Good Neighborhoods & Schools in Austin

South Central Austin is very family friendly. Check out near the Zilker Park area.

As a kid I moved here from Virginia, and we ended up in Barton Hills, (South Austin). That was a great neighborhood for a kid who loved the woods, being adjacent to the Barton Creek greenbelt, (and it has a great elementary school,) but it doesn't have much of a downtown feel. Travis Heights also has an excellent elementary school (I've substitute taught at both of the above schools) and is closer to the South Congress "dowtown" area. In North Austin, I've rented in Hyde Park (3 years) and I'd avoid it now, mainly for the high cost but also because the neighborhood has lost a lot of it's charm. I'm living a little ways away in Rosedale now, and I like it better. Allandale is another neighborhood that would keep you in this area, but in all these cases, buying a home is going to be a real expense. We have two magnet middle schools that I'm aware of, Kealing and Fullmore. One is arts and the other is sciences --I think. The regular schools are very much hit and miss, and it might be worth your while to visit the schools your kids would be going to before you buy into a house or neighborhood. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask and I'll check back in and do what I can to help answer.

I lived for several years in Austin, on the NW side, and was extremely unimpressed with the public schools. Moving to Oregon was literally a night/day experience for my child. In my experience, the school district simply could not be bothered to help diagnose why my child was not doing well in class. Requests for help were met with disinterest and lack of effort or follow-through. Contrast that with Portland, which has made all the difference for my son. Differences between (my) Austin and (my) Portland schools, in my experience: More experienced teachers in Portland, by far. Smaller classes Smaller schools Parents who participate/volunteer in school, instead of both working full-time, hoping the school is good. (This seems like the biggest single positive force) If I were to move to Austin again (never happen, too flippin' hot), I would be extremely careful about interviewing the neighbors about the school, and carefully checking out my options. I am certain that there are good schools, most likely in the previously mentioned Hyde Park neighborhood.

As always, private schools are an option, but many people don't want to go that route. I live in the Clarksville area, which I think is completely awesome, and the schools are good, but again there is price issue. Same with Tarrytown. Hyde Park can be more affordable, depending on what you find. There are some older (think 1920's & 30's) houses that can be had for reasonable prices, and remodeled and turn into a good investment. South Austin (or the 78704) has great neighborhoods, good schools, and friendly neighbors, however it's not for everybody. It has its own unique trendy feel. As you move away from the city center, there are still good schools and neighborhoods.

Also, if price isn't an option, Westlake has a very good reputation for their schools. You could look at both Westlake and the Lost Creek areas, if you can afford it.

What would be considered an expensive price in austin when you guys are talking about the pricey neighborhoods? I'm curious what the ballpark range is for buying a decent home there.

$175-250K would get you a very decent home in a cool Austin neighborhood. By my standards at least, for $250K+ you live like royalty. You can still get new homes in outlying areas and decent fixer-uppers in transitioning neighborhoods in the low $100s (or even less). Check http://www.austinhomesearch.com.

(responding to Matt): I recently sold a house in Hyde Park, which is very central and considered one of the more desirable neighborhoods (I'd call it middle-upper, with lots of Volvos and Saabs. If you want upper-upper, with lots of Lincoln Navigators and Benzes, the figures are much higher). I got $335K for a ~1800 sqft house. A roughly comparable house in a more "transitional" central neighborhood might sell for $260K (although anything central is now considered "hot," and transitional or no, the prices already reflect expected future increases to some extent). I've seen unlivable, tumbledown shoeboxes on postage-stamp lots in marginal neighborhoods selling for about $80K. Once you get outside what can reasonably be considered central, lot values can drop off precipitously. Suburban developments obey their own pricing logic that seemingly has little to do with proximity to the city center. I'm looking for a new house myself right now, so this is very much on my mind.

(I must have low standards!)