10 Most Walkable Neighborhoods in Austin, TX
Austin is known for its active residents that enjoy time outdoors and its urban amenities, including live music venues. But, despite how on-the-go Austinites are, the city isn't known for being that accessible by foot like other walkable neighborhoods in the U.S.
However, there are several walkable neighborhoods in Austin where you can ditch the car and head out on foot to explore. Don't worry; we did all the research for you. Here are ten places to live, walk, and play in Austin.
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1. Downtown Austin
- Population: 7,412
- Median 1-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,635
- Median Household Income: $122,182
- Walk Score: 92
- Transit Score: 68
- Bike Score: 90
During the 1830s, The Republic of Texas President recruited the help of Edwin Waller to help shape Austin and the downtown area. Today, Downtown Austin serves as the city's business hub where government workers, start-ups, eCommerce, and remote workers live, work, and play along the Colorado riverfront. You can live in a high-rise apartment complex and walk to restaurants and urban amenities.
One of the best parts about living in Downtown Austin is its walkability and proximity to work. Take your pick of employment at tech companies, the hospitality industry, retail, restaurants, or museums. You can settle in and never leave the neighborhood.
You can walk out your door to a pub crawl in Downtown Austin at stops like The Continental Club for brews and live music. Or head over to The Red Room Lounge, Mug Shots, and Firehouse Lounge.
Renters who enjoy art and culture can head to Downtown Austin to see plays at the Paramount Theater or the most recent exhibit. Stop by The Contemporary Austin or take out-of-town visitors to the Museum of the Weird to embrace their circus side.
Downtown Austin offers an urban vibe where you can still embrace the outdoors. Soak up the sunshine with outdoor patio dining. Then, in the evening, you can walk over to join the crowds watching the largest urban colony of bats take flight from the Congress Bridge.
Check out the apartments available for rent now in Downtown Austin.
2. West University
- Population: 15,358
- Median 2-Bedroom Apartment in Austin: $2,152
- Median Household Income: $20,326
- Walk Score: 92
- Transit Score: 67
- Bike Score: 94
West University is named after the University of Texas at Austin and is heavily populated by college students. The area is known for its colorful buildings and new development. Thousands of apartment and condo units were constructed in the early 2000s to accommodate more students and new zoning laws. With a population of college students, the median income is lower, but you can save by living in one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Austin.
Students and staff are about a 15-minute walk to campus. When school is over, walk or bike to campus and enjoy the local pubs and amenities. Coffee shops and pubs are plentiful, like the Spider House Café, Hole in the Wall, and Pluckers Wing Bar.
You'll also find food trucks dotting West University with sandwiches, falafel, and ice cream. Your best bet is following your favorites on social media to find their ever-changing schedules.
Beyond food and drinks, you can also swing into the evening. Walk over to the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs Mansion on Thursday night for swing dancing with free lessons. You'll also find shopping on Guadalupe St, also known as the Drag, and sorority and fraternity houses peppered throughout the neighborhood.
Check out the apartments available for rent now in West University. Or get help figuring out if a dorm or apartment is right for you.
3. University of Texas-Austin
- Population: 8,338
- Median 2-Bedroom Apartment in Austin: $2,152
- Median Household Income: $71,254
- Walk Score: 89
- Transit Score: 72
- Bike Score: 93
The University of Texas-Austin opened its doors nearly 140 years ago with one building, eight professors, and 221 students. Although the student body makes up around 51,000 students, teachers, staff, and researchers work at the property. As a result, the university flourished into one of the top 40 universities globally.
The campus is highly walkable, allowing residents to explore surrounding neighborhoods. Live right off-campus in one of the neighborhood's many college-friendly complexes. Beyond going to class, you can also wander around campus to see its gorgeous 431 acres. It earned the nickname "Forty Acres" back when it was a smaller but still walkable campus.
The University of Texas-Austin is home to one of the largest university art museums in the U.S., with temporary exhibits and permanent collections. You can find rare books, photographs, and artwork at the Harry Ransom Center. After class, stop by the Turtle Pond that dates back to 1939 and is filled with a few dozen turtles. It also serves as a learning resource for biology students.
Check out the apartments available for rent now at the University of Texas-Austin.
4. North University
- Population: 4,747
- Median 2-Bedroom Apartment in Austin: $2,152
- Median Household Income: $38,777
- Walk Score: 84
- Transit Score: 66
- Bike Score: 92
North University is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Austin, filled with coffee shops and parks. It's also an ideal neighborhood for college students attending the University of Texas Austin and staff.
North University offers tree-lined streets that are perfect for shading walkers from the Texas heat. The neighborhood is filled with an eclectic mix of historic homes, student housing complexes, and private homes turned into rentals and duplexes.
When living close to campus, you can also take advantage of spots like Blanton Museum of Art for everything from Greek pottery to digital comics. You can also see rare manuscripts, like Albert Einstein's unpublished notes and the original works of Frida Kahlo at the Harry Ransom Center.
Walk over the JP's Java or Spiderhouse Cafe for a cup of coffee with friends. After class, Trudy's Restaurant serves up Mexican martinis and Tex Mex fare. Make the trip over to the 150-year old Scholz Garten, where everyone from college students to politicians hang out.
Check out the North University apartments for rent in Austin.
5. East Cesar Chavez
- Population: 3,278
- Median 1-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,635
- Median Household Income: $65,689
- Walk Score: 84
- Transit Score: 49
- Bike Score: 93
East Cesar Chavez is one of Austin's oldest neighborhoods, with settlements dating back to 1867. The area was purchased by Sam and Raiford Mason and was settled by African Americans after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. By 1871, the Houston and Texas Central Railroad helped bring more travelers and immigrants to the area, including Eastern Europeans and Mexican Americans escaping the Mexican Revolution.
As one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Austin, East Cesar Chavez offers trendy cafes, hip restaurants, pubs, and dive bars. Enjoy the smell of oak-smoked barbecue from spots like la Barbecue or New Orlean fare from Sawyer & Co.
Quirky boutiques and shops line the streets, like Resistencia Bookstore and Corocoro fair trade international art and jewelry store. Grab drinks at The Electric Church with bohemian decor if you need a little nightlife. Central Machine Works Brewery offers outdoor imbibing.
Make the most of living in East Cesar Chavez and its walkable streets. One of the best places to stroll in the neighborhood is The Tejano Walking Trails in East Austin, leading through American history. You'll also find Hispanic influences.
Check out the East Cesar Chavez apartments for rent in Austin.
6. Central East Austin
- Population: 4,372
- Median 1-Bedroom Apartment Rent: $2,863
- Median Household Income: $72,061
- Walk Score: 84
- Transit Score: 53
- Bike Score: 85
The area of Central East Austin once housed the African American community in Austin and was a segregated neighborhood. The neighborhood eventually evolved into a haven for jazz and blues. Although Central East Austin is quickly transforming, it is also the only black cultural district in Texas and celebrated for its history.
As one of the more walkable Austin neighborhoods, you can get to bars, grocery stores, and restaurants without getting in your car. You can also find your way to public transportation options for quick access to Downtown.
Some of the historical attractions in Central East Austin include the Dedrick-Hamilton House, which was home to one of the first free slaves in the county. Today it is the headquarters of the American Cultural & Heritage Facility and Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce.
East Austin features the city’s oldest neighborhood. The historic Oakwood Cemetery is a final resting place from a Comanche attack battle. You can still see signs of old-school segregation from the race-separated burial plots.
You can also walk to iconic places to eat, like the Franklin Barbecue and Quick Pickie. In addition, Austin is known for its live music, and Central East Austin is home to the Skylark Lounge and Sahara Lounge.
Check out the apartments in East Austin available for rent.
7. Old West Austin
- Population: 4,424
- Median 2-Bedroom Apartment in Austin: $2,152
- Median Household Income: $86,73
- Walk Score: 83
- Transit Score: 50
- Bike Score: 85
Old West Austin was developed between 1886 and 1953 as one of Austin's streetcar suburbs. The area is a National Register Historic District and among the oldest neighborhoods in Austin.
Old West Austin is a desirable place to live, thanks to its gorgeous landscapes. The walkable area stretches across 106 blocks of residential and parkland in the sections of Enfield, Pemberton Heights, and Bryker Woods. For more exploring, there's a 23-acre nature preserve in Mayfield Park, and Mount Bonnell's hilltop boasts views of Lake Austin.
You'll also find stops like the landmark Deep Eddy Swimming Pool built in 1916 and spring-fed as you walk through Old West Austin. For some art, The Contemporary features exhibit is housed in a historic Mediterranean-style villa. In Clarksville, you'll find the 145-year-old Sweet Home missionary Baptist Church and HOPE Outdoor Gallery with three-story educational artwork.
Walk to dining options like Nau's Enfield, a 65- year old pharmacy with an old-fashioned soda fountain. Zocalo Cafe serves Tex-Mex and Caffe Medici to gather outdoors with friends.
Check out the Old West Austin apartments for rent in Austin.
8. Bouldin Creek
- Population: 4,424
- Median 2-Bedroom Apartment in Austin: $2,152
- Median Household Income: $75,233
- Walk Score: 92
- Transit Score: 68
- Bike Score: 90
Bouldin Creek is one of the most popular and walkable neighborhoods in Austin. The area, which dates back to the 1850s, was once owned by Col. James Bouldin. Until the 1940s, part of the neighborhood was primarily an African-American neighborhood. The community is undergoing gentrification but has a reputation for a diverse range of cultures, architectural styles, and its overall vibe.
Bouldin Creek is only minutes from downtown but still feels secluded and laid-back. The neighborhood is filled with single-family homes, duplexes, and some apartments that make it a welcoming community to homeowners and renters.
It's easy to get to Austin attractions when you live in Bouldin Creek. Head over to Barton Creek, Zilker Creek, Lady Bird Creek, or the Barton Creek Greenbelt. You can also stop by entertainment venues, like the Long Center for the Performing Arts.
You’ll find plenty of restaurants and dining to choose from in this walkable neighborhood. The top-rated Bouldin Creek Cafe offers vegetarian dishes, and the nearby June's feature cold beer and American fare. Stop for coffee at Seventh Flag Coffee or margaritas at Polvos.
Check out the Bouldin Creek apartments for rent in Austin.
9. Holly
- Population: 3,990
- Median 2-Bedroom Apartment in Austin: $2,152
- Median Household Income: $60,445
- Walk Score: 92
- Transit Score: 68
- Bike Score: 90
The walkable Austin neighborhood of Holly is part of East Austin area and is undergoing rejuvenation. You'll find a mix of old homes, multi-story apartment complexes, and trendy restaurants.
Holly is growing a reputation for being cool, hip, and laid-back where recent graduates and millennials are relocating. The neighborhood has an arty feel with colorful murals and graffiti covering the walls of buildings.
Walk to spots like Launderette (a laundromat turned restaurant) or the hole in the wall Juan in a Million, serving cheap breakfast tacos. For drinks, Whisler's features handcrafted cocktails and an upstairs mezcal bar. Stop by Lustre Pearl East for trivia nights in a converted wooden home.
Residents are within walking distance to Lady Bird Lake on the Colorado River and the leafy Edward Rendon Sr. Park. You'll also find biking and walking trails along the river.
Check out the Holly apartments for rent in Austin.
10. Hancock
- Population: 10,848
- Median 2-Bedroom Apartment in Austin: $2,152
- Median Household Income: $42,333
- Walk Score: 92
- Transit Score: 68
- Bike Score: 90
Hancock, Austin was named after Lewis Hancock, the city’s mayor from 1895 to 1897, and the Austin Country Club and Golf Course founder. One of its earliest residents was Susanna Dickinson, a survivor of the Battle of the Alamo and few surviving eyewitnesses.
While the neighborhood is close to Downtown and the University of Texas, it has a residential feel with mature trees lining the streets. Despite its quiet vibe, you'll find green space, shopping, restaurants, and live music in Hancock. The neighborhood's Hancock Recreation Center is situated in the middle of the golf course, complete with a ballroom and youth programs.
Depending on where you live in the neighborhood, you can walk to nearby attractions like the Elisabet Ney Museum or into East Central Austin and North University.
Check out the Hancock apartments for rent in Austin.
Final Thoughts
The most walkable neighborhoods in Austin have warm weather, year-round sunshine, and great outdoors. You're also never far from urban amenities and the best of what the city offers. Ready to find an apartment in one of the walkable neighborhoods in Austin? Sign-up with Apartment List now.
If Austin doesn't seem like the right place for you, consider other places to live in Texas.
Texas:
- Things to Know Before Moving to Texas
- Cost of Living in Texas
- Best Places to Live in Texas
- Cheapest Places to Live in Texas
Dallas:
- Things to Know Before Moving to Dallas
- Best Neighborhoods in Dallas
- Average Rent in Dallas
- Cost of Living in Dallas
Houston:
- Things to Know Before Moving to Houston
- Best Neighborhoods in Houston
- Average Rent in Houston
- Cost of Living in Houston
San Antonio:
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