North Loop

If you'd like to experience the cool and hip factors of Austin, Texas without draining your bank account, the North Loop neighborhood north of the downtown area is one option you should consider. Single family homes here run for the most part from about $110,000 to $300,000 and there are also affordable apartment options in the neighborhood as well. There are a number of funky vintage shops in the area and coffee shops where you can see the artistic side of the neighborhood. This is not the best or worst area for a family, but it most definitely leans toward the trendy and artsy types.

The neighborhood is also home to a number of students from the University of Texas at Austin, so there is a young vibe and energy in the area. There is some nightlife in the area that caters to a young adult crowd and a number of different dining options. There is an Italian market, a Mexican food restaurant, and hip burger joints that have good food at reasonable prices. It is a relatively safe neighborhood for an inner city and has that cool Austin chic attitude that defines the capitol city of Texas.

When people think of trendy Austin hotspots, neighborhoods on the north side aren’t the first to come to mind. But the North Loop area has a thriving art scene, plenty of nooks and crannies and local color to experience and explore, and a price tag that keeps it accessible for nearly everyone.

Not necessarily an ideal choice for someone who’ll need to make a long commute, but the area has plenty to offer, especially for those who’ll be spending most of their time nearby. Coffee shops, some nightlife, comedy clubs, and shopping abound.

This isn’t the most family-friendly part of town, and parts of the area are actually considerably run down, but for trendy, artsy chic at a friendly price, few other neighborhoods can really measure up. And as far as happening places to be on the north side of town, this is definitely one of the best, where you’ll never be at a loss for new things to do and places to go. It’s safe, and fairly convenient, with easy, immediate access to major roadways. It’s a great spot for people just starting out, for artists looking for a funky place to hang their hats, and for students who’d rather live a ways off campus.

For those looking to live in the central part of Austin, the biggest challenge is finding something attractive and affordable. Sure, the rents at Bluebonnet Court on the edge of Austin’s highly desirable Hyde Park neighborhood may be low, but you also have to live in squalor with transient neighbors.

The North Loop neighborhood just north of Hyde Park is one option for those looking to enjoy a neighborhood with an Austin vibe in a convenient central location without breaking the bank. Defined as 51st Street to the south, W. Koenig Lane to the north, North Lamar to the west and Airport Boulevard to the east, this is a neighborhood with strong Austin roots and an active community. For years it sat in the path of flights leaving Austin’s main airport, rendering it less attractive to those who didn’t care to have their conversations interrupted every few minutes. But when the airport moved south, North Loop’s desirability skyrocketed.

Still, it is possible to find homes more affordable than in neighborhoods a bit closer to Austin’s core. Most homes were built in the 1950s and are modest but well-built and charming bungalows that average in the mid-$200s. Schools in the area include Ridgetop Elementary, Lamar Middle School and McCallum High School. This is a neighborhood popular with young professionals, small business owners and families who are attracted to the area’s funky vibe. There is an eclectic mix of retail shopping and restaurants found here, some of which have withstood the test of time, such as the long-standing Mrs. Johnson’s Donuts, serving donuts since 1948.

North Loop is the kind of neighborhood that is able to support a local bookstore, Monkeywrench Books, which describes itself as “an all volunteer, collectively-run radical bookstore.” You’ll also find vintage second-hand shops, a lingerie store, rocker pizza parlour and of course, coffee shops. You’ll feel at home here if you love to soak up Austin’s weirdness on the central north part of town.