Austin/Compare
Old West Austin vs South River City
Old West Austin and South River City are two official planning areas in Austin. Old West Austin is the calmer Part I map (53 vs 32). South River City 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 | Old West Austin | South River City |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 53 | 32 |
| Schools | 83 | 77 |
| Walk | 0 | 9 |
| Cost fit | 97 | 100 |
| Vibe | 5 | 7 |
| Median rent | $2,590 | $1,894 |
| Median home | $1,303,800 | $1,118,895 |
| Population | 6,543 | 5,140 |
| Commute to Downtown | 20 min | 17 min |
| Commute to UT campus | 20 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 | Old West Austin | South River City |
|---|---|---|
| Renters | 60% | 57% |
| Median age | 40.5 | 36.6 |
| Median income | $152K | $120K |
| Part I per 1k | 42.3 | 46.3 |
| Groceries / 800m | 2 | 6 |
| Transit stops / 800m | 14 | 23 |
| Parks / 800m | 9 | 12 |
| 311 last 14 days | 106 | 80 |
Rent
Rent since 2014
ACS 5-year median gross rent for Austin city. Up 71% since 2014. Old West is 50% 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 Old West Austin if the quieter map matters more than the scene. Safety is 53 vs 32. Read both pages before you decide.
Pick South River City if the rent gap is the point and you want the errands on foot. ACS median rent is $1,894 vs $2,590. Walk is 9 vs 0. Read both pages before you decide.
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
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, Old West Austin or South River City?
South River City is the lower ACS median: $2,590 vs $1,894. About 57% rent in South River City vs 60% in Old West Austin. Survey medians, not a listing you can message tonight.
Is Old West Austin more walkable than South River City?
South River City wins the errand count (walk 0 vs 9). Groceries inside 800 meters: 2 vs 6. Not a Walk Score license.
Which is safer on this map, Old West Austin or South River City?
Old West Austin is the calmer Part I read (53 vs 32). Combined rate 42.3 vs 46.3 per 1,000. Visitors count in those numbers.
Which scores higher for families, Old West Austin or South River City?
Old West Austin leads the school axis (83 vs 77). Nearby rating is 8.3 / 10 vs 8.1 / 10. Median age 40.5 vs 36.6. Neither number is a school assignment.
Which has the shorter commute to Downtown?
20 minutes from Old West Austin 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 Old West Austin or South River City: Zilker. Park first, houses second. Barton Springs and the trail set the pace; prices follow the shade.
Scores are relative among official Austin Neighborhood Planning Areas with the same editorial weights. Read the method.