Brentwood and Crestview: North Austin's Most Walkable Neighborhoods

At a glance

Location

Directly north of downtown Austin; downtown about 10-15 minutes

Price range

Around $600,000 to well above $2 million (as of December 2023)

Homes

Mostly 1970s originals and remodels, plus new builds

Schools

Austin ISD: Brentwood Elementary, Lamar Middle, McCallum High

Transit

Crestview MetroRail station, bike lanes throughout

Tax rate

Low for Austin, as an older area without major infrastructure projects

Location

Brentwood and Crestview run together directly north of downtown Austin. As of my December 2023 tour, downtown was about 10-15 minutes away, the airport about 20 minutes via the new 183 extension, and Mueller about 10 minutes.

The neighborhoods are tucked back from the freeways, with big mature trees and a neighborhood park, so they're quieter than a lot of urban areas.

Walkability

I cannot emphasize this enough. Walkability is probably the number one perk of this neighborhood.

Where Brentwood and Crestview meet, there's a little market area with:

• Little Deli and a pizzeria
• Violet Crown, a coffee shop and wine bar / social spot
• A small grocery store, a barber shop and a beauty shop

You can also walk to Brentwood Social House and Stiles Switch BBQ, and H-E-B is around the corner, within walking or biking distance. There are bike lanes throughout, and the Crestview MetroRail station runs all the way downtown.

Schools

Brentwood and Crestview are in Austin ISD:

• Brentwood Elementary, inside the neighborhood, which had just been fully renovated as of December 2023
• Lamar Middle School
• McCallum High School

Lamar and McCallum have some of the most sought-after fine arts programs in Austin ISD. Austin Classical School, a private school, is nearby, and there are several churches and child-care options in the area.

Taxes

The tax rate here is really low for Austin. It's an older part of the city with no major infrastructure projects going on, just maintenance. Ask for the exact rate on any home you're considering, since rates change every year.

Homes and prices

Most of the neighborhood was built in the 1970s, when Austin had about 300,000 people. A lot of those originals have been remodeled, and some are still owned by the original owners.

The new builds have a style that's become very Austin: board and batten and stucco. It's not quite modern farmhouse, and not super contemporary. It's a little warmer.

As of December 2023, prices ran from around $600,000 for some of the '70s houses to well above $2 million for new construction. At the time, I had a new-construction listing here: 3,300 sq ft, 5 bedrooms, full spray-foam insulation and hardwood floors throughout.

Who Brentwood and Crestview fit

People moving from East or West Coast cities are often surprised by how suburban and spread out Texas is. Brentwood and Crestview are the perfect bridge: a yard and a quiet street, with coffee, dinner, groceries and a train downtown within walking distance.

The trade-off is price. You're paying for the location, and many originals will need updates.

When I work for you, you get me. I show the homes, I negotiate and I'm the one who answers your call. You're never handed off to a teammate you didn't choose.

What's in the video

• 0:00Intro at Little Deli and Violet Crown
• 0:54What this guide covers
• 1:33Location and walkability
• 2:35The market: Little Deli, Violet Crown, grocery, shops
• 3:08Brentwood Social House, Stiles Switch, bike lanes, MetroRail
• 3:39Driving: neighborhood park, Mueller, active lifestyle
• 4:35Schools: Brentwood Elementary, Lamar, McCallum
• 5:16Tax rate, churches, child care, private schools
• 5:58Housing: 1970s originals to new builds, $600K to $2M+
• 7:40Inside Mason's new-construction listing

Common questions