Austin/Compare
Old West Austin vs Zilker
Old West Austin and Zilker are official planning areas in Austin. Zilker leads safety (74 vs 53). Zilker leads walk. Zilker has the lower ACS median rent ($2,175).
Data vintage. ACS 2024 5-year · APD Sep 2025 – Aug 2026 · OSM Aug 2026 · updated Sep 2026
| Axis | Old West Austin | Zilker |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 53 | 74 |
| Schools | 83 | 93 |
| Walk | 0 | 9 |
| Cost fit | 97 | 100 |
| Vibe | 5 | 15 |
| Median rent | $2,590 | $2,175 |
| Median home | $1,303,800 | $1,006,854 |
| Population | 6,543 | 10,882 |
| Commute to Downtown | 20 min | 17 min |
| Commute to UT campus | 20 min | 22 min |
| Commute to The Domain | 29 min | 35 min |
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
Zilker
Park first, houses second. Barton Springs and the trail set the pace; prices follow the shade.
$2,175 median rent · safety 74 · walk 9
Scores are relative among official Austin Neighborhood Planning Areas with the same editorial weights. Read the method.