Austin/Compare
Govalle vs South River City
Govalle and South River City are two official planning areas in Austin. South River City is the calmer Part I map (32 vs 26). Govalle wins the errand count. Govalle has the lower ACS median ($1,650).
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 | Govalle | South River City |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 26 | 32 |
| Schools | 3 | 77 |
| Walk | 16 | 9 |
| Cost fit | 100 | 100 |
| Vibe | 5 | 7 |
| Median rent | $1,650 | $1,894 |
| Median home | $641,200 | $1,118,895 |
| Population | 2,113 | 5,140 |
| Commute to Downtown | 22 min | 17 min |
| Commute to UT campus | 26 min | 24 min |
| Commute to The Domain | 40 min | 39 min |
Living numbers
Who rents, how old, how much crime, how many shops — beside the scores.
| Fact | Govalle | South River City |
|---|---|---|
| Renters | 32% | 57% |
| Median age | 39.8 | 36.6 |
| Median income | $103K | $120K |
| Part I per 1k | 46.8 | 46.3 |
| Groceries / 800m | 3 | 6 |
| Transit stops / 800m | 50 | 23 |
| Parks / 800m | 10 | 12 |
| 311 last 14 days | 130 | 80 |
Rent
Rent since 2014
ACS 5-year median gross rent for Austin city. Up 71% since 2014. Govalle is 5% below 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 Govalle if the rent gap is the point. ACS median rent is $1,650 vs $1,894. Read both pages before you decide.
Pick South River City if the school rating nearby is the point. Schools score 77 vs 3. Read both pages before you decide.
Govalle
Further east, still in the city. More yard, fewer bars, a value contrast to Cesar Chavez.
$1,650 median rent · safety 26 · walk 16
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, Govalle or South River City?
Govalle is the lower ACS median: $1,650 vs $1,894. About 32% rent in Govalle vs 57% in South River City. Survey medians, not a listing you can message tonight.
Is Govalle more walkable than South River City?
Govalle wins the errand count (walk 16 vs 9). Groceries inside 800 meters: 3 vs 6. Not a Walk Score license.
Which is safer on this map, Govalle or South River City?
South River City is the calmer Part I read (32 vs 26). Combined rate 46.3 vs 46.8 per 1,000. Visitors count in those numbers.
Which scores higher for families, Govalle or South River City?
South River City leads the school axis (77 vs 3). Nearby rating is 8.1 / 10 vs 5.9 / 10. Median age 36.6 vs 39.8. Neither number is a school assignment.
Which has the shorter commute to Downtown?
22 minutes from Govalle 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 Govalle 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.
Govalle 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.