighborhood is just under a square mile, with a population of less than 5,000.
Central East Austin is a melting pot with a diverse ethnic and demographic breakdown. The median household income for a Central East Austin household in 2015 was about $46,000. Most residents were in their early thirties and less than 35 percent of them had kids.
The median home sales price for Central East Austin in 2016 was just over $388,000. An excellent choice for anyone involved with the university, this neighborhood offers a city experience without the challenging price crunch of downtown.
Make the Move… ASAP
Austin’s growth doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. New communities are cropping up on the outskirts of the city, but these neighborhoods will require longer and longer commutes to access the heart of what makes Austin special: it’s downtown and riverfront area.
If you’re hoping to live in one of these pristine, unique neighborhoods with convenient access to the city’s greatest perks, time is of the essence.
Cursory List of Sources
www.city-data.com
https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/n/windsor-park-austin-tx/
http://kut.org/post/what-draws-people-austin-and-what-drives-them-away
http://www.austintexasinsider.com/austinneighborhoods.html