National Lifestyle Website Ranks Best Austin Neighborhoods

AUSTIN, TEXAS — There are many wonderful neighborhoods in Austin, but the top "best" honor goes to (drum roll, please...) "Triangle State" in North Austin, according to a new report.

That's according to the lifestyle website Niche as outlined in its annual list of “Best Places to Live.” Researchers awarded an A+ to the neighborhood, giving it high marks for the quality of the area's public schools, diversity, night life and other dynamics.

Study authors considered various metrics in the reckoning to achieve its neighborhood rankings, including cost of living, housing and higher education grades. The boundaries of the "Triangle State" as outlined by Niche are Guadalupe Street as its eastern boundary; West 38th Street on its southern edge; North Lamar Boulevard to the west; and East 51st Street fronting the northern edge of the enclave. Located within the boundaries are such landmarks as the Whitaker Intramural Fields just east of Guadalupe Street that are owned by the University of Texas and the Waller Creekside apartment complex on 51st Street.

Mamu Fu's Asian House calls The Triangle home, nestled inside the mixed-use development among other tenants. Photo by Tony Cantú/Patch staff.

Found within those boundaries is The Triangle, a prominent mixed-use real estate development that features apartments, retail sites and restaurants, including Maudie's Tex-Mex, a Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Mama Fu's Asian House and Mandola's Italian Kitchen. Nearby, there's park area complete with splash pad, Central Park, and another shopping center anchored by a Central Market grocery store.

Some 2,000 residents live in the neighborhood, according to the site, with median rent hovering around $1,480 and median home values at $119,755. Among the residential base, 94 percent are renters, with a median household income of $51,147.

Rounding out the list of top five neighborhoods in Austin, in descending order, on Niche’s list are the following that also garnered an A+:

• Old West Austin: "Living in Old West Austin offers residents an urban feel and most residents rent their homes," Niche researchers wrote. "In Old West Austin, there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Old West Austin and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Old West Austin are highly rated." Population: 6,513. Median home value: $643,619. Median rent: $1,407
• Old Enfield: Same description as above. Population: 2,747. Median home value: $322,006. Median rent: $1,412.
• Allandale: "Living in Allandale offers residents a suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Allandale there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Allandale and residents tend to have moderate political views. The public schools in Allandale are highly rated." Population: 9,596. Median home value: $405,164. Median rent: $762.
• Upper Boggy Creek: "Living in Upper Boggy Creek offers residents an urban feel and most residents rent their homes. In Upper Boggy Creek there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Upper Boggy Creek and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Upper Boggy Creek are highly rated." Population: 7,272. Median Home Value: $344,723. Median rent: $1,294.

The study is exhaustive, listing and assessing not only local neighborhoods, but across the country. To read the full report, click here.