Home Sweet Home: 9 of the Best Places to Live in Austin

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It’s not surprise that Austin is a hot spot for booming tech industries and entrepreneurial individuals from all kinds of fields. The best places to live in Austin change over time, but we’ve seen an uptick in specific neighborhoods as our population grows. The capital city grew a whopping 171, 465 residents between 2010 and 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Behind Fort Worth, Austin is the second-fastest growing city in Texas for various cohorts. Check out our best places to live in Austin for a little guide to housing.

Mueller

What once was Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, Mueller is now an active community of mixed-income families and businesses nearby central Austin. Just three miles away from downtown Austin, Mueller is a popular living situation for new homeowners looking for parks and nature excursions without the trek. With tons of local eateries and shops around, Mueller offers plenty of multi-generational families and young professionals.

Hours & Location

📍Mueller, Austin TX

Hyde Park

📷 Hyde Park Theatre

Arguably the heart of Austin, Hyde Park neighborhood is situated just north of Austin’s expansive UT campus. Centrally located, Hyde Park is one of the best places to live in Austin for single young adults or families. The range of rent can vary depending on the building structures. Many of these homes have a history and are considered highly sought after for homebuying. Just 18 minutes from downtown, Hyde Park is a centrally located gem.

Hours & Location

📍Hyde Park, Austin, TX

Rosedale

📷 Austin Parks and Recreation

Just west of Hyde Park is Rosedale, a quaint community of residential homes that range from 1930s to modern day architecture. Feel a sense of community with easily accessible biking/walking trails along Shoal Creek Greenbelt and Ramsey Park, which offers a swimming and athletic courts. Rosedale’s leafy appearance is due tree planting during the turn of the century by nursery stock and florists.

Hours & Location

📍Rosedale, Austin, TX

Rollingwood

📷 LightSpeed Systems

Situated on the cusp of Austin and Round Rock, Rollingwood is a one of the best places to live in Austin. An active community, Rollingwood offers plenty of community amenities like outdoor recreation from local parks, recreational facilities, lakes, and a variety of retail in the area. It’s a welcoming neighborhood for young professionals and families alike that want to be out of the city, but just close enough.

Hours & Location

📍Rollingwood, Austin, TX

Barton Hills

📷 Zilker Botanical Gardens

Centrally located, Barton Hills is an oasis just across the bridges to downtown Austin. With its border being Lady Bird Lake, Barton Hills is one of the best places to live in Austin and is highly sought after for outdoor recreation. Neighboring the 350-acre Zilker Park and Barton Springs pool, botanical gardens, sculpture garden, and athletic fields, Barton Hills has just about everything within reach. But remember, it will get crazy around the annual Austin City Limits Festival!

Hours & Location

📍Barton Hills, Austin, TX

Brentwood

📷 Brentwood Social House

Nearby the quaint North Loop area, Brentwood is another great residential area to live in north central Austin. Close to UT and popular businesses like Easy Tiger, Brentwood is the perfect place to rent or buy a home. Many houses are bungalow-type homes that are between one and two stories. Though we’ve had an uptick in new Austin residents many Brentwood dwellers have been there for years making this area a close-knit community.

Hours & Location

📍Brentwood, Austin, TX

Bouldin Creek

On the eastside of Zilker and Barton Hills is another popular area. Bouldin Creek is eclectic and very much in tune Austin’s quirkiness. It’s also home to the “Greetings from Austin” mural outside of Roadside Relics. You can find tons of authentic Mexican food, coffee shops, and the popular vegetarian restaurant Bouldin Creek Café. Walking or biking distance from Auditorium Shores, you can catch live music or just enjoy nature. Nearby Palmer Events Center and the Long Center for the Arts offer performance arts and conventions regularly.

Hours & Location

📍Bouldin Creek, Austin, TX

Clarksville

📷 Galaxy Café Facebook

Just west of downtown, Clarksville is nearby Shoal Creek and various neighborhood cafés and shops. This chill area is close enough to everything you could ever want in downtown without being the hustle and bustle of downtown living. You can check out the HOPE Outdoor Gallery, a brilliant graffiti space and find more shops along Lamar Boulevard.

Hours & Location

📍Clarksville, Austin, TX

East Austin

📷 The Liberty Bar Facebook

The ever-changing area of East Austin is full of new and old businesses alike. A diverse mix of residents call East Austin one of the best places to live in Austin. Spanning east along E Cesar Chavez street are several businesses, cafés, and shops. Many of these homes are historic 1900s bungalow style with the mixture of gentrified modern homes. There is no shortage of cocktail bars and various Texan staples like BBQ, Southern, and Mexican cuisine.

Hours & Location

📍East Austin, Austin, TX