As the second fastest growing city in the US, Austin proper now has around 900,000 inhabitants – almost double the population it had when Apple Moving got our start back in 1991. Once a sleepier town, Austin’s booming population reflects its ever-growing popularity as a center for commerce and culture. Here we explore the zip codes that best represent why everyone’s moving to Austin:
78704
This zip code encompasses the area south of Lady Bird Lake, east of Mopac, north of 71, and west of I-35. Trendy hipsters live alongside established professionals in the neighborhoods of Barton Hills, Zilker, and Travis Heights. This is one of the hottest places to be in Austin, because of its proximity to downtown, the plethora of events including ACL and SXSW that parade through Zilker Park and Auditorium shores, access to recreational areas, and the stretches of S. Lamar and S. Congress that are bursting with new shops and eateries. New apartments and condos have gone up along all of the major roads in this area, while single family homes are primarily tucked up in the hills. One of the favorite spots among both locals and visitors to this area is the Barton Springs Pool, which as a natural spring, maintains a steady temperature of 68 degrees year round. Just upstream from Barton Springs, you can hop on the trail for the Barton Creek Greenbelt, a 7.9 mile trail that follows the creek through the rolling hills of southwest Austin. Or just a stone’s throw downstream from the Springs, you can access the hike and bike trail that loops around Lady Bird Lake or join the throngs kayaking and paddle boarding on the lake itself. After a long day of activity, there are plenty of places to unwind and enjoy a cold drink and some delicious grub like ABGB, Homeslice Pizza, Hopdoddy Burgers, and The Picnic food trailer park, just to name a few.
78723
Bordered by I-35 to the west, MLK to the south, 183 to the east, and 290 to the north, this transitioning area now thrives with new development and a new influx of residents. Once the site of the old Austin airport, this area was transformed by the Mueller development, a 711 acre project with a variety of new housing options including cottages, townhomes, single-family detached residences, apartments, and condos. Residents have their own trailer park eatery, a 5-mile hike and bike trail, a 6.5 acre lake, several park areas, a new HEB and several restaurants and shops including Torchy’s Tacos, which had lines wrapped around the building on opening day. This is a great area for families and young professionals alike, as it is both self-contained and easily accessible to downtown.
78702 and 78722
These zipcodes comprise a triangular land mass with I-35 and Airport Blvd. on the left and right sides, respectfully, and the Colorado River at the bottom. This area has radically changed in the last decade, with hip new restaurants and condos forcing the old residents to abandon their homes and move farther out. You’ll see many older homes being flipped and remodeled or completely demolished and rebuilt as the building craze that swept downtown sweeps east of I-35. Popular spots in this area center around the Manor Road, Riverside, Caesar Chavez and 7th streets with a variety of yummy places to eat including Salty Sow, El Sapo, Thunderbird Coffee, and The Silo. You can feel the fresh, electric buzz of new energy in this neighborhood, which is now overrun with yuppies in their 20s and 30s.
78701
This is about as downtown as you can get – the small 78701 zip code runs from Lamar on the west to I-35 on the east, and from MLK on the north down to the river. Over the last ten years or so, this zip code has reshaped the Austin skyline. The building of the Frost Tower in 2004, helped spark steady and rapid growth in this area of town. Though once the tallest building in Austin, it was soon surpassed by the Austonian and 360 Condominiums. It seems like builders can’t keep up with the influx of people that want to live downtown – new office buildings, hotels and residential buildings are being crammed on every last square inch of city block. Main attractions of this zip code include the infamous 6th Street where crowds get notoriously rowdy, Rainey Street with classier bars and gourmet restaurants, and 2nd Street with a nice collection of local shops, the ACL theater at the W and patio dining. A new development of the Seaholm Power Plant has transformed the former city utility into a fresh new space for businesses, including Trader Joe’s, and residences. If you opt to live in this zip code, you are sure to be entertained, but expect to pay top dollar for your digs.
78703
Just west of 78701, this zip code spans a wide area, hugging the curve of the Colorado River, west of Lamar and south of 35th street. Included in this zip are the posh and pricey neighborhoods of Clarksville, Pemberton Heights, Deep Eddy, Tarrytown, and Bryker Woods. On the eastern edge lies the Whole Foods worldwide headquarters, just blocks removed from its original site and busier than ever keeping Austinites organically well-fed. Mosey down the classier west side of 6th street, and you’ll find some classic Austin eateries like Sweetish Hill and Z Tejas alongside new prepster joints like Winflo Osteria. Up Clarksville through West Lynn, you’ll find some great, quaint neighborhood places like Zocalo, which puts a fresh twist on Mexican and has an inviting, almost tropical patio. West of Mopac, there are fewer choices for food, but the docks at Abel’s on the Lake and Hula Hut do boast some amazing views and are very popular stops for hungry boaters on Lake Austin. Tarrytown is also home to Lions Municipal Golf Course, the first city course built in Austin, which is still a local favorite for affordable golfing on well-manicured, prime real estate. While the neighborhoods of 78703 are trendy and very nice, they tend to be filled with established families with large housing allowances.
Austin is certainly a fun city to work and play in. There is never a shortage of things to do and people to see, so get out there and explore the trendy neighborhoods that make Austin unique and keep it weird. If you’re looking for a reliable moving company to help you move to one of these great neighborhoods, give us a shout and let us know what you’re moving. We’d be glad to give you a free no-obligation moving quote.
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