North Austin

The north edge of town has a lot going for it. The places to go and things to do up here are on par with most other desirable parts of town. However, traffic will frequently bring you to your knees, especially during the busier parts of the day.

Lots of great changes have come to North Austin over the past ten years or so, and easy travel from North Austin through to Round Rock without significant interruption is particularly beneficial for folks who work in the area. Trying to make it to downtown can be a little tricky, and if you need to be south of the river during rush hour you might have a real problem. There is, however, very little reason to leave the north side if you don't absolutely have to--almost everything that you need to find can be had here.

It's a little more spread out then other parts of the city, but having a car and knowing your way around will give you full access to pretty much anything you need. Higher costs of living are the norm up this way, but you get access to much newer construction, and in the better parts of theneighborhood, it’s generally clean, well-lit, and well-maintained, making it an appealing place to live for all types of people.

The rather generic name for this Austin neighborhood is fitting in some ways, as there is not much that distinguishes this area. Located (where else?) in far north Austin, this rather large neighborhood is a mixed-race community with a higher proportion of rental properties than most other areas.

The North Austin neighborhood is bounded by Highway 183 to the south, Kramer Lane to the north, Metric Boulevard to the west and N. Lamar Boulevard to the east. Most of the properties were built in the 1970s, so this is an established neighborhood. The quality of the neighborhood is spotty, with some nice, newly remodeled homes in some areas while other areas contain rundown houses badly in need of repair. Safety is considered an issue here, as crime is higher in some parts of the neighborhood than places further south.

Despite the negatives, there are signs that this area is experiencing steady improvement. It is somewhat convenient to downtown, close to some major highways and thoroughfares, and there has been significant development to the north that will continue to increase the attractiveness of the far north neighborhoods in Austin. Housing prices remain in the modest range, starting in the mid-$100s and going up to the mid-$200s. Area schools include Woolridge and Barrington Elementary Schools, Burnet Middle School and Lanier High School. For those looking for affordability and are willing to live in a neighborhood in the midst of transition, North Austin is worth a look.