Neighborhood in Austin, Travis County

Living in Forum, Austin

B+

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

Forum is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 6,600 people. It gets a B+, in the top 28% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 76th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on getting around and worst on cost of living.

  • Pricey
  • Lots of parks
  • Cost of living scores low (10 of 100)
  • Tornado risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.5 mi
Pharmacy0.6 mi
Park0.1 mi
Cafe0.4 mi
Restaurant0.3 mi
Gym0.3 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.0 mi
Childcare0.3 mi
Library0.9 mi

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

Population
6,580
Median rent
$2,030
Median home value
$571,000
Household income
$97,400
Average commute
21 min
Homes owned
46%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Forum

Forum is a neighborhood in Austin with about 6,600 residents, homes built around 1988, a mix of owners and renters and 24% of households with children.

Our grade for Forum is B+. That puts it 76th of 206 areas we grade in Austin, a city that gets a B- overall.

Pros of living in Forum

  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.5 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.1 miles away.

Cons of living in Forum

  • Pricier rent than the city. Median rent is $2,030, 17% higher than the Austin median.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes and hail as very high in this part of town.

Forum report card

Each grade compares Forum 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 $2,030, homes cost 5.9x income.

    10 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade B

    Median household income $97,400, 2.9% unemployed.

    70 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade B-

    Nearby schools average 83 of 100 on the state rating.

    61 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.

    81 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade A-

    Average commute 21 min, 29% work from home.

    83 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade B+

    70% have a bachelor’s degree.

    80 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade B

    11% of adults uninsured.

    68 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D+

    46% of homes owner-occupied.

    26 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade C-

    89% of homes have broadband.

    35 of 100 vs TX areas

Forum compared with Austin

Better than Austin

  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 70%11 points higher than Austin (60%)
  • People below the poverty line: 4.7%7 points lower than Austin (12%)
  • Average commute: 21 min12% lower than Austin (24 min)

Worse than Austin

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 67%20 points higher than Austin (48%)
  • Median rent: $2,03017% higher than Austin ($1,729)
  • Homes with broadband internet: 89%5 points lower than Austin (94%)

Closest public schools

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

  • CBoone ElementaryElementary, Austin ISD0.6 mi
  • CCovington MiddleMiddle, Austin ISD0.2 mi
  • ABowie High SchoolHigh, Austin ISD2.1 mi

Cost of living in Forum

Median rent in Forum is $2,030 a month, 17% higher than the Austin median. A household would need about $81,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $571,000, about the same as the Austin median, which means a monthly payment of about $3,745 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereAustinTexas
Median rent17% higher than Austin$2,030$1,729$1,403
Median home valueAbout the same as Austin$571,000$555,300$283,800
Home value to incomeAbout the same as Austin5.9x5.9x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent20 points higher than Austin67%48%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them2 points higher than Austin46%43%63%
Vacant homes2 points higher than Austin7.7%5.6%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Austin198819941992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$3,745
Mortgage payment
$3,125
Property tax
$620
Median rent, for comparison
$2,030

Based on a $571,000 home in Forum, 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 income4% higher than Austin$97,400$93,658$78,476
Unemployment rate2 points lower than Austin2.9%4.7%5.3%
People below the poverty line7 points lower than Austin4.7%12%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher11 points higher than Austin70%60%34%
Average commute12% lower than Austin21 min24 min27 min
Workers who work from home2 points lower than Austin29%31%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit1 points lower than Austin3.9%5.3%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet5 points lower than Austin89%94%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

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

Who lives in Forum

Under 1820%
18 to 3424%
35 to 6438%
65 and over18%
Race and ethnicity
White62%
Hispanic or Latino18%
Black1.2%
Asian4.6%
Other or more than one race14%

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. BThe Ridge at DeerfieldSan Antonio
  2. A-ECSW CourtyardRichardson
  3. A-TanglewoodHouston

Questions about Forum

Is Forum a good place to live?

Forum is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 6,600 people. It gets a B+, in the top 28% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 76th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on getting around and worst on cost of living.

How much does it cost to live in Forum?

Renters in Forum pay a median of $2,030 a month, 17% higher than the Austin median. The median home is worth $571,000, about the same as the Austin median. A median home costs 5.9x the median household income, compared with 5.9x across Austin.

What schools serve Forum?

The closest rated public schools are Boone Elementary (elementary, rated C), Covington Middle (middle, rated C) and Bowie High School (high, rated A). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 5 Census block groups closest to the Forum 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.