Austin/Compare
Central East Austin vs Mueller
Central East Austin and Mueller are two official planning areas in Austin. Central East Austin is the calmer Part I map (58 vs 5). Central East Austin wins the errand count. Mueller has the lower ACS median ($2,015).
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 | Central East Austin | Mueller |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 58 | 5 |
| Schools | 13 | 87 |
| Walk | 29 | 20 |
| Cost fit | 100 | 100 |
| Vibe | 21 | 22 |
| Median rent | $2,472 | $2,015 |
| Median home | $671,103 | $702,959 |
| Population | 5,612 | 9,075 |
| Commute to Downtown | 17 min | 19 min |
| Commute to UT campus | 19 min | 17 min |
| Commute to The Domain | 29 min | 25 min |
Living numbers
Who rents, how old, how much crime, how many shops — beside the scores.
| Fact | Central East Austin | Mueller |
|---|---|---|
| Renters | 63% | 54% |
| Median age | 32.5 | 33.9 |
| Median income | $110K | $112K |
| Part I per 1k | 41.7 | 75.6 |
| Groceries / 800m | 6 | 4 |
| Transit stops / 800m | 56 | 28 |
| Parks / 800m | 18 | 43 |
| 311 last 14 days | 124 | 122 |
Rent
Rent since 2014
ACS 5-year median gross rent for Austin city. Up 71% since 2014. E. Central is 43% above the 2024 city median. Mueller is 17% 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 Central East Austin if the quieter map matters more than the scene and you want the cafes and the night. Safety is 58 vs 5. Vibe is 21 vs 22. Walk is 29 vs 20. Read both pages before you decide.
Pick Mueller if the school rating nearby is the point and the rent gap is the point. Schools score 87 vs 13. ACS median rent is $2,015 vs $2,472. Mueller is tagged family on this map; Central East Austin is not. Read both pages before you decide.
Central East Austin
East of I-35, north of Cesar Chavez. Rapid change, strong food, mixed housing, and a walk to downtown.
$2,472 median rent · safety 58 · walk 29
Mueller
A planned town on the old airport: alleys, a lake loop, and a grocery at the center. Newer bones, family default.
$2,015 median rent · safety 5 · walk 20
Common questions
Same pair, said in questions. The numbers are in the tables.
Which is cheaper, Central East Austin or Mueller?
Mueller is the lower ACS median: $2,472 vs $2,015. About 54% rent in Mueller vs 63% in Central East Austin. Survey medians, not a listing you can message tonight.
Is Central East Austin more walkable than Mueller?
Central East Austin wins the errand count (walk 29 vs 20). Groceries inside 800 meters: 6 vs 4. Not a Walk Score license.
Which is safer on this map, Central East Austin or Mueller?
Central East Austin is the calmer Part I read (58 vs 5). Combined rate 41.7 vs 75.6 per 1,000. Visitors count in those numbers.
Which scores higher for families, Central East Austin or Mueller?
Mueller leads the school axis (87 vs 13). Nearby rating is 8.4 / 10 vs 6.2 / 10. Median age 33.9 vs 32.5. Central East Austin has more of the night. Neither number is a school assignment.
Which has the shorter commute to Downtown?
17 minutes from Central East Austin to Downtown, 19 from Mueller. Central East Austin is the shorter weekday. Not this hour's traffic.
If you drop both
Closest official planning area that is not Central East Austin or Mueller: East Cesar Chavez. East of the highway, still close enough to walk downtown. Music, murals, and a nightlife score that is not subtle.
Central East Austin vs East Cesar ChavezMueller vs East Cesar Chavez
Scores are relative among official Austin Neighborhood Planning Areas with the same editorial weights. Read the method.