Neighborhood in Austin, Travis County

Living in Dawson, Austin

B-

109th of 206areas in Austin
Overall score 63 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Austin overall: B-

Dawson is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 900 people. It gets a B-, in the top 44% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 109th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on schools.

  • Errands close by
  • Pricey
  • Lots of parks
  • Schools scores low (8 of 100)
  • Internet access scores low (19 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.4 mi
Pharmacy0.5 mi
Park0.5 mi
Cafe0.2 mi
Restaurant0.1 mi
Gym0.2 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.6 mi
Childcare0.4 mi
Library0.3 mi

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

Population
890
Median rent
$1,270
Median home value
$843,000
Household income
$106,100
Average commute
28 min
Homes owned
65%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Dawson

Dawson is a neighborhood in Austin with about 900 residents, homes built around 1967, mostly owner-occupied (65%) and 20% of households with children.

It grades B- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 109th of 206 areas in Austin, which grades B- overall.

Pros of living in Dawson

  • Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $1,270, 27% lower than the Austin median.
  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.4 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.5 miles away.

Cons of living in Dawson

  • Lower-rated schools nearby. Only 0 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Longer commutes. The average commute is 28 minutes, against 24 for Austin as a whole.

Dawson report card

Each grade compares Dawson 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 $1,270, homes cost 7.9x income.

    21 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade A-

    Median household income $106,100, 0.9% unemployed.

    88 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade D-

    Nearby schools average 68 of 100 on the state rating.

    8 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 A

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    92 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade B

    Average commute 28 min, 25% work from home.

    70 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade B-

    47% have a bachelor’s degree.

    57 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade B-

    11% of adults uninsured.

    63 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade C

    65% of homes owner-occupied.

    48 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade D

    83% of homes have broadband.

    19 of 100 vs TX areas

Dawson compared with Austin

Better than Austin

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 65%22 points higher than Austin (43%)
  • Median rent: $1,27027% lower than Austin ($1,729)
  • People below the poverty line: 2.6%9 points lower than Austin (12%)

Worse than Austin

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 65%18 points higher than Austin (48%)
  • Home value to income: 7.9x34% higher than Austin (5.9x)
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 47%13 points lower than Austin (60%)

Closest public schools

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

  • FDawson ElementaryElementary, Austin ISD0.1 mi
  • CLively MiddleMiddle, Austin ISD0.9 mi
  • CTravis Early College High SchoolHigh, Austin ISD1 mi

Cost of living in Dawson

Median rent in Dawson is $1,270 a month, 27% lower than the Austin median. A household would need about $51,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $843,000, 52% higher than the Austin median, which means a monthly payment of about $5,448 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereAustinTexas
Median rent27% lower than Austin$1,270$1,729$1,403
Median home value52% higher than Austin$843,000$555,300$283,800
Home value to income34% higher than Austin7.9x5.9x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent18 points higher than Austin65%48%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them22 points higher than Austin65%43%63%
Vacant homesAbout the same as Austin5.3%5.6%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Austin196719941992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$5,448
Mortgage payment
$4,614
Property tax
$833
Median rent, for comparison
$1,270

Based on a $843,000 home in Dawson, 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% higher than Austin$106,100$93,658$78,476
Unemployment rate4 points lower than Austin0.9%4.7%5.3%
People below the poverty line9 points lower than Austin2.6%12%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher13 points lower than Austin47%60%34%
Average commute17% higher than Austin28 min24 min27 min
Workers who work from home6 points lower than Austin25%31%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit3 points higher than Austin8.5%5.3%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet10 points lower than Austin83%94%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingVery low
  • HurricanesModerate
  • TornadoesHigh
  • HailHigh
  • Heat wavesModerate
  • WildfiresLow
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in Dawson

Under 1812%
18 to 3432%
35 to 6437%
65 and over19%
Race and ethnicity
White38%
Hispanic or Latino52%
Black1.5%
Asian0.9%
Other or more than one race6.8%

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. BSpringdaleOdessa
  2. B-South RichardsonRichardson
  3. B-North Post Oak EstatesHouston

Questions about Dawson

Is Dawson a good place to live?

Dawson is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 900 people. It gets a B-, in the top 44% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 109th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on schools.

How much does it cost to live in Dawson?

Median rent in Dawson is $1,270 a month, 27% lower than the Austin median. The median home is worth $843,000, 52% higher than the Austin median. A median home costs 7.9x the median household income, compared with 5.9x across Austin.

What schools serve Dawson?

The closest rated public schools are Dawson Elementary (elementary, rated F), Lively Middle (middle, rated C) and Travis Early College High School (high, rated C). 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 Dawson 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.