Neighborhood in Austin, Travis County
Living in West Congress, Austin
164th of 206areas in Austin
Overall score 32 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Austin overall: B-
West Congress is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 3,800 people. It gets a D+, in the bottom third of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 164th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on schools.
- Lots of parks
- Schools scores low (7 of 100)
- Tornado risk is very high
Closest everyday places
| Grocery store | 0.3 mi |
| Pharmacy | 0.3 mi |
| Park | 0.2 mi |
| Cafe | 0.5 mi |
| Restaurant | 0.1 mi |
| Gym | 0.6 mi |
| Hospital or urgent care | 0.5 mi |
| Childcare | 0.3 mi |
| Library | 1.1 mi |
Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.
- Population
- 3,760
- Median rent
- $1,620
- Median home value
- $501,000
- Household income
- $86,400
- Average commute
- 22 min
- Homes owned
- 47%
What it's like to live in West Congress
West Congress is a neighborhood in Austin with about 3,800 residents, homes built around 1973, a mix of owners and renters and 15% of households with children.
It grades D+ against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 164th of 206 areas in Austin, which grades B- overall.
Pros of living in West Congress
- 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 West Congress
- 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.
West Congress report card
Each grade compares West Congress 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 $1,620, homes cost 5.8x income.
25 of 100 vs TX areasJobs and income: grade C+
Median household income $86,400, 4.1% unemployed.
51 of 100 vs TX areasSchools: grade F
Nearby schools average 68 of 100 on the state rating.
7 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.
83 of 100 vs TX areasGetting around: grade C-
Average commute 22 min, 38% work from home.
36 of 100 vs TX areasEducation levels: grade B+
59% have a bachelor’s degree.
76 of 100 vs TX areasHealth: grade C-
18% of adults uninsured.
35 of 100 vs TX areasHome ownership: grade C-
47% of homes owner-occupied.
37 of 100 vs TX areasInternet access: grade C+
93% of homes have broadband.
48 of 100 vs TX areas
West Congress compared with Austin
Better than Austin
- Homes owned by the people living in them: 47%4 points higher than Austin (43%)
- People below the poverty line: 8.6%3 points lower than Austin (12%)
- Median rent: $1,6206% lower than Austin ($1,729)
Worse than Austin
- Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 0%5 points lower than Austin (5.3%)
- Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 52%5 points higher than Austin (48%)
- Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 18%3 points higher than Austin (15%)
Closest public schools
Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.
- CSt Elmo ElementaryElementary, Austin ISD0.1 mi
- FBedichek MiddleMiddle, Austin ISD1.9 mi
- CCrockett Early College High SchoolHigh, Austin ISD1.4 mi
Cost of living in West Congress
Median rent in West Congress is $1,620 a month, 6% lower than the Austin median. A household would need about $65,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.
The median home is worth $501,000, 10% lower than the Austin median, which means a monthly payment of about $3,245 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.
| Measure | Here | Austin | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent6% lower than Austin | $1,620 | $1,729 | $1,403 |
| Median home value10% lower than Austin | $501,000 | $555,300 | $283,800 |
| Home value to incomeAbout the same as Austin | 5.8x | 5.9x | 3.6x |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent5 points higher than Austin | 52% | 48% | 52% |
| Homes owned by the people living in them4 points higher than Austin | 47% | 43% | 63% |
| Vacant homes1 points lower than Austin | 4.2% | 5.6% | 9.4% |
| Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Austin | 1973 | 1994 | 1992 |
Monthly cost to buy a median home
- Mortgage payment
- $2,742
- Property tax
- $503
- Median rent, for comparison
- $1,620
Based on a $501,000 home in West Congress, 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 income8% lower than Austin | $86,400 | $93,658 | $78,476 |
| Unemployment rateAbout the same as Austin | 4.1% | 4.7% | 5.3% |
| People below the poverty line3 points lower than Austin | 8.6% | 12% | 14% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higherAbout the same as Austin | 59% | 60% | 34% |
| Average commute6% lower than Austin | 22 min | 24 min | 27 min |
| Workers who work from home7 points higher than Austin | 38% | 31% | 14% |
| Workers who walk, bike or take transit5 points lower than Austin | 0% | 5.3% | 2.6% |
| Homes with broadband internetAbout the same as Austin | 93% | 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
- WildfiresModerate
- Winter stormsLow
- Strong windLow
Who lives in West Congress
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.
- CAshton VillageHouston
- D+Golden Park PlaceLewisville
- D+Central GeorgetownGeorgetown
Questions about West Congress
Is West Congress a good place to live?
West Congress is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 3,800 people. It gets a D+, in the bottom third of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 164th 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 West Congress?
Median rent in West Congress is $1,620 a month, 6% lower than the Austin median. The median home is worth $501,000, 10% lower than the Austin median. A median home costs 5.8x the median household income, compared with 5.9x across Austin.
What schools serve West Congress?
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 3 Census block groups closest to the West Congress 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.