The Best Austin Neighborhoods for Raising a Family

If you’re looking for the best place to raise a family in Austin, you’ll want to check out these neighborhoods. Each has its own unique set of benefits that will make your life easier and your children’s lives more fun and exciting. We’ll look at each one and then compare them head to head.

Zilker Park and Barton Springs

Who doesn’t want to live in the home of Austin City Limits and a few blocks from Barton Springs? If you’re looking for the best place to raise a family in Austin, there’s no better place than within walking distance of Zilker Park and Barton Springs. The park is vast (350 acres) and filled with trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, swimming spots like Barton Springs itself, concerts like Austin City Limits, festivals like ACL Fest, Art City Austin, and Blues on the Green…there’s always something fun to do at the park. Within walking distance of Zilker Park, you’ll also find ACL Live, The Long Center for the Performing Arts, and much more. What’s even better is that housing prices in this area are very reasonable as well. You can get a nice house with a big yard here but still, be just minutes from downtown Austin and all of the fun it offers.

Central Austin Neighborhoods

The best place to raise a family in Austin would be somewhere like Tarrytown or Bryker Woods, where you can still walk to restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, and even bars. If you like the idea of living close to downtown but don’t want to be too isolated from your kids’ school and friends, consider staying close to downtown but on the other side. You’ll be close to all of the fun that downtown has to offer while still benefiting from being able to walk or bike anywhere you want to go.

North Central Austin Neighborhoods

What if you want the amenities of Tarrytown or Bryker Woods but with faster access to downtown? For example, you could live in a North Central Austin neighborhood like Rosedale or Crestview. These are one of the best places to raise a family in Austin because you’ll get all of the benefits of being close-in but still be far enough away from downtown that your kids will have plenty of room to run around and play. Plus, your commute downtown will probably only be about 10 minutes.

East Austin Neighborhoods

What if you love the idea of living very close to downtown but don’t want to pay $400,000 for a house? You could try an East Austin neighborhood like Travis Heights or Clarksville. Maybe it’s just me, but I think these are some of the best places to raise a family in Austin. You can still have that downtown lifestyle without having to break the bank.

West Austin Neighborhoods

You have to drive a little bit to get downtown, but once you’re there, it seems so close because of the number of great things going on downtown. What if you want to be close enough to downtown that you could walk there but far enough away that you couldn’t see it from your house? In that case, I’d suggest a West Austin neighborhood like Travis Heights or Clarksville.

Barton Hills & Cherrywood Neighborhoods

What if you want to live somewhere close to downtown without the hassle of city traffic? You could move to a neighborhood like Barton Hills or Cherrywood, where you can still get downtown in 10 minutes, but you won’t have to fight traffic every day.

South/Southeast Austin Neighborhoods

What if you don’t mind a super-long commute but want to be able to afford a house in the $200,000 range? You could try moving south or southeast, where housing prices are significantly lower than they are closer to downtown. This can often mean a much longer commute, though, so you’ll have to be willing to drive at least 30 minutes, depending on where you work.

Southwest Austin Neighborhoods

What if you don’t mind a long commute and want to live somewhere super-affordable? Try moving to the southwest part of the city, where housing prices are around $100,000. This can often mean a commute of at least 40 minutes each way, though, so be prepared for that.

Northwest Austin Neighborhoods

What if you want to live downtown but have more money to spend on your house? You could try living in a neighborhood of Northwest Austin, like Bryker Woods or Tarrytown. These are some of the most expensive neighborhoods in town, so you’ll likely get more houses for your money here compared to closer-in neighborhoods. Plus, these are some of the best places to raise a family in Austin because you’ll get all of the benefits of being close-in but still be far enough away from downtown that your kids will have plenty of room to run around and play.

Downtown Neighborhoods

What if you want to live right in the thick of it all? You could try a downtown neighborhood like Clarksville, Pemberton Heights, or Hyde Park. These are some of the most expensive neighborhoods in town, so it’s likely that you’ll get more houses for your money here compared to other areas. Plus, these are generally safe neighborhoods with lots of cultural activities nearby and easy access to all of the entertainment options you’re used to having in the center of a city.

Summary

These are just some of the neighborhoods that I think represent good options for all sorts of people. Which neighborhood would you choose?

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