Neighborhood in Austin, Travis County
Living in South Lamar, Austin
87th of 206areas in Austin
Overall score 73 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Austin overall: B-
South Lamar is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 6,100 people. It gets a B+, in the top 28% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 87th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on home ownership.
- Errands close by
- Short commutes
- Lots of parks
Closest everyday places
| Grocery store | 0.3 mi |
| Pharmacy | 0.4 mi |
| Park | 0.1 mi |
| Cafe | 0.4 mi |
| Restaurant | 0.1 mi |
| Gym | 0.3 mi |
| Hospital or urgent care | 0.5 mi |
| Childcare | 0.2 mi |
| Library | 1.3 mi |
Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.
- Population
- 6,090
- Median rent
- $1,730
- Median home value
- $551,000
- Household income
- $94,300
- Average commute
- 20 min
- Homes owned
- 22%
What it's like to live in South Lamar
South Lamar is a neighborhood in Austin with about 6,100 residents, homes built around 1998, mostly rented (78% of homes) and 10% of households with children.
Our grade for South Lamar is B+. That puts it 87th of 206 areas we grade in Austin, a city that gets a B- overall.
Pros of living in South Lamar
- Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.3 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
- Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.1 miles away.
Cons of living in South Lamar
No clear weak spots in our data.
South Lamar report card
Each grade compares South Lamar 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 $1,730, homes cost 5.8x income.
32 of 100 vs TX areasJobs and income: grade B-
Median household income $94,300, 1.6% unemployed.
56 of 100 vs TX areasSchools: grade C-
Nearby schools average 78 of 100 on the state rating.
38 of 100 vs TX areasSafety: no grade
Citywide, 422 violent crimes per 100k, 3,099 property crimes per 100k.
No score vs TX areasErrands and things to do: grade A
Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.
92 of 100 vs TX areasGetting around: grade A-
Average commute 20 min, 34% work from home.
81 of 100 vs TX areasEducation levels: grade B+
72% have a bachelor’s degree.
77 of 100 vs TX areasHealth: grade C+
12% of adults uninsured.
52 of 100 vs TX areasHome ownership: grade D+
22% of homes owner-occupied.
26 of 100 vs TX areasInternet access: grade B
96% of homes have broadband.
65 of 100 vs TX areas
South Lamar compared with Austin
Better than Austin
- Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 72%12 points higher than Austin (60%)
- Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 38%10 points lower than Austin (48%)
- Average commute: 20 min16% lower than Austin (24 min)
Worse than Austin
- Homes owned by the people living in them: 22%21 points lower than Austin (43%)
- People below the poverty line: 15%3 points higher than Austin (12%)
- Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 2.4%3 points lower than Austin (5.3%)
Closest public schools
Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.
- BBarton Hills ElementaryElementary, Austin ISD0.9 mi
- CLively MiddleMiddle, Austin ISD2 mi
- CCrockett Early College High SchoolHigh, Austin ISD2 mi
Cost of living in South Lamar
Median rent in South Lamar is $1,730 a month, about the same as the Austin median. A household would need about $69,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.
The median home is worth $551,000, about the same as the Austin median, which means a monthly payment of about $3,807 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.
| Measure | Here | Austin | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rentAbout the same as Austin | $1,730 | $1,729 | $1,403 |
| Median home valueAbout the same as Austin | $551,000 | $555,300 | $283,800 |
| Home value to incomeAbout the same as Austin | 5.8x | 5.9x | 3.6x |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent10 points lower than Austin | 38% | 48% | 52% |
| Homes owned by the people living in them21 points lower than Austin | 22% | 43% | 63% |
| Vacant homes1 points lower than Austin | 4.3% | 5.6% | 9.4% |
| Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Austin | 1998 | 1994 | 1992 |
Monthly cost to buy a median home
- Mortgage payment
- $3,016
- Property tax
- $791
- Median rent, for comparison
- $1,730
Based on a $551,000 home in South Lamar, 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
| Measure | Here | Austin | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household incomeAbout the same as Austin | $94,300 | $93,658 | $78,476 |
| Unemployment rate3 points lower than Austin | 1.6% | 4.7% | 5.3% |
| People below the poverty line3 points higher than Austin | 15% | 12% | 14% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher12 points higher than Austin | 72% | 60% | 34% |
| Average commute16% lower than Austin | 20 min | 24 min | 27 min |
| Workers who work from home3 points higher than Austin | 34% | 31% | 14% |
| Workers who walk, bike or take transit3 points lower than Austin | 2.4% | 5.3% | 2.6% |
| Homes with broadband internet2 points higher than Austin | 96% | 94% | 91% |
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.
- River floodingVery low
- HurricanesModerate
- TornadoesHigh
- HailHigh
- Heat wavesModerate
- WildfiresVery low
- Winter stormsLow
- Strong windLow
Who lives in South Lamar
Race and ethnicity
Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.
Other neighborhoods in Austin
- 1A+TarrytownMedian rent $3,280
- 2A+Glen RidgeMedian rent $1,190
- 3A+Appaloosa Run
- 4A+Northwest HillsMedian rent $1,900
- 4A+Westover HillsMedian rent $1,570
- 6A+The GroveMedian rent $1,870
- 7A+Violet Crown HeightsMedian rent $1,530
- 8A+Old West AustinMedian rent $3,270
Similar neighborhoods in other cities
Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.
- B-Central AddisonAddison
- B+Addison CircleAddison
- BLake Highlands PIDDallas
Questions about South Lamar
Is South Lamar a good place to live?
South Lamar is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 6,100 people. It gets a B+, in the top 28% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 87th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on home ownership.
How much does it cost to live in South Lamar?
Renters in South Lamar pay a median of $1,730 a month, about the same as the Austin median. The median home is worth $551,000, about the same as the Austin median. A median home costs 5.8x the median household income, compared with 5.9x across Austin.
What schools serve South Lamar?
The closest rated public schools are Barton Hills Elementary (elementary, rated B), Lively Middle (middle, rated C) and Crockett 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 5 Census block groups closest to the South Lamar 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.