Austin/Compare
Brentwood vs Old West Austin
Brentwood and Old West Austin are two official planning areas in Austin. Brentwood is the calmer Part I map (89 vs 53). Brentwood wins the errand count. Brentwood has the lower ACS median ($1,662).
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 | Brentwood | Old West Austin |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 89 | 53 |
| Schools | 63 | 83 |
| Walk | 19 | 0 |
| Cost fit | 100 | 97 |
| Vibe | 5 | 5 |
| Median rent | $1,662 | $2,590 |
| Median home | $770,446 | $1,303,800 |
| Population | 9,333 | 6,543 |
| Commute to Downtown | 15 min | 20 min |
| Commute to UT campus | 10 min | 20 min |
| Commute to The Domain | 17 min | 29 min |
Living numbers
Who rents, how old, how much crime, how many shops — beside the scores.
| Fact | Brentwood | Old West Austin |
|---|---|---|
| Renters | 65% | 60% |
| Median age | 36.9 | 40.5 |
| Median income | $96K | $152K |
| Part I per 1k | 31.6 | 42.3 |
| Groceries / 800m | 5 | 2 |
| Transit stops / 800m | 58 | 14 |
| Parks / 800m | 6 | 9 |
| 311 last 14 days | 135 | 106 |
Rent
Rent since 2014
ACS 5-year median gross rent for Austin city. Up 71% since 2014. Brentwood is 4% below the 2024 city median. Old West is 50% above 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 Brentwood if the rent gap is the point and the quieter map matters more than the scene. ACS median rent is $1,662 vs $2,590. Safety is 89 vs 53. Walk is 19 vs 0. Read both pages before you decide.
Pick Old West Austin if the school rating nearby is the point. Schools score 83 vs 63. Read both pages before you decide.
Brentwood
Bungalows between Crestview and Hyde Park. Slightly more cafes than Allandale, slightly less polish than Rosedale.
$1,662 median rent · safety 89 · walk 19
Old West Austin
Clarksville cottages west of downtown. Close to the lake trail, quieter than Rainey, priced like it.
$2,590 median rent · safety 53 · walk 0
Common questions
Same pair, said in questions. The numbers are in the tables.
Which is cheaper, Brentwood or Old West Austin?
Brentwood is the lower ACS median: $1,662 vs $2,590. About 65% rent in Brentwood vs 60% in Old West Austin. Survey medians, not a listing you can message tonight.
Is Brentwood more walkable than Old West Austin?
Brentwood wins the errand count (walk 19 vs 0). Groceries inside 800 meters: 5 vs 2. Not a Walk Score license.
Which is safer on this map, Brentwood or Old West Austin?
Brentwood is the calmer Part I read (89 vs 53). Combined rate 31.6 vs 42.3 per 1,000. Visitors count in those numbers.
Which scores higher for families, Brentwood or Old West Austin?
Old West Austin leads the school axis (83 vs 63). Nearby rating is 8.3 / 10 vs 7.7 / 10. Median age 40.5 vs 36.9. Neither number is a school assignment.
Which has the shorter commute to Downtown?
15 minutes from Brentwood to Downtown, 20 from Old West Austin. Brentwood is the shorter weekday. Not this hour's traffic.
If you drop both
Closest official planning area that is not Brentwood or Old West Austin: Hancock. Between campus and Hyde Park. Golf course, student spillover, and a short walk to the Forty Acres.
Scores are relative among official Austin Neighborhood Planning Areas with the same editorial weights. Read the method.