Best Neighborhoods in Austin: Which Areas Are the Safest?

Austin has long been known as a remarkably safe city. Dating back to when it was a wee town of under 500,000 in the 1990s, it was considered one of the safest cities in the country. What about today, though?

How do Austin crime rates compare to the rest of the state, the country, and the world? We’ll answer these questions and then break down which Austin neighborhoods are the safest.

One of the Safest Big Cities in the Country?

Austin, Texas crime rates are considerably lower than the national average. Compared to similarly-sized metro areas, Austin is actually one of the safest big cities in the country.

According to a 2019 safety report compiled using FBI crime statistics, Austin is the eighth safest city in the country.^[1] This report found Austin’s violent crime rate of 4.15 per 1,000 to be about 1.2 times lower than the national average.

As cities grow from 250,000 to about 500,000 in population, they tend to show major drops in violent crime, as they gain more resources they can use to increase safety. What makes Austin’s crime rate so impressive, however, is that it has continued to improve upon it while seeing the highest population increases of any city in the country. Generally, such drastic population growth causes an even more drastic spike in crime.^[2]

One of the Safest Cities in Texas?

According to crime statistics compiled by the FBI, Austin’s murder rate of 2.8 per 100,000 is the lowest of the big four Texas cities making up the Texas Triangle (Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin).^[3] Of the 24 most populous cities in Texas, Austin is the fourth safest, overall.^[4]

Austin is safe, not just compared to the rest of Texas but to the rest of the country. If it were included in The Economist's list of the safest big cities in the world, it would likely rank near the top.^[5] Austin is truly one of the safest big cities in Texas, the United States, and the World.

With that being said, how do Austin crime rates break down by neighborhood? What areas of Austin are the safest to live in?

What Area in Austin is Most Dangerous?

As far as crime goes, there are still bad areas in Austin. Or, at least, worse areas.

In terms of areas you may want to avoid living in, Montopolis, Austin tops the list. Montopolis has higher than average violent and property crimes compared to the rest of the city and country.^[6]

Higher assault and burglary rates, especially, should be taken into consideration before buying a home here. Still, Montopolis offers lower costs of living, good public schools, and great parks. Compared to dangerous areas of most major cities, it’s still quite safe.

Montopolis included, Austin is made up of safe areas to live in. Let’s dive into which are safest.

Where are the Safest Neighborhoods in Austin?

As you’ll notice, the majority of the safest neighborhoods in Austin are concentrated along the city’s west side. While it’s getting better at having more racially and economically diverse neighborhoods, Austin is behind on the times in that it is still a somewhat segregated city.

The root of the issue dates back to the early 20th century when a 1928 city plan called for all black resident parks, schools, and libraries to be concentrated along the east side.^[7] Despite being a liberal, multicultural city, these outdated city plans are still evident in Austin neighborhoods.

Keeping that in mind, here are the safest neighborhoods in Austin:

Old Enfield

This historic area of Austin is both charming and lively. It extends from Lamar to Mopac and from Windsor Road to the north and Enfield Road to the south. You can’t get much closer to downtown than this, yet Old Enfield is still a quiet, safe place to live.

Rollingwood

Though a small neighborhood of less than one square mile, Rollingwood offers as much as any area in Austin. Located just west of Zilker Park, it has easy access to parks and recreational facilities, high-end dining, shopping, and more.

Hyde Park

Hyde Park contains two historic districts just north of the University of Texas. Its alluring Victorian architecture had made it the most densely populated neighborhood in central Austin. Despite being so populous, it is still low in crime.

Conclusion

Wherever in Austin you choose to make your home, you’ll be safe and not sorry. As in any city, some neighborhoods are safer than others. The west side is still safer than the east, with Old Enfield, Rollingwood, and Hyde Park being Austin’s safest neighborhoods. Compared to other metro areas in Texas and the country at large, however, even Austin’s most dangerous neighborhoods aren’t so bad. For more information and help in discovering where to move in Austin, contact Pauly Presley Realty today. 

References:

1. https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-metro-cities/
2. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2305136
3. https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/tables/6tabledatadecpdf/table-6
4. https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/the-fbis-list-of-the-most-dangerous-cities-in-texas/
5. http://safecities.economist.com/
6. https://www.roadsnacks.net/these-are-the-10-worst-austin-neighborhoods/
7. https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/what-nobody-says-about-austin/