When searching for the best places to live in Austin, Texas, many factors come into play, such as proximity to your workplace, affordable housing, and quality health care. The many startups in Austin bring innovation, leading to further development and expansion of the metropolis. Housing options continue to increase, with the population projected to reach 4 million people by 2040. Thinking of living in one of Austin’s many neighborhoods? Here are the best places to live in the city.
Best places to live in Austin, Texas
According to a 2021-2022 U.S. News & World Report, Austin is the fifth-best city to live in the United States. In 2021, the U.K. finance site Money listed Austin as the best city to relocate to on the globe after considering factors like climate, cost of living, salary, internet speed, green spaces, restaurants, and average life expectancy. Along with its music and cultural institutions, Austin’s beer scene, outdoor space, and relatively low cost of living attract an average of 150 new residents every day.
Discover some of the best places to live in Austin:
- Cherrywood
- Crestview
- Windsor Park
- South Manchaca
- North University
Cherrywood
Cherrywood has a mix of ranch-style houses, pier bungalows, and some stucco duplexes. Of course, you’ll also see plenty of contemporary complexes and developments. According to Zumper’s most recent rent report, the median rent for an apartment in Cherrywood is $1,300. The quiet, shady streets and quaint local stores, pubs, and cafes make this a perfectly walkable neighborhood, too. You’re also just a short drive from Downtown Austin.
Major points of interest include Patterson Neighborhood Park, a skate park, playground, and green space, just a 15-minute walk from the center of the neighborhood. You can also visit the Texas Capitol, home to the state legislature, which is a 10-15 minute drive away. You’ll also have access to some of the best music venues in Austin.
Crestview
Crestview is adjacent to Brentwood and Allandale, both of which were former farmlands developed in the 1940s to 1960s. The homes generally range from small to medium apartments with a few ranch-style houses. The area has excellent walking paths and bicycle lanes. As such, you can take a walk or ride a bike to the local pubs, restaurants, and iconic neighborhood grocery stores. Soccer fans can easily unwind while watching a game at the Austin FC Soccer stadium.
The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Crestview is $1,595. The area’s just down the street from North Loop, one of Austin’s trendiest neighborhoods. This cherished place features fun, vintage shops, delicious local restaurants, cute cafes, and more. Plus, in Crestview, you’re just a 22-minute drive from McKinney Falls State Park.
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is about 15 minutes away from the University of Texas, which ranked No. 1 in the 2022 U.S. News global rankings. This is one of the best places to live in Austin if you want easy access to campus without dorm living. The neighborhood offers renters modest and modern ranches built using Austin’s cultural foundation. You’ll discover a middle-class, mixed ethnicity population north of downtown. The metropolitan population consists of employees, retirees, artists, and families.
You’ll find plenty of recreational activities in Windsor Park, including playgrounds, parks, and golf courses. Morris Williams Golf Course allows you to enjoy stunning views of the Austin skyline while playing on the recently renovated course. Lions Municipal Golf Course, one of Austin’s most popular courses, was one of the first courses in the South to desegregate prior to the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Dottie Jordan Park is a great locale for basketball, tennis, swimming, hiking, and picnicking.
South Manchaca
South Manchaca is home to the Austin Community College campus. The houses in this area are small, densely spaced, and mainly comprise single-family units. Apartment complexes and ranch-style homes are available at moderate prices. A one-bedroom apartment in South Manchaca averages $1,232 a month.
South Manchaca’s attractions include low-key neighborly bars and convenience stores. The strip mall complex offers a theater and a vast central retail market in Westgate. You may enjoy walking around the area to shop, eat, or visit attractions like the Cathedral of Junk, a whimsical, multilevel art gallery made from recycled items. Just a 10-minute drive away is the gorgeous John Bremond Jr. Mansion, an extravagant historical home. A fun restaurant in the neighborhood of North University is Vequero Taquero, a colorful spot serving sumptuous Mexican bites.
North University
North University blends a comfortable life with beautiful historical sites. It is close to the University of Texas campus and Hyde Park, one of Austin’s best neighborhoods for recent grads. The area has a variety of rental houses, and you can find more affordable housing options depending on your budget. North University has a countryside aura, especially around the south side near Aldridge Place Historic District.
As such, many home styles range from small- to medium-story wood-frame designs. You’ll find rentals of all types available, and the prices range from as low as $100 per month for shared accommodations to as high as $7,000 for a freestanding home. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in North University is $1,159. North University is a blend of the simple life crowned by academic sophistication, which resonates with Austin’s growth. You’ll also find plenty of craftsman styles and beautiful historical places.
What you’ll love about living in Austin
Austin, Texas, is one of the most unique places in the country. Here are some fun facts about this beloved city:
- If you move to Austin, Texas, you might just see your home city on the big screen. Austin has an extensive history of locally made films and television shows, including indie works and well-known pieces such as Boyhood, Friday the 13th, and Secondhand Lions.
- According to the Austin Visitor Center, Austin often ranks as one of the country’s best cities to visit. Over 30 million domestic visitors come to the city each year to participate in world-renowned music festivals, eat unparalleled cuisine, attend amazing sporting events, and explore the other many activities in the area.
- Every year, Austin residents and visitors alike gather to celebrate the birthday of Eeyore, A. A. Milne’s beloved fictional character and, of course, Winnie the Pooh’s close friend. Sponsored by the Friends of the Forest Foundation, this event is a fundraiser to benefit local nonprofit organizations.
- If you want to see the only surviving moonlight towers in the world, you’ll have to go to Austin, Texas. These 165-feet tall metal structures with orbs of light on top have existed in the city for over a century.
- Austin’s nickname of the “City of the Violet Crown” connects the town to ancient Athens through a reference to an ancient lyric poem by Pindar. The phrase refers to the purple sunsets in the region, caused by global wind patterns and dust high in the atmosphere.
Austin is known for its live music scene, diverse lifestyle activities, stunning natural landscapes, and hospitality that draws new residents every month. However, you’ll want to learn more about Austin before moving to the city to make sure it’s right for you. If you already decided to move into one of the best places to live in Austin, Texas, welcome to your new home.
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