Brentwood

The heart of the Brentwood neighborhood will remind you of small town America, with a tree lined street named Arroyo Seco which follows a creek of the same name through north central Austin. Homes in the southern part of the neighborhood can be had for as little as $150,000, with homes in the northern part of the neighborhood in the range of $300,000 and up. Most of the homes are bungalow style with two stories and a low pitched roof and rectangular shape. This is a great place to live for families with children and professionals who want a place to live close to their downtown workplaces.

This area is served by the Austin Independent School District and you also have a choice of quality private schools such as the Paragon Prep School. It's a quick trip south to the action on 6th and South Congress Streets via car or by Capitol Metro bus line. The crime rate here is very low for a metropolitan area and it's a great place to walk, jog, or bike as it has plenty of shade and green space. There are many dining options on the borders of the neighborhood with a number of fast food restaurants and pubs if you want a drink after a long day of work.

Brentwood manages to offer the comfort and green space of a small town even as it offers all the amenities of a city like Austin. While the nightlife might be lacking, it's just a hop, skip, and jump away by car or by bus, and anything else you might need is conveniently located right nearby.

Bordered by shopping that includes the usual big box suspects as well as unique local treasures, the residential heart of Brentwood is safe, quiet, and clean. Schools are plentiful, and the neighborhood trends young, making it a great place for new families to settle in and get themselves established.

The locals tend to be college graduates or current grad students with about average income. Rental prices and home prices also hover right around the Austin average. Still, Austin is a diverse and friendly city, and Brentwood is no exception to that rule, so even those outside the typical demographic can make a comfortable home here.

Alamo Drafthouse is great for a night out, and public park space includes any recreational activity you could reasonably want. Brentwood is a terrific compromise for the pricier and more exclusive Hyde Park, with more accessible housing options but the same small-town, insular vibe and local color.

Brentwood is a middle to upper-middle class neighborhood situated between Burnet Rd and North Lamar. Both of these roads see heavy traffic and are lined with strip malls—but in addition to the usual bland middle-America big box stores, you can find plenty of eclectic shopping and quality restaurants. Of course the real neighborhood is the residential interior. Out of sight of the major roadways, Brentwood is a really charming place.

There is plenty to do in Brentwood. Up on West Anderson Lane is a great Austin movie theater called the Alamo Drafthouse (you can order food and drink beer in the theater), and Brentwood Park is a great green space for recreation of all kinds. There’s a softball field, a soccer field, a jogging trail, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, a work-out area for adults, a shady playscape for kids, as well as a kite-flying field, and a free pool.

The other notable social/green space in Brentwood is Triangle Park. The centerpiece of an upscale apartment complex with street-level dining and retail spaces (referred to as “The Triangle”), the park and its manicured lawns are free and open to the public. The most popular elements of The Triangle are the informal dog park, the fountain waterpark for children, and the bocce ball courts.

Brentwood is also home to an amazing volunteer-run used bookstore called Recycled Reads where you can get great books SUPER cheap.

The explosive growth and popularity of Austin has helped this town continue to thrive even in the midst of difficult economic times. But it has also priced much of the central part of the city out of the range of many young families. The Brentwood neighborhood, located in north Central Austin, offers some hope for those wishing to remain near the heart of Austin without breaking the bank.

Bordered by Burnet Road and Lamar Boulevard to the west and east and 45th Street and Justin Lane to the south and north, this is a neighborhood that is still experiencing some transition from its 1950s roots. Many of the homes are modest one-story bungalows that were originally purchased by GIs following World War II for their families. Some original residents remain, but the area has become increasingly popular with young professionals and families who have gradually revitalized the area. It is still possible to find a relatively inexpensive fixer-upper here, and prices generally average in the $300s. Area schools include Brentwood Elementary, which recently became a dual language (Spanish-English) school, Lamar Middle School and McCallum High School.

Brentwood’s quick and easy access to downtown Austin, the University of Texas and Town Lake allow residents to enjoy the benefits of living in central Austin while also living in a thriving family-friendly neighborhood. The Burnet Road corridor offers many popular eateries and shops for those hoping to stay close to home.

One landmark that helps preserve some of Brentwood’s history is the nearby Crestview Shopping Center, where one feels they have stepped back in time as they shop at the local Mini Max grocery store or go for a haircut or shave at the Crestview Barber Shop. Locals pride themselves on preserving the quaint and funky feel of Austin by supporting these longtime institutions.

Overall this neighborhood is generally middle to upper-middle class, with a nice park and even a community garden where you can rent your own plot of land and grow organic vegetables and flowers. UT isn’t too far away, and Highland Mall is just off West Koenig. Janis Joplin used to play at the Threadgills on North Lamar before she got famous. So yes, there’s a strip club (or cabaret, if you please) on North Lamar (The Yellow Rose), but don’t let this discourage you from looking for a residence nearby. The club itself is very upper-scale, and the area is well-lit and relatively safe for a city of this size. I learned very quickly after I moved here that strip clubs in Texas aren’t quite the same as in other states. Business men mingle and have lunch here, and it’s pretty common stuff. Sure, there are some shady dives and areas you’ll want to avoid (the Crazy Lady under I35, for instance), but overall, don’t let the mere fact that one exists in the neighborhood scare you off. The Texas Department of Public Safety is just down the street, after all. There are a lot of cute houses with well-kept yards in the area.

A North Central Austin neighborhood, over half of Brentwood residents are between the ages of 25 and 40, making it the ideal settle down place for single professionals who have already graduated from college. Home prices for both renters and buyers are within mid range pricing compared to the Austin area with the average selling price being around $200,000 and rent being a little over or under $800. Though mostly occupied by young graduates, the Brentwood neighborhood is also suitable for families as there are numerous public schools and medical facilities to upkeep both physical and mental health.

The majority of restaurants and bars are along Burnet Rd. and N. Lamar with residential streets laying between the main avenues. The North Village Shopping Center has a yoga studio, drum shop and florist shop while W. Anderson Ln. has a coffee shop with an outdoor stage and the Bass Emporium among other unique spaces. With easy access to 183, 290 and 2222, residents can travel in and out of the neighborhood with ease and the bus system allows young graduates to meander to the downtown area.