Central Austin

Perfect for

Living in Central Austin

Central Austin is the heart of the city, offering a mix of historic neighborhoods, college-town energy, and quiet, tree-lined streets. It’s home to the University of Texas at Austin, medical campuses, and some of the city’s most iconic areas like vintage-store-central North Loop, Austin’s first-ever suburb Hyde Park, Clarksville (home of the first Whole Foods), Campus, and Tarrytown–where Westlake meets Downtown. Due to Austin’s zoning laws, most large apartment complexes are isolated to a few small areas—2nd Street District/Seaholm, North University, and Rainey St. The Southern point of this area borders Lady Bird Lake, making it ideal for those who start or end every day with a long walk or can’t spend a Summer Saturday off of their paddleboard.

Between zoning limitations and high demand, prices are the highest here in all of Austin. Budget-conscious renters can still find options in garden-style communities, though. These are older builds; typically lack modern amenities, such as large pools and gyms, and may lack central air conditioning, requiring AC window units instead. These communities tend to be the least cookie-cutter in Austin, with mid-century-modern tiling, aged wood finishes, and tasteful upgrades. What they lack in amenities, they always make up for in character!