Want to get your hands on one of the hottest housing markets in America for 2024? Look no further than Austin, Texas. The city that trademarked the slogan “Keep Austin Weird” might have cool, eclectic businesses and food trucks that make weird things like ice cream using liquid nitrogen, but what really sets Austin apart is the great people, great neighborhoods, and affordable housing.
Matter of fact, Austin is currently one of the best cities in the US and one of the fastest growing cities in America, and if that’s weird than every city should want to be weird. But, what we think would be weird is if you tried to move to the ATX without knowing where the city’s best neighborhoods are located. Don’t worry, however, the experts are here: HomeSnacks has created a list of the best neighborhoods in Austin for 2024 and listed them below.
What is Austin’s formula for success? Well, we don’t know all of their secrets, but what we do know is that after looking at the FBI data for crime reports, the Census report for population counts and housing costs, and the BLS data for current unemployment numbers for Austin’s 60 neighborhoods; and, folks, the top ten best neighborhoods in Austin have really brought their A-game. These neighborhoods are crushing our SnackAbility metrics for low unemployment rates, affordability, safety, and amenities.
So, if you want to know where the best neighborhood to buy your forever home in Austin is located, grab a slice of ‘za from the VIA 313 truck and a sunny spot in Zilker Park and keep reading.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The best neighborhoods to live in Austin are by no means the cheapest in the Live Music Capital of the World. To live in many of Austin’s best hoods you are going to have to make at least $19,798/year to afford to buy one of the $405,913 homes that dot the landscape in the city’s top ten. But, it’s worth it the price tag. Trust us, neighborhoods like Hyde Park and Barton Hills have lost to do and they are super safe.
So, what’s the best neighborhood in Austin? According to the latest data and our SnackAbility metrics, that would be Downtown.
To see where your favorite Austin neighborhood landed on our list, take a look below.
For more Texas reading, check out:
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Austin
Population: 12,436
Median Home Value: $764,975 (Third best)
Median Income: $106,972 (Fifth best)
More on Downtown: Data | Real Estate
Population: 6,739
Median Home Value: $484,400 (16th best)
Median Income: $125,606 (Second best)
More on Crestview: Data | Real Estate
Population: 9,287
Median Home Value: $681,512 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $118,667 (Fourth best)
More on Zilker: Data | Real Estate
Population: 6,179
Median Home Value: $619,317 (Seventh best)
Median Income: $126,210 (best)
More on Rosedale: Data | Real Estate
Population: 6,483
Median Home Value: $651,617 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $93,876 (Seventh best)
More on South River City: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,390
Median Home Value: $434,700 (23rd best)
Median Income: $79,676 (16th best)
More on Chestnut: Data | Real Estate
Population: 8,635
Median Home Value: $470,471 (17th best)
Median Income: $69,392 (29th best)
More on South Lamar: Data | Real Estate
Population: 10,234
Median Home Value: $457,414 (19th best)
Median Income: $74,838 (2best)
More on Brentwood: Data | Real Estate
Population: 5,510
Median Home Value: $918,567 (Second best)
Median Income: $123,681 (Third best)
More on Windsor Road: Data | Real Estate
Population: 3,955
Median Home Value: $1,070,100 (best)
Median Income: $82,566 (12th best)
More on Old West Austin: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Austin, TX Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Austin, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 60 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Austin.” We’re lookin’ at you, Downtown.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Austin, Texas has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Austin.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Austin
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Austin where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Austin are Downtown, Crestview, Zilker, Rosedale, South River City, Chestnut, South Lamar, Brentwood, Windsor Road, and Old West Austin.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Austin aren’t all good. Martin Luther King-Hwy 183 takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Austin.
The worst neighborhoods in Austin are Martin Luther King-Hwy 183, Saint Edwards, North Burnett, Montopolis, and Heritage Hills.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Texas reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Austin For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Downtown | 12,436 | $764,975 | $106,972 |
| 2 | Crestview | 6,739 | $484,400 | $125,606 |
| 3 | Zilker | 9,287 | $681,512 | $118,667 |
| 4 | Rosedale | 6,179 | $619,317 | $126,210 |
| 5 | South River City | 6,483 | $651,617 | $93,876 |
| 6 | Chestnut | 2,390 | $434,700 | $79,676 |
| 7 | South Lamar | 8,635 | $470,471 | $69,392 |
| 8 | Brentwood | 10,234 | $457,414 | $74,838 |
| 9 | Windsor Road | 5,510 | $918,567 | $123,681 |
| 10 | Old West Austin | 3,955 | $1,070,100 | $82,566 |
| 11 | Holly | 2,934 | $484,720 | $74,274 |
| 12 | East Cesar Chavez | 3,639 | $484,600 | $75,122 |
| 13 | Rmma | 6,070 | $501,260 | $104,286 |
| 14 | Hyde Park | 5,833 | $563,817 | $54,202 |
| 15 | Allandale | 10,127 | $523,550 | $82,050 |
| 16 | Garrison Park | 11,315 | $310,044 | $78,928 |
| 17 | Barton Hills | 9,368 | $554,125 | $89,750 |
| 18 | Galindo | 5,346 | $427,800 | $78,638 |
| 19 | Triangle State | 1,820 | $453,800 | $71,206 |
| 20 | South Manchaca | 7,520 | $356,212 | $80,330 |
| 21 | Dawson | 3,176 | $422,867 | $73,843 |
| 22 | North University | 4,338 | $365,567 | $40,013 |
| 23 | University Hills | 4,803 | $369,067 | $73,726 |
| 24 | Bouldin | 6,229 | $659,500 | $84,789 |
| 25 | Windsor Hills | 9,032 | $259,667 | $60,570 |
| 26 | Pecan Springs Springdale | 7,352 | $341,500 | $82,804 |
| 27 | Riverside | 12,314 | $377,650 | $64,246 |
| 28 | Windsor Park | 16,512 | $369,622 | $77,716 |
| 29 | University Of Texas | 9,719 | $409,333 | $64,666 |
| 30 | Pleasant Valley | 14,842 | $284,500 | $49,743 |
| 31 | Central East Austin | 5,879 | $486,025 | $74,348 |
| 32 | Govalle | 5,507 | $408,300 | $81,886 |
| 33 | Rosewood | 5,859 | $425,467 | $59,946 |
| 34 | Sweet Briar | 6,433 | $279,875 | $65,239 |
| 35 | Wooten | 7,151 | $388,767 | $60,739 |
| 36 | West Gate | 3,908 | $437,600 | $55,423 |
| 37 | Upper Boggy Creek | 5,219 | $431,900 | $71,323 |
| 38 | Johnston Terrace | 1,314 | $312,000 | $74,318 |
| 39 | North Lamar | 7,350 | $197,433 | $50,636 |
| 40 | West University | 15,840 | $365,150 | $19,798 |
| 41 | North Loop | 5,265 | $451,583 | $64,884 |
| 42 | North Shoal Creek | 4,622 | $464,800 | $64,072 |
| 43 | Coronado Hills | 3,025 | $269,500 | $38,137 |
| 44 | Hancock | 5,466 | $520,060 | $55,204 |
| 45 | North Austin | 27,374 | $246,400 | $52,321 |
| 46 | Southeast | 5,009 | $314,200 | $85,947 |
| 47 | East Congress | 3,591 | $299,500 | $64,305 |
| 48 | Mlk | 5,261 | $367,917 | $68,127 |
| 49 | Parker Lane | 9,056 | $290,467 | $46,454 |
| 50 | West Congress | 3,611 | $314,775 | $64,496 |
| 51 | Highland | 5,307 | $327,250 | $57,824 |
| 52 | Franklin Park | 14,919 | $155,325 | $50,880 |
| 53 | Saint Johns | 9,414 | $119,120 | $38,935 |
| 54 | Georgian Acres | 9,299 | $190,667 | $48,241 |
| 55 | Mckinney | 5,030 | $232,600 | $60,159 |
| 56 | Heritage Hills | 7,129 | $191,400 | $43,405 |
| 57 | Montopolis | 10,471 | $258,675 | $60,827 |
| 58 | North Burnett | 10,086 | $271,400 | $62,574 |
| 59 | Saint Edwards | 5,395 | $96,800 | $37,831 |
| 60 | Martin Luther King-Hwy 183 | 8,366 | $167,560 | $38,101 |