Neighborhood in Austin, Travis County

Living in Balcones Woods, Austin

B+

77th of 206areas in Austin
Overall score 76 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Austin overall: B-

Balcones Woods is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 1,300 people. It gets a B+, in the top 28% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 77th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on internet access and worst on home ownership.

  • Pricey
  • Well connected
  • Lots of parks
  • Cost of living scores low (11 of 100)
  • Home ownership scores low (8 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.9 mi
Pharmacy0.8 mi
Park0.3 mi
Cafe0.6 mi
Restaurant0.3 mi
Gym0.5 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.3 mi
Childcare0.6 mi
Library0.9 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
1,350
Median rent
$1,540
Median home value
$659,000
Household income
$81,100
Average commute
23 min
Homes owned
37%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Balcones Woods

Balcones Woods is a neighborhood in Austin with about 1,400 residents, homes built around 1981, a mix of owners and renters and 14% of households with children.

It grades B+ against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 77th of 206 areas in Austin, which grades B- overall.

Pros of living in Balcones Woods

  • Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $1,540, 11% lower than the Austin median.
  • Well-rated schools nearby. 2 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.3 miles away.

Cons of living in Balcones Woods

  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes and hail as very high in this part of town.

Balcones Woods report card

Each grade compares Balcones Woods with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade D-

    Median rent $1,540, homes cost 8.1x income.

    12 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade B-

    Median household income $81,100, 2.6% unemployed.

    57 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade B+

    Nearby schools average 87 of 100 on the state rating.

    76 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 422 violent crimes per 100k, 3,099 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade B-

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    63 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade B+

    Average commute 23 min, 23% work from home.

    77 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade B+

    60% have a bachelor’s degree.

    73 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade B+

    9.8% of adults uninsured.

    75 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D-

    37% of homes owner-occupied.

    8 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade A

    100% of homes have broadband.

    91 of 100 vs TX areas

Balcones Woods compared with Austin

Better than Austin

  • Homes with broadband internet: 100%6 points higher than Austin (94%)
  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 9.8%5 points lower than Austin (15%)
  • Median rent: $1,54011% lower than Austin ($1,729)

Worse than Austin

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 71%23 points higher than Austin (48%)
  • Home value to income: 8.1x37% higher than Austin (5.9x)
  • Vacant homes: 16%10 points higher than Austin (5.6%)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • CDavis ElementaryElementary, Austin ISD0.6 mi
  • ACanyon Vista MiddleMiddle, Round Rock ISD2.9 mi
  • BAnderson High SchoolHigh, Austin ISD2.5 mi

Cost of living in Balcones Woods

Median rent in Balcones Woods is $1,540 a month, 11% lower than the Austin median. A household would need about $62,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $659,000, 19% higher than the Austin median, which means a monthly payment of about $4,348 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereAustinTexas
Median rent11% lower than Austin$1,540$1,729$1,403
Median home value19% higher than Austin$659,000$555,300$283,800
Home value to income37% higher than Austin8.1x5.9x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent23 points higher than Austin71%48%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them6 points lower than Austin37%43%63%
Vacant homes10 points higher than Austin16%5.6%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Austin198119941992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$4,348
Mortgage payment
$3,607
Property tax
$740
Median rent, for comparison
$1,540

Based on a $659,000 home in Balcones Woods, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereAustinTexas
Median household income13% lower than Austin$81,100$93,658$78,476
Unemployment rate2 points lower than Austin2.6%4.7%5.3%
People below the poverty line4 points lower than Austin7.6%12%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higherAbout the same as Austin60%60%34%
Average commuteAbout the same as Austin23 min24 min27 min
Workers who work from home8 points lower than Austin23%31%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit1 points lower than Austin3.9%5.3%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet6 points higher than Austin100%94%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingLow
  • HurricanesModerate
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresModerate
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windModerate

Who lives in Balcones Woods

Under 1812%
18 to 3436%
35 to 6441%
65 and over11%
Race and ethnicity
White58%
Hispanic or Latino12%
Black3.5%
Asian20%
Other or more than one race6.2%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Austin

  1. 1A+TarrytownMedian rent $3,280
  2. 2A+Glen RidgeMedian rent $1,190
  3. 3A+Appaloosa Run
  4. 4A+Northwest HillsMedian rent $1,900
  5. 4A+Westover HillsMedian rent $1,570
  6. 6A+The GroveMedian rent $1,870
  7. 7A+Violet Crown HeightsMedian rent $1,530
  8. 8A+Old West AustinMedian rent $3,270

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. A-South FriscoFrisco
  2. B+Northeast RichardsonRichardson
  3. B+The LegendsThe Colony

Questions about Balcones Woods

Is Balcones Woods a good place to live?

Balcones Woods is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 1,300 people. It gets a B+, in the top 28% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 77th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on internet access and worst on home ownership.

How much does it cost to live in Balcones Woods?

Median rent in Balcones Woods is $1,540 a month, 11% lower than the Austin median. The median home is worth $659,000, 19% higher than the Austin median. A median home costs 8.1x the median household income, compared with 5.9x across Austin.

What schools serve Balcones Woods?

The closest rated public schools are Davis Elementary (elementary, rated C), Canyon Vista Middle (middle, rated A) and Anderson High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 1 Census block group closest to the Balcones Woods name on the map, so its edges are approximate. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.