Austin/Compare
Bouldin Creek vs South Lamar
Bouldin Creek and South Lamar are two official planning areas in Austin. South Lamar is the calmer Part I map (42 vs 21). Bouldin Creek wins the errand count. South Lamar has the lower ACS median ($1,686).
Data vintage. ACS 2024 5-year · APD Sep 2025 – Aug 2026 · OSM Aug 2026 · updated Sep 2026
Scores
Fit axes among official Austin Neighborhood Planning Areas.
| Axis | Bouldin Creek | South Lamar |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 21 | 42 |
| Schools | 60 | 37 |
| Walk | 28 | 11 |
| Cost fit | 100 | 100 |
| Vibe | 20 | 6 |
| Median rent | $1,915 | $1,686 |
| Median home | $1,023,538 | $562,634 |
| Population | 6,205 | 7,635 |
| Commute to Downtown | 12 min | 21 min |
| Commute to UT campus | 18 min | 27 min |
| Commute to The Domain | 33 min | 40 min |
Living numbers
Who rents, how old, how much crime, how many shops — beside the scores.
| Fact | Bouldin Creek | South Lamar |
|---|---|---|
| Renters | 58% | 82% |
| Median age | 36 | 32.3 |
| Median income | $126K | $79K |
| Part I per 1k | 54.0 | 43.1 |
| Groceries / 800m | 8 | 4 |
| Transit stops / 800m | 50 | 43 |
| Parks / 800m | 14 | 6 |
| 311 last 14 days | 199 | 95 |
Rent
Rent since 2014
ACS 5-year median gross rent for Austin city. Up 71% since 2014. Bouldin is 11% above the 2024 city median. S. Lamar is 2% below the 2024 city median.
Overlapping 5-year ACS windows (B25064), not asking rent. Census does not publish a rent series for each official neighborhood, so the line is the city place. Dashed marks are each area’s ACS 2024 median.
Which to pick
The same numbers as the table, in sentences. Nobody wins the city.
Pick Bouldin Creek if the school rating nearby is the point and you want the errands on foot. Schools score 60 vs 37. Walk is 28 vs 11. Vibe is 20 vs 6. Read both pages before you decide.
Pick South Lamar if the quieter map matters more than the scene and the rent gap is the point. Safety is 42 vs 21. ACS median rent is $1,686 vs $1,915. Read both pages before you decide.
Bouldin Creek
West of South Congress: cottages, food trailers, and the SoCo strip on the doorstep.
$1,915 median rent · safety 21 · walk 28
South Lamar
The corridor south of the river: retail, apartments, and a faster pulse than Barton Hills.
$1,686 median rent · safety 42 · walk 11
Common questions
Same pair, said in questions. The numbers are in the tables.
Which is cheaper, Bouldin Creek or South Lamar?
South Lamar is the lower ACS median: $1,915 vs $1,686. About 82% rent in South Lamar vs 58% in Bouldin Creek. Survey medians, not a listing you can message tonight.
Is Bouldin Creek more walkable than South Lamar?
Bouldin Creek wins the errand count (walk 28 vs 11). Groceries inside 800 meters: 8 vs 4. Not a Walk Score license.
Which is safer on this map, Bouldin Creek or South Lamar?
South Lamar is the calmer Part I read (42 vs 21). Combined rate 43.1 vs 54.0 per 1,000. Visitors count in those numbers.
Which scores higher for families, Bouldin Creek or South Lamar?
Bouldin Creek leads the school axis (60 vs 37). Nearby rating is 7.6 / 10 vs 6.9 / 10. Median age 36 vs 32.3. Neither number is a school assignment.
Which has the shorter commute to Downtown?
12 minutes from Bouldin Creek to Downtown, 21 from South Lamar. Bouldin Creek is the shorter weekday. Not this hour's traffic.
If you drop both
Closest official planning area that is not Bouldin Creek or South Lamar: South River City. Travis Heights oaks on the east side of Congress. Porches, hills, and a walk to the lake.
Bouldin Creek vs South River CitySouth Lamar vs South River City
Scores are relative among official Austin Neighborhood Planning Areas with the same editorial weights. Read the method.