NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT: Travis Heights, Austin, Texas

VOLUME VI: NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT

Travis Heights, Austin, Texas

Compiled by Nikki Davidson

Located in South Austin, the Travis Heights neighborhood is one of the most coveted places to call home in the capital region of Texas. The community is in a central location near Downtown Austin and has easy access to I-35, allowing a quick and easy drive to other parts of the city. It’s also located within walking distance to SoCo, a lively area in South Congress.

The historic charm of the homes and landscape in Travis Heights gives the residents’ eclectic and artistic personalities a space to shine. The neighborhood was established more than a century ago, and residents are in the process of having the space permanently preserved and designated as a National Register Historic District.

A wide variety of high-value homes showcase the area's past and present, as both massively restored mansions and contemporary condos line the streets. This is an in demand place to live, and rentals can be hard to come by.

It easily draws in those who can appreciate Travis Height's many green spaces and walkable streets.

Jobs in Travis Heights

In the spring of 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that Austin had the largest 10-year percent increase in employment out of 48 large metro areas nationwide.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobs in Austin with the highest median hourly wage are in the judicial, architectural, engineering management, petroleum engineering, and computer and information systems management fields.

Travis Heights is part of the 78704 ZIP code. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 72.9% of the population older than age 16 is part of the civilian workforce.

Education in Travis Heights

The schools in Travis Heights are part of the Austin Independent School District.

Education nonprofit GreatSchools ranked test scores from Travis Heights Elementary and Sarah Lively Middle School as “about the same as the state average” but “below the top-performing schools in Texas.”

The local high school is Travis Early College High School, which offers more than a dozen career and technical education courses.

Quality of Life in Travis Heights

According to the Census, people who live in the 78704 ZIP code have a mean travel time to work of 26.9 minutes.

For pet lovers, the Norwood Estate Dog Park is a popular place to enjoy the neighborhood. Others may take a daily stroll in the Blunn Creek Greenbelt, an expansive urban nature area that features a creek-side trail and barbeque pits.

The path is a mile-long mix of paved concrete and crushed granite, ideal for a leisurely exercise under a canopy of trees. The Little Stacy Neighborhood Park has a wading pool for kids, while the Big Stacy Neighborhood Pool is open year-round to the public to people of all ages.

Shopping, Dining and Entertainment in Travis Heights

People who live in this neighborhood are within walking distance of the vibrant and rejuvenated South Congress Avenue. The stretch is lined with quirky vintage shops, major retail stores, and chic and airy restaurants.

Every fall, the neighborhood puts on a two-day, multi-stop art festival called the Travis Heights Art Trail. The event allows visitors to tour the community, and view and purchase art displayed in some of the most impressive historic homes in the area.

Other Notable Facts About Travis Heights Include:

Although Travis Heights was first established in the 1890s, the development and popularity of the neighborhood didn't take off until the 1920s.
The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, which is on the north side of the neighborhood crossing over Lady Bird Lake, is home to the world's largest urban bat colony.
The Travis Heights official website is HistoricTravisHeights.org.

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