Neighborhood in Austin, Travis County

Living in The Drag, Austin

C+

132nd of 206areas in Austin
Overall score 48 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Austin overall: B-

The Drag is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 12,700 people. It gets a C+, around the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 132nd of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on getting around and worst on jobs and income.

  • Errands close by
  • Top-rated schools
  • Pricey
  • Short commutes
  • Lots of parks
  • Cost of living scores low (6 of 100)
  • Jobs and income scores low (3 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.2 mi
Pharmacy0.2 mi
Park0.3 mi
Cafeunder 0.1 mi
Restaurantunder 0.1 mi
Gym0.1 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
12,670
Median rent
$1,530
Median home value
$498,000
Household income
$23,500
Average commute
16 min
Homes owned
6.7%
Loading map

What it's like to live in The Drag

The Drag is a neighborhood in Austin with about 12,700 residents, mostly newer homes (median year built 2003), mostly rented (93% of homes) and 2% of households with children.

It grades C+ against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 132nd of 206 areas in Austin, which grades B- overall.

Pros of living in The Drag

  • Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $1,530, 12% lower than the Austin median.
  • Well-rated schools nearby. 3 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.2 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.3 miles away.

Cons of living in The Drag

  • Higher poverty. 60% of residents live below the poverty line, against 12% across Austin.
  • Higher unemployment. 8.7% of the labor force is out of work, against 4.7% across Austin.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes as very high in this part of town.

The Drag report card

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

  • Cost of living: grade F

    Median rent $1,530, homes cost 21.2x income.

    6 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade F

    Median household income $23,500, 8.7% unemployed.

    3 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade A-

    Nearby schools average 89 of 100 on the state rating.

    85 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 16 min, 25% work from home.

    99 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade A+

    79% have a bachelor’s degree.

    95 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D-

    17% of adults uninsured.

    15 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade F

    6.7% of homes owner-occupied.

    8 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade F

    66% of homes have broadband.

    3 of 100 vs TX areas

The Drag compared with Austin

Better than Austin

  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 38%33 points higher than Austin (5.3%)
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 79%20 points higher than Austin (60%)
  • Average commute: 16 min33% lower than Austin (24 min)

Worse than Austin

  • Home value to income: 21.2x258% higher than Austin (5.9x)
  • People below the poverty line: 60%48 points higher than Austin (12%)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 6.7%37 points lower than Austin (43%)

Closest public schools

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

  • ALee ElementaryElementary, Austin ISD1.1 mi
  • AKealing MiddleMiddle, Austin ISD1.7 mi
  • BAustin High SchoolHigh, Austin ISD1.7 mi

Cost of living in The Drag

Median rent in The Drag is $1,530 a month, 12% lower than the Austin median. A household would need about $61,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $498,000, 10% lower than the Austin median, which means a monthly payment of about $3,499 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereAustinTexas
Median rent12% lower than Austin$1,530$1,729$1,403
Median home value10% lower than Austin$498,000$555,300$283,800
Home value to income258% higher than Austin21.2x5.9x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent33 points higher than Austin81%48%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them37 points lower than Austin6.7%43%63%
Vacant homes5 points higher than Austin11%5.6%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Austin200319941992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$3,499
Mortgage payment
$2,726
Property tax
$773
Median rent, for comparison
$1,530

Based on a $498,000 home in The Drag, 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 income75% lower than Austin$23,500$93,658$78,476
Unemployment rate4 points higher than Austin8.7%4.7%5.3%
People below the poverty line48 points higher than Austin60%12%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher20 points higher than Austin79%60%34%
Average commute33% lower than Austin16 min24 min27 min
Workers who work from home6 points lower than Austin25%31%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit33 points higher than Austin38%5.3%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet27 points lower than Austin66%94%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingVery low
  • HurricanesModerate
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailHigh
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresVery low
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in The Drag

Under 181.6%
18 to 3493%
35 to 644.0%
65 and over1.2%
Race and ethnicity
White34%
Hispanic or Latino29%
Black4.7%
Asian26%
Other or more than one race5.7%

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+Wave Z Islander ApartmentsBryan
  2. CCanfield OaksHouston
  3. C-Ridge ApartmentsCollege Station

Questions about The Drag

Is The Drag a good place to live?

The Drag is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 12,700 people. It gets a C+, around the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 132nd of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on getting around and worst on jobs and income.

How much does it cost to live in The Drag?

Median rent in The Drag is $1,530 a month, 12% lower than the Austin median. The median home is worth $498,000, 10% lower than the Austin median. A median home costs 21.2x the median household income, compared with 5.9x across Austin.

What schools serve The Drag?

The closest rated public schools are Lee Elementary (elementary, rated A), Kealing Middle (middle, rated A) and Austin High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 9 Census block groups closest to the The Drag 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.