There are several reasons why Austin is regarded as one of America's most exciting areas to live. Some of the reasons people look for homes for sale in Austin, TX, include the city's varied music scene, beautiful landscape, open green spaces, a highly respected restaurant culture and energetic vibe. Although residents of most areas in Austin will need a car, recent years have seen a noticeable rise in the demand for housing in walkable neighborhoods. If you are wondering where to live in Austin, Texas, you might consider one of the following neighborhoods.
The downtown neighborhood of Austin is considered the city's most walkable area. Unlike the majority of Austin neighborhoods, downtown mainly consists of luxury condos and features few family homes. However, if you enjoy fine dining and nightlife, the variety of bars and restaurants along 4th, 5th and 6th streets mean you'll always have a fun place to visit. Downtown Austin has a walk score of 88, a transit score of 68 and a bike score of 93. Because the entire neighborhood is reachable on foot or bike, you can enjoy the many local Austin attractions without having to worry about parking. A condo in downtown Austin is an attractive option if you want to partake of the city's nightlife, events and restaurant scene. Browse Movoto Real Estate listings for a property like this one-bedroom condo with tall windows and two balconies.
With a walk score of 87, a transit score of 63 and a bike score of 91, West University is located adjacent to the University of Texas. It is made up of many condos, some single and multi-family homes and plenty of apartments. Next to UT on Guadalupe, you'll find a lot of student-friendly shops and laid back restaurants. There are at least 20 parks, restaurants, grocery stores, public transit stops and fitness centers located within a 1-mile radius of the neighborhood. If you're looking for affordable walkability in Austin and enjoy being in the heart of college life, West University might be the place for you. However, housing moves quickly in this area because of the ever changing stream of students, so if you find a home you love, it's advisable to act quickly.
Home to the hipsters, jazz fans and art students of the University of Texas at Austin, the North University neighborhood is just north of the college campus. North University has a walk score of 83, a transit score of 63 and a bike score of 97. This neighborhood is a mix of single-family homes, condos and apartments. This neighborhood is a bit more upscale than West University with more of an East Coast feel. You will find many estate-style homes on large lots for reasonable prices. You can easily walk from North University to the restaurants and bars on northern Guadalupe, many of which are casual sit-down style, rather than the more laid back ones found in West University. There's no need to have a car in this neighborhood, and it can be quite tough to find parking. Capitol Metro bus and rail lines can quickly and easily take you to most any part of the city.
In addition to being on the National Register of Historic Places, Old West Austin was also recently named one of America's Great Neighborhoods in a listing released by the American Planning Association. This extensive community saw a period of increasing development from 1886 to 1953 and features an array of home designs that are reflective of this timeline. The residents of this area have convenient access to a variety of art galleries, local restaurants and boutiques. Some of the homes, such as this beautiful four-bedroom house in Pemberton Heights, are just minutes from downtown. With a walkability score of 78, a transit score of 49 and a bike score of 90, this area lets you accomplish most errands without the need for a car. Lamar Boulevard contains small shops as well as major chains and is accessible from most areas in Old West Austin. The Lady Bird trail marks the entire southern border of the community and is a popular outdoor escape for the bike-riding crowd.
If you are looking for a place to live in Austin where you don't need a car, Movoto Real Estate's list of local agents is the ideal resource, any agent can help you find an ideal property in a walkable neighborhood.
