McKinney

The McKinney neighborhood is a rather odd, boomerang-shaped area that sits up against McKinney Falls State Park. Located in far southeast Austin, there is a definite suburban vibe to this part of town. It is bordered by E. Ben White Boulevard (Highway 71) on the north with Montopolis Drive and McKinney Falls marking the eastern border. St. Elmo Boulevard is the southern border for the west part of the neighborhood.

The more established part of the neighborhood is found in the north, just south of Ben White Boulevard. Here one finds older homes on larger lots, with lots of shady trees. The southern part of the neighborhood that sits nearest to McKinney Falls State Park is newer, with smaller homes and lots. Housing prices are lower here, largely due to the distance from downtown. A good-sized home (around 2,000 square feet) can be found in the low to mid-$100s. Area schools include Blazier Elementary School, Paredes Middle School and Akins High School. This is a nice, clean and affordable neighborhood, one that is good for raising a family. It is probably less attractive to young and single professionals who are interested in Austin’s entertainment and retail districts.

The McKinney neighborhood will be just about perfect for anyone who loves being close to a natural area with plenty of wildlife and open space. There are some peaceful hiking trails and camping sites located within the state park. One primary attraction of McKinney Falls State Park are the falls themselves, which are a popular spot for fishing and swimming (assuming the area is not in a drought). Part of Austin’s charm lies in the fact that such a large natural area can be accessed so close to the city.

The only thing that this neighborhood, if you can call it that, has to boast about the is the nearby McKinney Falls State Park. There are very few restaurants, shopping options or even houses in this region of the metropolitan area, but that may just be some people's cup of tea. With Highway 71 serving as the northern border, residents can easily access the rest of the city of Austin via this route. Each house has large plots of land, which is where some heavy financial investment may come into play, but it also prevents much of a social life if you are a young student or professional looking to have nightly fun in the Live Music Capital of the World. This part of town is best left to families or older individuals that are looking to settle down with some peace and quiet.

Those who favor vast spaces, tons of animals and love gardening, then McKinney is a piece of heaven on Earth an it can provide the best of both worlds. To the west the glare of Austin's downtown lights can be seen while to the east and vast sky of stars hangs overhead and the sounds of wild animals can be heard. Whether you want to go hit up the town on Friday night or want to go camping out in the wilderness, this neighborhood provides easy access to both sides of the economic and social chain. If you want to take full advantage of this setting, try to obtain a property as close to the state park as possible since the stretch that's closer to the I-35 and Hwy 71 intersection kind of defeats the purpose of moving here.