Allandale
Ranked 5th best neighborhood in Austin
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Great for
- Schools
- Parks & Recreation
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Peace & Quiet
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- Professionals
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Singles
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Allandale
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"Awesome Neighborhood w/ Great Access to the City"
I'm biased b/c I live here and have owned a few homes in the neighborhood over the past 10 years. (I lived in NW Hills until 2 years ago, though, so became a resident in March 2013.) That said, I love the neighborhood. Shoal Creek is one of my favorite streets in Austin. The streets are wide, there are tons of trees, and the lot sizes are big (average ~0.25 acres, but go up to 0.75 acres on some lots.) There's a really wide bike lane on Shoal Creek that dead ends into the Shoal Creek trail, which takes you all the way to downtown. So, you can bike to downtown in ~45 minutes or so on a leisurely ride.
Burnet Rd has literally exploded since ~2013. There are tons of restaurants, bars, gyms, (and funnily enough hydro grow shops.) I guess everyone likes to go out to eat, work out, have drinks, and grow "tomatoes." NW Park is awesome for the kids. Phil's Icehouse has a great playground, as does Hat Creek. Pacha & Monkey Nest for the coffee drinkers. Maru is a super underrated sushi restaurant with little to no atmosphere, but affordable, great sushi.
Mopac access (which is important if you commute or have to drive around the city) is excellent. The *only* downside is that Lamar Middle isn't considered "excellent" and neither is McCallum. However, Lamar jumped from a 4 to a 7 on greatschools.org in about 2 years, and I think it's on its way up. Not so sure about McCallum, since high schools have larger populations and are hard to turn around. Still, it's not a bad school, just not "great."
Real Estate prices have really jumped since the recession. They're up by at least 30% and probably closer to 40%. Prices are easily up 100% from 10 years ago. As of today (9/4/2016) you'd want a ~$500k budget to get something decent that you could remodel. New specs are now going for ~$1.3M. Remodeled houses are in the $700k to $900k range.
Burnet Rd has literally exploded since ~2013. There are tons of restaurants, bars, gyms, (and funnily enough hydro grow shops.) I guess everyone likes to go out to eat, work out, have drinks, and grow "tomatoes." NW Park is awesome for the kids. Phil's Icehouse has a great playground, as does Hat Creek. Pacha & Monkey Nest for the coffee drinkers. Maru is a super underrated sushi restaurant with little to no atmosphere, but affordable, great sushi.
Mopac access (which is important if you commute or have to drive around the city) is excellent. The *only* downside is that Lamar Middle isn't considered "excellent" and neither is McCallum. However, Lamar jumped from a 4 to a 7 on greatschools.org in about 2 years, and I think it's on its way up. Not so sure about McCallum, since high schools have larger populations and are hard to turn around. Still, it's not a bad school, just not "great."
Real Estate prices have really jumped since the recession. They're up by at least 30% and probably closer to 40%. Prices are easily up 100% from 10 years ago. As of today (9/4/2016) you'd want a ~$500k budget to get something decent that you could remodel. New specs are now going for ~$1.3M. Remodeled houses are in the $700k to $900k range.
Pros
- Mopac Access
- Burnet Rd
- Educational facilities
- Family firendly
- Low crime rate
- Northwest District Park
Cons
- Expensive real estate
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Tourists
- LGBT+
- Students
Allandale
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"One of Austins Most Exclusive Neighborhoods"
Bordered by MoPac Expressway to the west and by Austin Memorial Park Cemetery and Brentwood to the south, Allandale is an upscale Austin neighborhood that is ideal for raising a family. It's a safe and quiet area that has a strong neighborhood association that boasts its own web site, The Allandale Reporter, so residents can better keep in touch and learn the latest neighborhood news and alerts. Single family homes here sell for $200,000 on the very low end, up to $500,000 and more which is more of the norm. There are also a few condominiums and apartments in the area but they tend to run on the pricey side as well.
The area is served by the Austin Independent School District, which has some of its very best performing schools here. There are also a few private school options in the area. The heart of the neighborhood is the Northwest District Park, which has playgrounds for the kids, a fishing pier, and lots of lovely green space. You don't have to venture far to find something to eat, as the west border of the neighborhood has Mexican and Greek restaurants, and a few pizza joints and nightclubs if you feel like having a drink.
The area is served by the Austin Independent School District, which has some of its very best performing schools here. There are also a few private school options in the area. The heart of the neighborhood is the Northwest District Park, which has playgrounds for the kids, a fishing pier, and lots of lovely green space. You don't have to venture far to find something to eat, as the west border of the neighborhood has Mexican and Greek restaurants, and a few pizza joints and nightclubs if you feel like having a drink.
Pros
- Northwest District Park
- Educational facilities
- Family firendly
- Low crime rate
Cons
- Expensive real estate
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Tourists
- LGBT+
- Country Lovers
- Trendy & Stylish
Allandale
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"Safe and family-friendly"
Allandale is the upper-middle-class suburban American dream, with the usual Austin touch of weird. Offering spectacular outdoor amenities, convenient shopping, and some of the area’s highest-ranked schools, this is essentially the perfect place to raise a family.
The neighborhood is quiet and extremely safe. Housing prices, both homes and rentals, are still affordable even if they are a little above average. Bus routes here are lacking a little bit, so this is not a great location for struggling artists, students, or anyone else who might be inclined to rely on public transit. Access to nightlife is a little limited as well, with downtown about a 15 minute drive in good traffic.
Nestled amidst the seemingly endless stretch of big chain stores are plenty of local treasures worth exploring, and there’s a little something for everyone here. The population is pretty broad-ranging, encompassing everyone from students to retirees, but in all, the neighborhood is best-suited to professionals and families, if only due to the relative peace and quiet and the superior school options, but younger people, artsy or partying types, and students may feel somewhat stifled by the distance from most of the action in town and the suburban feel of the whole neighborhood.
The neighborhood is quiet and extremely safe. Housing prices, both homes and rentals, are still affordable even if they are a little above average. Bus routes here are lacking a little bit, so this is not a great location for struggling artists, students, or anyone else who might be inclined to rely on public transit. Access to nightlife is a little limited as well, with downtown about a 15 minute drive in good traffic.
Nestled amidst the seemingly endless stretch of big chain stores are plenty of local treasures worth exploring, and there’s a little something for everyone here. The population is pretty broad-ranging, encompassing everyone from students to retirees, but in all, the neighborhood is best-suited to professionals and families, if only due to the relative peace and quiet and the superior school options, but younger people, artsy or partying types, and students may feel somewhat stifled by the distance from most of the action in town and the suburban feel of the whole neighborhood.
Pros
- Educational facilities
- Family firendly
- Low crime rate
Cons
- Expensive real estate
- Lack of nightlife
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Families with kids
Allandale
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"An idyllic, if prohibitively expensive suburban haven"
Allandale is a quiet upper-middle class neighborhood located about a 15 minute drive northwest of downtown Austin. As long as you've got a car, this neighborhood is supremely convenient for doing all your errands. The eastern border of this neighborhood is Burnet Rd, more or less a highway corridor of strip malls. Although it’s not much to look at, it's not quite as soulless as it sounds. In addition to the big box stores, you can find sushi, cupcakes, consignment shops, roadside diners and eclectic restaurants. Among the many businesses located along Burnet Rd, there is an unusually high concentration of chiropractic, acupuncture, and physical therapy practices.
For the most part, Allandale is a residential neighborhood with tree-lined streets, single-family homes with high property values, condos, and a few apartment buildings.
Located right in the heart of the neighborhood is Sheffield Northwest Park, an incredibly well-appointed green space complete with duck pond, fishing pier, hiking trail, well-designed playground, baseball field, barbecue pits and picnic tables, as well as basketball and tennis courts that remain lit after dark for evening play. Allandale is also home to the Burnet Rd Farmers market and Northwest Municipal Pool, making the neighborhood an idyllic, if prohibitively expensive place to raise children.
For the most part, Allandale is a residential neighborhood with tree-lined streets, single-family homes with high property values, condos, and a few apartment buildings.
Located right in the heart of the neighborhood is Sheffield Northwest Park, an incredibly well-appointed green space complete with duck pond, fishing pier, hiking trail, well-designed playground, baseball field, barbecue pits and picnic tables, as well as basketball and tennis courts that remain lit after dark for evening play. Allandale is also home to the Burnet Rd Farmers market and Northwest Municipal Pool, making the neighborhood an idyllic, if prohibitively expensive place to raise children.
Pros
- Educational facilities
- Family firendly
- Low crime rate
Cons
- Expensive real estate
- Lack of nightlife
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Families with kids
- Retirees
Allandale
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
"More Affordable Central Austin"
Allandale is one of the many neighborhoods located near the central part of the city but far enough away to offer lower housing prices and less congestion. It is conveniently located near the main hubs of town, such as downtown, the University of Texas and Zilker Park, but not so close that one has to deal with urban headaches such as sparse parking, traffic and late-night carousers.
The Allendale neighborhood boundaries are generally considered MoPac on the west, Burnet Road on the east, West Anderson to the north and North Loop to the south. This is a popular neighborhood with families, with single-family homes dominating the area and a few apartment complexes scattered throughout. Home prices average around the mid-300s, but can range from $200,000 up to $600,000. The schools serving this area (Gullet Elementary, Lamar Middle School and McCallum High School) have excellent reputations for providing high quality academic experiences and strong parental involvement.
There are many great community amenities located in Allendale. The city-run Northwest Recreation Center offers facilities for indoor and outdoor sports as well as public spaces for meetings and community gatherings. The Shoal Creek bike trail runs the length of the Allandale neighborhood, offering serious cyclists a means of commuting all the way to downtown Austin. The nearby neighborhood park offers an Olympic-sized swimming pool, playground, duck pond and picnic areas. Burnet Road has enjoyed some recent revitalization, with new restaurants and retail establishments transforming this corridor into a hip and popular destination while still retaining some of its old Austin feel.
The Allendale neighborhood boundaries are generally considered MoPac on the west, Burnet Road on the east, West Anderson to the north and North Loop to the south. This is a popular neighborhood with families, with single-family homes dominating the area and a few apartment complexes scattered throughout. Home prices average around the mid-300s, but can range from $200,000 up to $600,000. The schools serving this area (Gullet Elementary, Lamar Middle School and McCallum High School) have excellent reputations for providing high quality academic experiences and strong parental involvement.
There are many great community amenities located in Allendale. The city-run Northwest Recreation Center offers facilities for indoor and outdoor sports as well as public spaces for meetings and community gatherings. The Shoal Creek bike trail runs the length of the Allandale neighborhood, offering serious cyclists a means of commuting all the way to downtown Austin. The nearby neighborhood park offers an Olympic-sized swimming pool, playground, duck pond and picnic areas. Burnet Road has enjoyed some recent revitalization, with new restaurants and retail establishments transforming this corridor into a hip and popular destination while still retaining some of its old Austin feel.
Pros
- Educational facilities
- Family firendly
- Low crime rate
Cons
- Expensive real estate
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- LGBT+
- Hipsters
- Students
- Trendy & Stylish
Allandale
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"Suburban heaven"
This is a great quiet upper-middle class neighborhood with some pretty cool restaurants nearby. Amy’s Ice Creams is an Austin staple. The employees will do tricks for you while they mix your ice cream with various toppings, sort of like Tom Cruise in Cocktail. The Austin Diner is also quite an experience. It’s sort of like Mel’s Diner if it was in a David Lynch movie, but not as scary as that sounds. It’s a little run down, but they have interesting specials like fried green tomatoes. On the weekends, it’s not as busy as you’d expect it to be for the price. Along West Anderson, there are a number of Asian restaurants that are all really good. The Northcross Shopping Center also has pretty much everything you would need, so you don’t have to maneuver the interstates to get your shopping done. It’s a very family-friendly area, with a lot of park and recreation space no matter what part of the neighborhood you live in. The streets are tree-lined with a lot of cul de sacs, so it’s very suburban and doesn’t get a lot of traffic. You’ve also got a convenient cupcake shop and comic book shop right near the middle school. What more could a kid ask for?
Pros
- Educational facilities
- Family firendly
- Low crime rate
Cons
- Lack of nightlife
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Families with kids
- LGBT+
Allandale
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"The Familys Austin Neighborhood"
A neighborhood that took its boom right after World War II, Allandale is a place for raising a family within the Live Music Capitol of the World. Between W Anderson Lane and Hancock Dr., this area of the city has its old time charm with its progressive flair, especially since recent statistics show that it has one of the highest concentrations of same sex couple residents in the country at 2.3%. Restaurants line Burnet Rd., but the rest of the streets are filled with prime pieces of real estate. Housing prices are within the range of $300,000 to $450,000 and both public and private educational centers dot the neighborhood, including Austin's School of Rock, to keep the local musical spirit alive.
Allandalle provides all the other amenities that a family friendly community needs such shopping and public parks. The Northcross Shopping Center has its stores that sell all things edible and wearable and two local public parks contain playgrounds and jogging trails for both parents and children to get their daily exercise. This is a neighborhood for those who earn a wealthy or near wealthy income given the real estate value and the high majority of residents hold executive positions. The public transportation is also not as frequent as it is in areas closer to Downtown, so owning a car is often necessary to get around. Given that it is off the path of Austin's main music and nightlife activity, Allandale is less desirable for younger and/or single residents, but is ideal for raising a family in the Austin area.
Allandalle provides all the other amenities that a family friendly community needs such shopping and public parks. The Northcross Shopping Center has its stores that sell all things edible and wearable and two local public parks contain playgrounds and jogging trails for both parents and children to get their daily exercise. This is a neighborhood for those who earn a wealthy or near wealthy income given the real estate value and the high majority of residents hold executive positions. The public transportation is also not as frequent as it is in areas closer to Downtown, so owning a car is often necessary to get around. Given that it is off the path of Austin's main music and nightlife activity, Allandale is less desirable for younger and/or single residents, but is ideal for raising a family in the Austin area.
Pros
- Family firendly
- Low crime rate
- Educational facilities
Cons
- Lack of nightlife
- Expensive real estate
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- LGBT+
