East Congress
Neighborhood Reviews
Shopping and dining in SoCo
One of the primary draws of East Congress is the abundance of nearby shopping and dining opportunities. Fiesta Mart is located in the southern part of the community, but residents can choose from several grocery stores within a 4-mile radius. “There’s a Central Market close by, and there’s a brand-new H-E-B coming in on the other side of the highway, which would be considered the Travis Heights area, but everyone’s excited,” says Mike Vilece, a Realtor with Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty who lives in neighboring West Congress. “It’s going to have a concert venue and a bar — it’s huge.” The new H-E-B is projected to open in late 2024 or early 2025. For retail therapy, nightlife and restaurants, locals head 3 miles away to SoCo. But ample restaurants are in and around the neighborhood, too. A variety of food trucks offer casual grab-and-go meals at The Yard on St. Elmo Road. Diners can pair their meals with a beer from St. Elmo Brewing or a whiskey cocktail from Still Austin Whiskey Co. For a sit-down meal, locals flock to Casa Maria for authentic Mexican cuisine and sweets. There’s also Sagebrush, a popular honkytonk bar with live music and dancing.
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Condos, townhouses and ranch-style homes
Housing options include condominiums, townhouses and detached single-family homes, and that range of choices — as well as the accompanying range of price points — makes East Congress an attractive neighborhood for young professionals, families and others seeking a friendly, welcoming neighborhood that’s close to some of the city’s best-loved amenities. Condos and townhouses can range from $275,000 to $500,000, while luxury complexes like The Station at St. Elmo and Congress Lofts can cost between $500,000 and $700,000. Deeper into the residential section of the neighborhood — between South Congress Avenue and Frontage Road — the streets are lined with sidewalks and mature trees. Craftsman bungalows and midcentury ranch-style homes with attached two-car garages are common here. Fixer-uppers can cost under $350,000, but most homes tend to range from $400,000 to $650,000. Larger renovated homes and rare new builds can cost up to $1 million.
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Close to Battle Bend Neighborhood Park
Tucked into the northeast corner of Sheraton Avenue and Suburban Drive, Battle Bend Neighborhood Park is a favorite among families. The compact park provides a refreshing green retreat amid the surrounding industrial area and offers a playground, climbing structures, a basketball court and a covered pavilion with picnic tables. For more expansive greenspace, the Barton Creek Greenbelt is 5 miles away. Hiking, biking, rock climbing, swimming and wildlife spotting are all possible in the urban natural area. The sprawling McKinney Falls State Park has a campground and hiking and biking trails with views of waterfalls, wildflowers and bald cypress trees, including “Old Baldy,” a 103-foot-tall behemoth estimated to be more than 500 years old. Art lovers might enjoy the Cathedral of Junk, an ever-growing sculpture made with more than 60 tons of junk and organic material located a few streets over in West Congress. Artist and owner Vince Havemann offers free tours by appointment.Travis Early College High School has CTE courses
East Congress is districted to the Austin Independent School District, which earns an overall rating of A-minus from Niche. Students in the neighborhood can attend Galindo Elementary School, which receives a C-plus from Niche, before heading to Bedichek Middle School, which earns a B-minus. Travis Early College High School also receives a B-minus. The school offers more than a dozen Career and Technical Education classes, and teens can earn an associate degree while still in high school thanks to a partnership with Austin Community College. Alternatively, parents can avail themselves of several private schools in the area, including St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, which earns an A-plus and is rated as the best private school in the Austin area by Niche.
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Roughly 5 miles to downtown Austin
With Interstate 35 marking the neighborhood’s eastern boundary, commuters can reach downtown Austin in about 5 miles. “The location where we are is great. I can get downtown to my office in 10 minutes and I can get to the airport in 10 minutes,” Vilece says. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is roughly 8 miles west. Medical care is available at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center less than 2 miles away from the neighborhood. Several Capital Metro bus stops along Congress Avenue make it easier to get around town without having to drive.Crime
Crime in East Congress is higher than the national average. The neighborhood receives a CAP Index Crime Score of 7 out of 10, higher than the national average of 4, including 9 out of 10 for motor vehicle theft and 9 out of 10 for larceny. People experiencing homelessness sometimes set up camp on the Williamson Creek Greenbelt or spend the night at Battle Bend Neighborhood Park. However, housing insecurity doesn’t affect day-to-day life for most locals.
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
Photography Contributed By
Saeid Zare
Video By
Daniel Willingham
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Chance Van Engelen
Chance Van Engelen
XL Highlands Realty LLC
(844) 994-3445
23 Total Sales
6 in East Congress
$315K - $791K Price Range
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Madison Morris
Madison Morris
MODUS Real Estate
(406) 693-8371
81 Total Sales
1 in East Congress
$625,000 Price
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Anthea Chlebek
Anthea Chlebek
Compass RE Texas, LLC
(737) 210-3318
37 Total Sales
1 in East Congress
$582,000 Price
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Thomas Ingle
Thomas Ingle
Ingle Realty LLC
(855) 960-3416
35 Total Sales
4 in East Congress
$265K - $395K Price Range
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Barbara Shallue
Barbara Shallue
Keller Williams Realty
(737) 210-3725
114 Total Sales
1 in East Congress
$525,500 Price
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Ina Kail
Ina Kail
Compass RE Texas, LLC
(737) 345-4840
55 Total Sales
1 in East Congress
$650,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Battlebend Spring Neighborhood Park
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Playground
Mabel Davis District Park
- Basketball
- Pool
- Skateboard
Pastor Edward Clarence Craig, Jr. Neighborhood Park
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Armadillo Neighborhood Park
- Bike Trails
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Blunn Creek Nature Preserve
- Trails
- Hiking
Ponciana Neighborhood Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
- Playground
Transit
Reviews
Niche Reviews
5/20/2016
Niche Review
Minor crimes happen, but it's mostly accidents. I haven't experienced any crime scenes myself.
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Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | East Congress | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 4 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 5 | 4 |
| Robbery | 5 | 4 |
| Burglary | 8 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 9 | 4 |
| Larceny | 9 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 7 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
East Congress Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in East Congress, Austin sell after 65 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in East Congress, Austin over the last 12 months is $467,267, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$479,544
Median Sale Price
$467,267
Median Single Family Sale Price
$474,990
Median Change From 1st List Price
2%
Last 12 months Home Sales
10
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
1%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$215
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,078
Number of Homes for Sale
1
Median Year Built
1972
Months of Supply
1.20
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,114
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,247
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
872
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
435
Open Houses
-
Wednesday, Jul 304 - 7pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Condo Buildings
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
3,228
Median Age
38
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
17.1%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13.6%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$71,352
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$95,727
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
93.5%
College Graduates
48%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
11.4%
% Population in Labor Force
78.6%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
37''
Average Winter Low Temperature
42°F
Average Summer High Temperature
97°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
42
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
35
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
44
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
West Congress
Laid-back living close to one of Austin's best shopping and dining districts
Garrison Park
Lower-priced homes and new businesses subvert South Austin real estate trends
South Manchaca
An array of new contemporary homes not far from Downtown Austin
Dawson
Eclectic vibes and old-school style in South Austin
Galindo
Small Austin community with longtime residents between two bustling neighborhoods
Saint Edward's
A college neighborhood attracting homebuyers with a great location and price point
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