Austin/Compare
Central East Austin vs South River City
Central East Austin and South River City are two official planning areas in Austin. Central East Austin is the calmer Part I map (58 vs 32). Central East Austin wins the errand count. South River City has the lower ACS median ($1,894).
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 | South River City |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 58 | 32 |
| Schools | 13 | 77 |
| Walk | 29 | 9 |
| Cost fit | 100 | 100 |
| Vibe | 21 | 7 |
| Median rent | $2,472 | $1,894 |
| Median home | $671,103 | $1,118,895 |
| Population | 5,612 | 5,140 |
| Commute to Downtown | 17 min | 17 min |
| Commute to UT campus | 19 min | 24 min |
| Commute to The Domain | 29 min | 39 min |
Living numbers
Who rents, how old, how much crime, how many shops — beside the scores.
| Fact | Central East Austin | South River City |
|---|---|---|
| Renters | 63% | 57% |
| Median age | 32.5 | 36.6 |
| Median income | $110K | $120K |
| Part I per 1k | 41.7 | 46.3 |
| Groceries / 800m | 6 | 6 |
| Transit stops / 800m | 56 | 23 |
| Parks / 800m | 18 | 12 |
| 311 last 14 days | 124 | 80 |
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. S. River is 10% 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 errands on foot. Safety is 58 vs 32. Walk is 29 vs 9. Vibe is 21 vs 7. Read both pages before you decide.
Pick South River City if the school rating nearby is the point and the rent gap is the point. Schools score 77 vs 13. ACS median rent is $1,894 vs $2,472. South River City 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
South River City
Travis Heights oaks on the east side of Congress. Porches, hills, and a walk to the lake.
$1,894 median rent · safety 32 · walk 9
Common questions
Same pair, said in questions. The numbers are in the tables.
Which is cheaper, Central East Austin or South River City?
South River City is the lower ACS median: $2,472 vs $1,894. About 57% rent in South River City vs 63% in Central East Austin. Survey medians, not a listing you can message tonight.
Is Central East Austin more walkable than South River City?
Central East Austin wins the errand count (walk 29 vs 9). Groceries inside 800 meters: 6 vs 6. Not a Walk Score license.
Which is safer on this map, Central East Austin or South River City?
Central East Austin is the calmer Part I read (58 vs 32). Combined rate 41.7 vs 46.3 per 1,000. Visitors count in those numbers.
Which scores higher for families, Central East Austin or South River City?
South River City leads the school axis (77 vs 13). Nearby rating is 8.1 / 10 vs 6.2 / 10. Median age 36.6 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, 17 from South River City. A wash on this estimate. Not this hour's traffic.
If you drop both
Closest official planning area that is not Central East Austin or South River City: 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 ChavezSouth River City vs East Cesar Chavez
Scores are relative among official Austin Neighborhood Planning Areas with the same editorial weights. Read the method.