Neighborhood in Austin, Travis County

Living in St. Elmo, Austin

C+

130th of 206areas in Austin
Overall score 49 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Austin overall: B-

St. Elmo is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 1,900 people. It gets a C+, around the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 130th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on schools.

  • Errands close by
  • Pricey
  • Short commutes
  • Lots of parks
  • Schools scores low (10 of 100)
  • Tornado risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.3 mi
Pharmacy0.5 mi
Park0.2 mi
Cafe0.2 mi
Restaurant0.2 mi
Gym0.2 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.4 mi
Childcare0.4 mi
Library1.1 mi

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

Population
1,920
Median rent
$1,430
Median home value
$693,000
Household income
$78,700
Average commute
19 min
Homes owned
19%
Loading map

What it's like to live in St. Elmo

St. Elmo is a neighborhood in Austin with about 1,900 residents, homes built around 1984, mostly rented (81% of homes) and 24% of households with children.

Our grade for St. Elmo is C+. That puts it 130th of 206 areas we grade in Austin, a city that gets a B- overall.

Pros of living in St. Elmo

  • Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $1,430, 17% lower than the Austin median.
  • 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 0.2 miles away.

Cons of living in St. Elmo

  • Higher poverty. 24% of residents live below the poverty line, against 12% across Austin.
  • Lower-rated schools nearby. Only 0 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.

St. Elmo report card

Each grade compares St. Elmo 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 $1,430, homes cost 8.8x income.

    34 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade C

    Median household income $78,700, 0.7% unemployed.

    44 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade D-

    Nearby schools average 69 of 100 on the state rating.

    10 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 A-

    Average commute 19 min, 23% work from home.

    82 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade B+

    55% have a bachelor’s degree.

    75 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C-

    17% of adults uninsured.

    38 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D+

    19% of homes owner-occupied.

    30 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade D

    84% of homes have broadband.

    21 of 100 vs TX areas

St. Elmo compared with Austin

Better than Austin

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 35%13 points lower than Austin (48%)
  • Average commute: 19 min21% lower than Austin (24 min)
  • Median rent: $1,43017% lower than Austin ($1,729)

Worse than Austin

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 19%25 points lower than Austin (43%)
  • Home value to income: 8.8x49% higher than Austin (5.9x)
  • People below the poverty line: 24%12 points higher than Austin (12%)

Closest public schools

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

  • CSt Elmo ElementaryElementary, Austin ISD0.3 mi
  • FBedichek MiddleMiddle, Austin ISD1.9 mi
  • CCrockett Early College High SchoolHigh, Austin ISD1.6 mi

Cost of living in St. Elmo

Median rent in St. Elmo is $1,430 a month, 17% lower than the Austin median. A household would need about $57,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $693,000, 25% higher than the Austin median, which means a monthly payment of about $4,307 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereAustinTexas
Median rent17% lower than Austin$1,430$1,729$1,403
Median home value25% higher than Austin$693,000$555,300$283,800
Home value to income49% higher than Austin8.8x5.9x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent13 points lower than Austin35%48%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them25 points lower than Austin19%43%63%
Vacant homes3 points lower than Austin2.8%5.6%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Austin198419941992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$4,307
Mortgage payment
$3,793
Property tax
$513
Median rent, for comparison
$1,430

Based on a $693,000 home in St. Elmo, 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 income16% lower than Austin$78,700$93,658$78,476
Unemployment rate4 points lower than Austin0.7%4.7%5.3%
People below the poverty line12 points higher than Austin24%12%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher4 points lower than Austin55%60%34%
Average commute21% lower than Austin19 min24 min27 min
Workers who work from home8 points lower than Austin23%31%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit3 points lower than Austin2.0%5.3%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet10 points lower than Austin84%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 windLow

Who lives in St. Elmo

Under 1825%
18 to 3428%
35 to 6440%
65 and over6.2%
Race and ethnicity
White45%
Hispanic or Latino41%
Black11%
Asian1.9%
Other or more than one race0.6%

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. CCobblestone CourtHouston
  2. DRoyal Oaks Country ClubHouston
  3. CCastle Rock ApartmentsCollege Station

Questions about St. Elmo

Is St. Elmo a good place to live?

St. Elmo is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 1,900 people. It gets a C+, around the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 130th 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 St. Elmo?

Renters in St. Elmo pay a median of $1,430 a month, 17% lower than the Austin median. The median home is worth $693,000, 25% higher than the Austin median. A median home costs 8.8x the median household income, compared with 5.9x across Austin.

What schools serve St. Elmo?

The closest rated public schools are St Elmo Elementary (elementary, rated C), Bedichek Middle (middle, rated F) 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 1 Census block group closest to the St. Elmo 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.