Neighborhood in Austin, Travis County

Living in Onion Creek Forest, Austin

D

178th of 206areas in Austin
Overall score 20 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Austin overall: B-

Onion Creek Forest is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 8,800 people. It gets a D, in the bottom quarter of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 178th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on internet access and worst on health.

  • Lots of parks
  • Health scores low (15 of 100)
  • Tornado risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.8 mi
Pharmacy1.8 mi
Park0.5 mi
Cafe0.6 mi
Restaurant0.4 mi
Gym0.9 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.5 mi
Childcare0.5 mi
Library0.8 mi

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

Population
8,810
Median rent
$1,700
Median home value
$411,000
Household income
$89,400
Average commute
26 min
Homes owned
61%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Onion Creek Forest

Onion Creek Forest is a neighborhood in Austin with about 8,800 residents, mostly newer homes (median year built 2003), a mix of owners and renters and 30% of households with children.

It grades D against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 178th of 206 areas in Austin, which grades B- overall.

Pros of living in Onion Creek Forest

  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.5 miles away.

Cons of living in Onion Creek Forest

  • Lower-rated schools nearby. Only 1 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes and hail as very high in this part of town.

Onion Creek Forest report card

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

  • Cost of living: grade C-

    Median rent $1,700, homes cost 4.6x income.

    35 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade C+

    Median household income $89,400, 3.9% unemployed.

    48 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade D+

    Nearby schools average 75 of 100 on the state rating.

    24 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 C-

    Some everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    37 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade C

    Average commute 26 min, 19% work from home.

    45 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade C-

    33% have a bachelor’s degree.

    32 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D-

    29% of adults uninsured.

    15 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade C

    61% of homes owner-occupied.

    44 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade B

    97% of homes have broadband.

    68 of 100 vs TX areas

Onion Creek Forest compared with Austin

Better than Austin

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 61%17 points higher than Austin (43%)
  • Home value to income: 4.6x22% lower than Austin (5.9x)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 44%3 points lower than Austin (48%)

Worse than Austin

  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 33%27 points lower than Austin (60%)
  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 29%14 points higher than Austin (15%)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 1.2%4 points lower than Austin (5.3%)

Closest public schools

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

  • FWiden ElementaryElementary, Austin ISD0.7 mi
  • BMendez MiddleMiddle, Austin ISD0.8 mi
  • CTravis Early College High SchoolHigh, Austin ISD3.6 mi

Cost of living in Onion Creek Forest

Median rent in Onion Creek Forest is $1,700 a month, about the same as the Austin median. A household would need about $68,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $411,000, 26% lower than the Austin median, which means a monthly payment of about $2,642 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereAustinTexas
Median rentAbout the same as Austin$1,700$1,729$1,403
Median home value26% lower than Austin$411,000$555,300$283,800
Home value to income22% lower than Austin4.6x5.9x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent3 points lower than Austin44%48%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them17 points higher than Austin61%43%63%
Vacant homesAbout the same as Austin5.1%5.6%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Austin200319941992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$2,642
Mortgage payment
$2,250
Property tax
$392
Median rent, for comparison
$1,700

Based on a $411,000 home in Onion Creek Forest, 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 income5% lower than Austin$89,400$93,658$78,476
Unemployment rateAbout the same as Austin3.9%4.7%5.3%
People below the poverty lineAbout the same as Austin11%12%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher27 points lower than Austin33%60%34%
Average commute9% higher than Austin26 min24 min27 min
Workers who work from home11 points lower than Austin19%31%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit4 points lower than Austin1.2%5.3%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet3 points higher than Austin97%94%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingModerate
  • HurricanesModerate
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresHigh
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windModerate

Who lives in Onion Creek Forest

Under 1821%
18 to 3432%
35 to 6439%
65 and over8.5%
Race and ethnicity
White15%
Hispanic or Latino58%
Black13%
Asian9.1%
Other or more than one race4.1%

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. D+North Haltom CityHaltom City
  2. D+West Texas CityTexas City
  3. D+EstrellaGeorgetown

Questions about Onion Creek Forest

Is Onion Creek Forest a good place to live?

Onion Creek Forest is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 8,800 people. It gets a D, in the bottom quarter of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 178th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on internet access and worst on health.

How much does it cost to live in Onion Creek Forest?

Median rent in Onion Creek Forest is $1,700 a month, about the same as the Austin median. The median home is worth $411,000, 26% lower than the Austin median. A median home costs 4.6x the median household income, compared with 5.9x across Austin.

What schools serve Onion Creek Forest?

The closest rated public schools are Widen Elementary (elementary, rated F), Mendez Middle (middle, rated B) 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 6 Census block groups closest to the Onion Creek Forest 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.