St. Edwards

The University of Texas at Austin is not the only institute of higher learning in town, Austin is also home to St. Edwards University, a small, private liberal arts Catholic school that is located south of Town Lake and is also bordered by Interstate 35 to the east. St. Edwards is one of the most ethnically and economically diverse private schools in the nation and the campus is home to a large percentage of their students. It's also known for its picturesque campus with lots of green space that is ideal for a walk or jog. It has a unique home town feel that's distinctly different from typically weird Austin. Rental rates here are slightly less than the Austin average making this a surprisingly affordable housing option.

It's easy to get around by Capitol Metro rail or bus lines, and it's close to some of the best that Austin has to offer. This is a safe neighborhood that has a number of dining and nightlife options on the outskirts of the neighborhood such as excellent Mexican food, Chinese restaurants, Indian cuisine diners, and bars. There is also the coffee bar with a bit of vibe that is part of so many great Austin neighborhoods.

This neighborhood takes its name from the small, liberal arts college that is located in this area called, you guessed it, St. Edwards University. Often overshadowed by its bigger and louder cousin to the north, the University of Texas, St. Eds (as it is affectionately called by the locals) adds a quaint, academic quality to the neighborhood.

Bordered by Ben White Boulevard to the south, E. Oltorf Street to the north, South Congress Avenue to the west and Interstate 35 to the east, this neighborhood is perfectly situated to be convenient to all of Austin’s hot spots, but not so close to be overrun and overpriced. There are many older homes in this part of town, as well as many apartment complexes to accommodate the student population. One can still find a nice 3-bedroom home in the low to mid-$300s here. Area schools include Travis Heights Elementary, Fulmore Middle School and Travis High School.

Although many students live in the area, the St. Edwards neighborhood doesn’t feel like a student ghetto. It has a more quiet, residential feel to it, although not in a suburban way. There are a mix of residents who live here, including families, professionals, seniors, artists and musicians in addition to students. South Congress, with its trendy and hip retails shops and restaurants is nearby, as well as Zilker Park and the Blunn Creek Greenbelt in Travis Heights. All residents of the neighborhood, not just the students, can also enjoy the amenities of the beautiful St. Edwards campus.

I used to work in this neighborhood, and I always thought it was funny that the Expose strip club (it’s not a “nite club” as it sometimes advertises itself…) is just right down the street from Saint Edwards University. But that’s the sort of thing you come to expect from Austin—a huge variety of people living and working and going about their business and not really judging each other. This is a very safe place. I used to take the city bus from my apartment in Pleasant Valley to my waitressing job, then catch a cab back home after my shift ended at 1 am. I never had any trouble. Overall, it’s pretty pedestrian and bike friendly, and it seems like everyone has a dog to take for walks. This is the place you want to live if you’re an outdoors person like me. I don’t really like to hike or jog or generally work up a sweat at all, really, but I’m happy as a clam just puttering around my back yard planting flowers or tweaking the landscaping. St. Edwards is a perfect spot for individuals or families to carve out their own space away from the crazy chaos of the rest of the city.

The St. Edwards neighborhood is an enjoyable place to live for students, young professionals and families alike who want a quaint charm with urban access. Though a Catholic university, this is anything but an ultra- conservative community, but instead one that thrives on liberal arts, music and staying green. Residents love this neighborhood and many would even top it over the neighborhoods surrounding the University of Texas. Just south of the South Congress area, locals have access to the hottest eateries and shops in the city while also being able to avoid the overbearing hustle and bustle by retreating back to their homes. Home prices are not cheap, but they are not too expensive either and rent can easily be managed between three or four people in a household.

A distinct feature of St. Edwards residents is that they love to garden and there are several businesses that feed that love from plant nurseries to the Garden District Coffeehouse so named after this social trend. The Blunn Creek Nature Preserve is a large green area that preserves plant life and the beautiful scenery attracts a loyal crowd of vagrants. Getting in and out of the neighborhood is extremely easy since South Congress has more bus stops than anyone would ever need and Hwy 71 is directly south of the St. Edwards campus. A smaller scale college neighborhood, residents have access to everything they need from coffee to yoga to clothes to groceries, but the crowds and streets are not nearly as congested as they get at the other campus north of Downtown. It is hard to do wrong in choosing to settle in this community.