Best Family Neighborhoods (Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park: rent, house, buy) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

Angelfan760 · 03-21-2017, 12:32 PM

Hello Everyone,

I am considering a job in Austin moving from San Diego. I have 3 elementary aged kids. The position is located off the 35 near UT (looks like it is north of downtown). I am not really familiar with the area. I am looking for really good schools, family community, preferably master planned with lots of activities to meet people quick (i.e. concerts in the park, waterpark, etc.) we will probably rent first but I would like to limit changes on my kids so we can later buy in the same area. I would also like mtn. bike/ running trails w/ some foothills in a price range of about $350-$450K. Any suggestion are greatly appreciated! I have heard Brushy Creek and Steiner ranch But I looking for particular neighborhoods within those areas or similar areas. The one caveat is my goal is to limit the commute and traffic!

Thanks for the help!

hound 109 · 03-21-2017, 01:00 PM

Fingernails, meet blackboard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angelfan760

Hello Everyone,

I am considering a job in Austin moving from San Diego. I have 3 elementary aged kids. The position is located off the 35 near UT (looks like it is north of downtown). I am not really familiar with the area. I am looking for really good schools, family community, preferably master planned with lots of activities to meet people quick (i.e. concerts in the park, waterpark, etc.) we will probably rent first but I would like to limit changes on my kids so we can later buy in the same area. I would also like mtn. bike/ running trails w/ some foothills in a price range of about $350-$450K. Any suggestion are greatly appreciated! I have heard Brushy Creek and Steiner ranch But I looking for particular neighborhoods within those areas or similar areas. The one caveat is my goal is to limit the commute and traffic!

Thanks for the help!

Steiner would be the commute from hell.

Avery/Brushy would also be a nasty commute if during rush hour (unless you can take train...which we don't know if you can...because we don't know the cross streets of your work).

The things you like to do suggests you'd enjoy areas (like Steiner) West or Northwest of town. But your budget and commute would suggest North or Northeast of town. (I'm thinking East RR or Pville).

Angelfan760 · 03-21-2017, 01:19 PM

The office is off 38th and I-35....(Hwy 35??, what do you call it there?). Whats the name of the train so I can look at the route online?

Thanks!

ashbeeigh · 03-21-2017, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angelfan760

The office is off 38th and I-35....(Hwy 35??, what do you call it there?). Whats the name of the train so I can look at the route online?

Thanks!

The closet train station to 35 and 38th 1/12 will be MLK....if you're on the east side of 35. If you're on the west it's going to be a long additional bus route to get to the office. The train is the Metro Rail through Cap Metro. The train goes from far northwest Austin (burbs) to right by the convention center. There is one route and it can get crowded and the times are scattered and are not as flexible as one would like them to be.

I would also add 78728 and 78729 to your list of areas to look in. They would be close to Walnut Creek and they have some good mountain biking loops. Those would be within the Round Rock and Pflugerville school districts. If you live off of Wells Branch/Howard you would be able to get on the train at Howard and head downtown but again, the 38th and 35 intersection is nowhere near the train. A drive to the 38th and 35 area could be anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes depending on time of day.

mesmer · 03-21-2017, 01:36 PM

35. Just call it 35.

I have no advice. That's either a tough wishlist and a tough commute.

mark311 · 03-21-2017, 01:52 PM

Just figure to get what you want, you are looking at a 35 minute commute at best if you miss rush hour, but more like a 45 minute and sometimes 60 minute commute during rush hour each way.

With that said, start with Avery Ranch, Ranch at Brushy Creek, Creekview, Forest Oaks, Silver Oak, Silverado Ranch and a little further West is Ranch at Cypress Creek or the general surrounding areas. All of those will feed into good schools at every level (either Round Rock ISD or Leander ISD) of slightly varying degrees. Looking at neighborhoods North of 1431 are too far. Most of the neighborhoods are very close to the Brushy Creek Trail where there is a really nice trail along with sports fields, a skate park, etc. I'm missing a bunch of neighborhoods, but that just gives you a general idea and all are close to a nice trail and/or parks.

A lot of us are from San Diego here. It's hot here. It's a lot like the weather that you would see if you moved to Temecula and the housing in your price range will typically be the same type of housing that you see in Temecula.

And there are some neighborhoods on the other side of Round Rock like Forest Creek that I'm just not as familiar with as they are on the other side of town, but I'm sure that someone will chime in.

coachtaylor · 03-21-2017, 02:18 PM

You can get a lot of what you want in Mueller if you can spend about $100k more than the top of your budget. On the plus side, your commute will be 5 mins and it's a great family-friendly neighborhood. No foothills though.

ashbeeigh · 03-21-2017, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coachtaylor

You can get a lot of what you want in Mueller if you can spend about $100k more than the top of your budget. On the plus side, your commute will be 5 mins and it's a great family-friendly neighborhood. No foothills though.

They could get it in Windsor Park. However, the schools are still not that great. If I had little ones I'd buy and stick it out, but with kids already in school it might not be the best (and I know I get wishy-washy on this subject being a resident of the area)...but....

riaelise · 03-21-2017, 02:30 PM

LOL people my mother uses the word "the" in front of all numbered highways and she's from New York. it is what it is!

You can easily find housing in Steiner in the high 300s and mid 400s. Commute may not be pleasant, but price isn't the issue here.

I live in the Forest Ridge/Forest Creek/Oak Bluff Estates area. Beautiful and leafy, lots of families and retirees, though no "mountains" or "foothills". The high school is on the weaker side but the elementary and middle are great. Commute would be a problem, factor in at least 45 minutes.

Commutes from far NW Austin and Cedar Park may be a commuting problem as well.

At 450k, you can move even closer but get used to a small house and schools might be great or middling.

coachtaylor · 03-21-2017, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbeeigh

They could get it in Windsor Park. However, the schools are still not that great. If I had little ones I'd buy and stick it out, but with kids already in school it might not be the best (and I know I get wishy-washy on this subject being a resident of the area)...but....

True. We're zoned to Maplewood which doesn't rank at the top like the suburbs but people seem to like it and feel that the socioeconomic diversity is worth it. There are also lottery-based public charter schools which we're looking into for our own little ones but you can't count on getting in. All part of the tradeoffs I suppose...I keep hearing rumors that traffic is a problem in Austin but I rarely experience it since we live/work/school in a 4-mile radius that doesn't involve getting on 35. I'll pay more $$ for worse schools for that!