Neighborhood in Austin, Travis County

Living in Walnut Ridge, Austin

F

205th of 206areas in Austin
Overall score 2 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Austin overall: B-

Walnut Ridge is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 1,600 people. It gets an F, in the bottom 8% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 205th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on internet access and worst on getting around.

  • Lots of parks
  • Jobs and income scores low (12 of 100)
  • Schools scores low (8 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.3 mi
Pharmacy1.2 mi
Park0.3 mi
Cafe0.6 mi
Restaurant0.3 mi
Gym0.7 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.5 mi
Childcare0.4 mi
Library2.0 mi

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

Population
1,610
Median rent
$1,310
Median home value
$473,000
Household income
$52,200
Average commute
51 min
Homes owned
19%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Walnut Ridge

Walnut Ridge is a neighborhood in Austin with about 1,600 residents, homes built around 1985, mostly rented (81% of homes) and 29% of households with children.

Our grade for Walnut Ridge is F. That puts it 205th of 206 areas we grade in Austin, a city that gets a B- overall.

Pros of living in Walnut Ridge

  • Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $1,310, 24% 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 0.3 miles away.

Cons of living in Walnut Ridge

  • Higher unemployment. 16% of the labor force is out of work, against 4.7% across Austin.
  • Lower-rated schools nearby. Only 0 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Longer commutes. The average commute is 51 minutes, against 24 for Austin as a whole.

Walnut Ridge report card

Each grade compares Walnut Ridge 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 $1,310, homes cost 9.1x income.

    20 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade D-

    Median household income $52,200, 16% unemployed.

    12 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade D-

    Nearby schools average 68 of 100 on the state rating.

    8 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+

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    52 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade F

    Average commute 51 min, 47% work from home.

    0 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade C

    45% have a bachelor’s degree.

    44 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C-

    17% of adults uninsured.

    35 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D

    19% of homes owner-occupied.

    16 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade B

    97% of homes have broadband.

    71 of 100 vs TX areas

Walnut Ridge compared with Austin

Better than Austin

  • Median rent: $1,31024% lower than Austin ($1,729)
  • Homes with broadband internet: 97%4 points higher than Austin (94%)

Worse than Austin

  • Average commute: 51 min116% higher than Austin (24 min)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 19%24 points lower than Austin (43%)
  • Home value to income: 9.1x53% higher than Austin (5.9x)

Closest public schools

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

  • CGraham ElementaryElementary, Austin ISD0.3 mi
  • FDobie MiddleMiddle, Austin ISD1.7 mi
  • CNavarro Early College High SchoolHigh, Austin ISD2.6 mi

Cost of living in Walnut Ridge

Median rent in Walnut Ridge is $1,310 a month, 24% lower than the Austin median. A household would need about $52,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $473,000, 15% lower than the Austin median, which means a monthly payment of about $3,070 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereAustinTexas
Median rent24% lower than Austin$1,310$1,729$1,403
Median home value15% lower than Austin$473,000$555,300$283,800
Home value to income53% higher than Austin9.1x5.9x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent14 points higher than Austin61%48%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them24 points lower than Austin19%43%63%
Vacant homes2 points higher than Austin7.4%5.6%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Austin198519941992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$3,070
Mortgage payment
$2,589
Property tax
$481
Median rent, for comparison
$1,310

Based on a $473,000 home in Walnut Ridge, 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 income44% lower than Austin$52,200$93,658$78,476
Unemployment rate11 points higher than Austin16%4.7%5.3%
People below the poverty lineAbout the same as Austin12%12%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher14 points lower than Austin45%60%34%
Average commute116% higher than Austin51 min24 min27 min
Workers who work from home16 points higher than Austin47%31%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit5 points lower than Austin0%5.3%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet4 points higher than Austin97%94%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingModerate
  • HurricanesLow
  • TornadoesHigh
  • HailHigh
  • Heat wavesModerate
  • WildfiresLow
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windVery low

Who lives in Walnut Ridge

Under 1821%
18 to 3433%
35 to 6433%
65 and over13%
Race and ethnicity
White30%
Hispanic or Latino41%
Black28%
Asian0%
Other or more than one race1.6%

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. FThe Creeks at Windmill HillCedar Hill
  2. D-FairlawnSan Marcos
  3. DWedgwoodFort Worth

Questions about Walnut Ridge

Is Walnut Ridge a good place to live?

Walnut Ridge is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 1,600 people. It gets an F, in the bottom 8% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 205th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on internet access and worst on getting around.

How much does it cost to live in Walnut Ridge?

Renters in Walnut Ridge pay a median of $1,310 a month, 24% lower than the Austin median. The median home is worth $473,000, 15% lower than the Austin median. A median home costs 9.1x the median household income, compared with 5.9x across Austin.

What schools serve Walnut Ridge?

The closest rated public schools are Graham Elementary (elementary, rated C), Dobie Middle (middle, rated F) and Navarro 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 Walnut Ridge 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.