West University

The West University neighborhood of Austin, Texas is better known by the locals as West Campus, is one of the most densely populated areas of the city and it is mostly comprised of students that attend the University of Texas at Austin, which is just east of the neighborhood. The housing is a mix of bungalow-style single family homes that are in some cases beside modern high-rise condominiums and apartments. A few historic mansions that date from the early 20th Century are also part of the mix.

It's easy and cheap to get to anywhere in the city with nearby Capitol Metro rail and bus lines. This is not the best place to raise a family as it can be noisy at times and there is some crime in this area, mostly of the property crime and burglary variety. Homes in the area can be high, with many in the $400,000 plus range and apartment rent runs from $1,000 monthly and up. It's a stone's throw from the State Capitol of Texas and close to the great live music venues of 6th Street. Guadalupe Street, or the Drag as it is known by the locals, borders the neighborhood and has a wide variety of quirky and affordable dining options.

The area immediately to the west of the University of Texas (UT) is known as West University, or more commonly, West Campus. Home to many of the over 50,000 students who attend school here, this neighborhood is the one to live in if you want to be in the center of the action without living in a dormitory.

The boundaries for the neighborhood are Martin Luther King Boulevard to the south and 29th Street to the north, N. Lamar Boulevard to the west and Guadalupe to the east. A wide variety of housing can be found here. Single-family bungalow-style homes are common, as are high-rise apartment buildings and condominiums, some old and some new. Interspersed throughout the area one also finds historic mansions. Of course many homes house student organizations, such as the numerous fraternities and sororities that make up a large part of student life at UT.

Housing costs are quite high here as availability is scarce. The average home price for a good-sized (2,000 square feet) home runs in the high $400s. Rents for a one-bedroom apartment start around $1,000 per month. This is a very densely populated neighborhood, and the city has worked to increase density even further to accommodate the never-ending demand for housing.

Being so close to UT means there is no lack of entertainment and shopping available to the residents of West Campus. The stretch of Guadalupe running in front of campus, known as “The Drag,” is home to numerous restaurants, coffee shops, second-hand stores, trendy boutiques, tattoo parlors and of course, the University Co-op where one finds all manner of UT paraphernalia. Being so close to the action also means that the action rarely stops. There is always a frat party to go to, the Drag is always lively, and there are tailgate parties during football season. For those looking for a quiet, peaceful neighborhood, this is not the place for you. But for those wanting to become immersed in college life, there’s no better place to live.

The West University area is a mini college town congested into less than a dozen square blocks that lie immediately west if the University of Texas campus. Bordered by Guadalupe St. and Lamar Blvd., the streets are packed with endless student apartment complexes that offer dorm like amenities and coffeehouses on the bottom floors. Residents are just steps away from all the hot spots that the Drag has to offer and numerous eating and live music joints such as Hole in the Wall, the Spiderhouse and the Kerbey Lane Cafe', just to name a few. This neighborhood has been constructed for students, is filled with students and will continue to be overrun by students.

West University offers little for anyone who is not enrolled at the UT campus as they would most likely become sick of the frat house shenanigans and the roars from the stadium during football season. Though the nightlife and public transportation is hard to beat, families and professionals are better off living within other nearby neighborhoods. There are very few properties that are for sale unless you are looking to own and rent your own building, and despite the area catering to students, rental prices often reach absurd levels. An individual just has to weigh how much they are willing to pay for the benefits of being a student that lives across the street from their classrooms and all the facilities that the campus offers.