One of the most beloved neighborhoods in Austin sits just south of downtown. With its convenient location, green outdoor spaces, laid-back vibe, and hip restaurants and shops, there’s no surprise that the Travis Heights neighborhood is a highly coveted one.
This neighborhood profile is brought to you by Smart City, which is a totally free, hyper-personalized apartment locating service. You tell them what you want in an apartment, and they’ll give you a custom list of places meet your needs. Once you land on that perfect spot, they’ll help you navigate the leasing process and connect you with utility, internet, renter’s insurance, and other services once you move in! Scroll down to find out how Smart City can help you find a new place to live in Travis Heights.
Before we get to the actual moving part, here are few reasons why Travis Heights is a great neighborhood to live!
Here are five of the reasons to love Travis Heights!
1. LOCATION
As mentioned before, location-wise in Austin, it doesn’t get any better. Travis Heights is located just south of downtown and close to I-35, making it easy to hop on the highway… depending on traffic. Residents can walk to the South Congress strip for shopping, dining, and live music, make the short trek to Town Lake for running, biking, or kayaking or hop over the Colorado River a.k.a. Town Lake a.k.a. Lady Bird Lake to have dinner downtown. Whatever it is you want to do in Austin, Travis Heights is a central home base to it all.
2. SHOPPING, DINING, AND LIVE MUSIC
Whether you’re in the mood for new and/ or vintage clothing, coffee, food, or live tunes, you can easily get it in on the edge of Travis Heights on SoCo. Snap a pic in front of the I Love You So Much sign while you’re waiting in line at Jo’s Coffee with tourists and locals alike. Enjoy a jalapeño margarita, Queso Flameado, and picadillo tacos while you people-watch on the patio at Guero’s. Or pop in for something a bit healthier at Sweetgreen, located in the all new Music Row! Catch a live show at the legendary Continental Club. Burn off some calories with a shopping spree down South Congress. Local favorite shops include Parts & Labour, Maya Star, and Allen’s Boots, as well as, larger chains like Madewell and Warby Parker. Need a getaway from home? Book a staycation at Hotel Saint Cecilia, Hotel San José, Austin Motel, or South Congress Hotel.
3. NATURE
Trails, parks, huge oak trees, and greenbelt – oh my! Though the SoCo strip in Travis Heights is trendy and totally packed during big Austin events like ACL, SXSW, and um, Saturday, you can still miraculously find peaceful luscious green outdoor spaces just steps away. Yes, one minute you can be sipping on an Iced Macha Latte from Mañana while browsing through racks of majestic costumes at Lucy In Disguise, and another you can be walking your rescue dog along a shaded path to Big Stacy or Little Stacy Park. Big Stacy houses a pool for all ages, while Little Stacy has tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts and a shallow pool and playscape for kids.
4. PEOPLE
The people of Travis Heights are as eclectic as the homes they live in. Musicians, artists, lawyers, doctors, @6stcowboy—you name it—a variety of people choose to lovingly and proudly call Travis Heights home. Snip a sprig or two of basil from Stephanie’s well-tended garden across the street (ahem, she offered), take your guitar over to Jill’s house for her monthly jam sessions, walk over to Jeff’s house and borrow his binoculars to see what the neighborhood owls are up to after dinner, and of course, get a sneak peek into Deb’s house and art studio during the Travis Heights Art Trail held every year in November.
5. Housing
Travis Heights is a primarily residential neighborhood, meaning there are very few apartment complexes in the heart of this area. Most renters in Travis Heights seek out private home rentals in order to get a taste of the suburban lifestyle that’s more typical to this neighborhood. However, there are some apartment complexes both within and directly outside Travis Heights for those who want to live in a residential South Central Austin community without sacrificing the apartment lifestyle.
Just like home prices in Travis Heights, apartments can be quite expensive in this area, especially if one is looking for high-end finishes, newer builds, or close proximity to Downtown. A small 1 bed/1 bath at a complex built in the 2010s adjacent to South Congress goes for over $1900/mo. That said, look closer East towards Oltorf/Riverside, and there are lots of older apartment complexes that are far more budget-friendly. These will typically have dated appliances, W/D hookups or shared facilities, and popcorn ceilings, but will run about $1200-$1500 for a 1 bed/1 bath.
Travis Heights is a super desirable spot to live in Austin, so apartment availability can be quite low (and therefore prices can be quite high), especially during the Summer busy season. Because of this, using an apartment locator will benefit you greatly when searching for a rental in Travis Heights. Reach out to Smart City Locating to get connected with a local apartment expert to find your dream apartment today!
Want to know more about living in the Travis Heights, like total number of households, median home price, average income? Click here.
