Austin/Compare
East Cesar Chavez vs South River City
East Cesar Chavez and South River City are two official planning areas in Austin. South River City is the calmer Part I map (32 vs 16). East Cesar Chavez 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 | East Cesar Chavez | South River City |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 16 | 32 |
| Schools | 20 | 77 |
| Walk | 20 | 9 |
| Cost fit | 86 | 100 |
| Vibe | 25 | 7 |
| Median rent | $2,907 | $1,894 |
| Median home | $853,600 | $1,118,895 |
| Population | 3,053 | 5,140 |
| Commute to Downtown | 18 min | 17 min |
| Commute to UT campus | 21 min | 24 min |
| Commute to The Domain | 33 min | 39 min |
Living numbers
Who rents, how old, how much crime, how many shops — beside the scores.
| Fact | East Cesar Chavez | South River City |
|---|---|---|
| Renters | 41% | 57% |
| Median age | 38.8 | 36.6 |
| Median income | $122K | $120K |
| Part I per 1k | 60.6 | 46.3 |
| Groceries / 800m | 6 | 6 |
| Transit stops / 800m | 27 | 23 |
| Parks / 800m | 11 | 12 |
| 311 last 14 days | 163 | 80 |
Rent
Rent since 2014
ACS 5-year median gross rent for Austin city. Up 71% since 2014. E. Cesar is 68% 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 East Cesar Chavez if you want the cafes and the night and you want the errands on foot. Vibe is 25 vs 7. Walk is 20 vs 9. 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 20. ACS median rent is $1,894 vs $2,907. Safety is 32 vs 16. Read both pages before you decide.
East Cesar Chavez
East of the highway, still close enough to walk downtown. Music, murals, and a nightlife score that is not subtle.
$2,907 median rent · safety 16 · walk 20
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, East Cesar Chavez or South River City?
South River City is the lower ACS median: $2,907 vs $1,894. About 57% rent in South River City vs 41% in East Cesar Chavez. Survey medians, not a listing you can message tonight.
Is East Cesar Chavez more walkable than South River City?
East Cesar Chavez wins the errand count (walk 20 vs 9). Groceries inside 800 meters: 6 vs 6. Not a Walk Score license.
Which is safer on this map, East Cesar Chavez or South River City?
South River City is the calmer Part I read (32 vs 16). Combined rate 46.3 vs 60.6 per 1,000. Visitors count in those numbers.
Which scores higher for families, East Cesar Chavez or South River City?
South River City leads the school axis (77 vs 20). Nearby rating is 8.1 / 10 vs 6.4 / 10. Median age 36.6 vs 38.8. East Cesar Chavez has more of the night. Neither number is a school assignment.
Which has the shorter commute to Downtown?
18 minutes from East Cesar Chavez to Downtown, 17 from South River City. South River City is the shorter weekday. Not this hour's traffic.
If you drop both
Closest official planning area that is not East Cesar Chavez or South River City: Central East Austin. East of I-35, north of Cesar Chavez. Rapid change, strong food, mixed housing, and a walk to downtown.
East Cesar Chavez vs Central East AustinSouth River City vs Central East Austin
Scores are relative among official Austin Neighborhood Planning Areas with the same editorial weights. Read the method.