With its record-breaking level of housing growth and enviable quality of life, the Austin area boasts lots of trendy and desirable enclaves, but with the high costs and overcrowding to match. Some potential home buyers find it hard to appreciate the former because they can’t handle the latter. 

If you’re eager for the vibrant Austin lifestyle, but in a less-trafficked region with a low-key vibe, Neighborhoods.com has some underrated neighborhood recommendations for you.

Galindo

A South Austin area just a couple of miles from Downtown, Galindo occupies a prime location for trend-seekers, nestled right between the hip South Congress and South Lamar neighborhoods. Galindo, however, is notable for its strong community presence, its residential streets with quaint homes from the 1960s and ‘70s, and its local neighborhood association, GENA, striving tirelessly for clean green spaces and successful mom-and-pop businesses.

Galindo’s peaceful and serene vibe sets it apart from its buzzier neighbors, but residents in need of excellent restaurants and modern watering holes are only a brief stroll away from hotspots like Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co., Summer Moon Coffee Bar, and Winebelly. 

The median price for a home in Galindo currently stands at $462,500. This places it below the median price for homes in Austin’s downtown center, but in proximity to the business district, making it an easy choice for daily commuters.

Windsor Park

Photo courtesy of H.E.B.

Once known as an amenity-free neighborhood en route to the airport, Windsor Park in Northeast Austin has undergone a major resurgence in recent years. Studded with midcentury ranch houses, Windsor Park serves as a prime balance New Austin and Old Austin. With shopping centers like Windsor Village and Capital Plaza, a recently-opened H.E.B. supermarket and café, and green spaces like Bartholomew District Park, Windsor Park has proven especially attractive to residents looking for affordable real estate and an short distance from major thoroughfares like I-35 and U.S. 290. 

Windsor Park features a median home price of $350,000, making it a reasonable option for the metropolitan Austin area. Austinites looking for an up-and-coming area with untold potential would do well to consider Windsor Park.

Allandale 

Photo courtesy of Austin Independent School District

A relaxed residential neighborhood in North Austin, Allandale combines the bucolic appeal of the suburbs with the convenient locale of the city. Allandale features an active neighborhood association, numerous locally owned shops and eateries, and one of Austin’s finest school districts, the Austin Independent School District. 

Allandale provides a home for some of Austin’s most beloved neighborhood restaurants and bars, like The Peached Tortilla, Yard Bar, and Barley Swine. Thanks to its proximity to both Downtown and the University of Texas campus, Allandale is an ideal spot for busy Austinites in search of a vibrant community that’s close to the action.

The median home value in Allandale is $482,000, which is on the higher end of the average rate for Austin houses. However, the neighborhood’s prime location and celebrated foodie destinations make it a worthy investment for prospective buyers. 

East Riverside

Like many South Austin neighborhoods, East Riverside finds itself in the midst of a recent wave of rejuvenation. It’s been popular with musicians and creatives for decades, largely due to its relatively low housing costs and its plentiful music venues and popular food trucks.

Outdoorsy types will appreciate East Riverside’s 1.3-mile-long boardwalk, which directly borders Lady Bird Lake. Fans of live music flock to Emo’s, an alternative-rock concert stage with an adjacent beer garden, and neighborhood food enthusiasts can choose from lauded spots like Cow Bells, Rosita’s Al Pastor, and Rockaway Beach ATX.  

East Riverside provides some of Austin’s best deals for homebuyers, with a median sale price of $203,000. The neighborhood offers a range of housing types, from single-family residences to condos and townhouse units.

Leander

For homebuyers looking to leave the city and settle down in the suburbs, Leander presents an excellent opportunity for proximity to Austin, a rapidly growing school district, and gorgeous views of the Texas Hill Country.

Austin commuters can reach Leander via a 35-minute drive, and Capital Metro’s light rail service also stops in the town. In addition to an easy trip to Downtown Austin, Leander features its own Restaurant Row along I-183, with highly rated venues like Jardin Del Rey, Mouton’s Southern Bistro, and Farm to Fork. 

Prospective homeowners looking for a bargain can benefit from Leander’s off-the-beaten-path location - home prices here start at just $79,900.