Overview
Travis Heights is Austin’s most beloved historic neighborhood — 1920s bungalows, Big Stacy Pool, SoCo walkability, five minutes to downtown, and no mandatory HOA. Sitting in Austin’s 78704 ZIP within Travis County, it is a historic, walkable district of 1920s–1950s Craftsman bungalows and Tudor cottages.
At a glance:
- Big Stacy — a historic City of Austin pool right in the neighborhood
- SoCo — South Congress is walkable from most homes
- 5 min to downtown — no highway required
- 1,200+ homes — built from the 1920s to the present
- $850K median sale price
- No HOA — rare for an Austin neighborhood of this size
The 78704 ZIP code is Austin’s most culturally coveted residential address.
Schools
Travis Heights is served by Austin ISD. Travis Heights Elementary rates 7/10, and the neighborhood lifestyle typically outweighs school ratings for buyers here.
Travis Heights is one of the few historic Austin neighborhoods where the lifestyle is so compelling that buyers often choose it despite knowing the schools are solid but not top-ranked. The 78704 ZIP code carries its own premium — and for good reason. When buyers want to be in Austin’s cultural heart, within walking distance of SoCo and Lady Bird Lake, with a Craftsman bungalow and no HOA — Travis Heights is the answer. — Sam Sheikh, SpecTower Realty · South Austin
Travis Heights Elementary (7/10) — Pre-K – Grade 5 2010 Alameda Dr, Austin 78704 · Austin ISD · ~550 students. Programs and character: Dual Language Program, 75%+ STAAR, community engaged, strong parent involvement. Travis Heights Elementary serves the community within Austin ISD. The Dual Language Program (English/Spanish) and an active parent community provide a strong foundation. The school’s location and community engagement make it a neighborhood institution — not just an assigned school.
Fulmore Middle School (6/10) — Grades 6–8 201 E Mary St, Austin 78704 · Austin ISD. Fine arts focus, community school, improving trajectory. Fulmore Middle serves the 78704 zone with a fine arts focus and improving academic trajectory. Buyers who prioritize middle school ratings often research magnet transfer options — AISD provides several programs from this zone.
Travis Early College HS or Bowie High (7/10) — Grades 9–12 Austin ISD · verify by specific address. Early College / Dual Enrollment, ACC Partnership, Career Pathways, Bowie 7/10. Travis Heights students may attend Travis Early College HS (dual enrollment with Austin Community College — earn college credits in high school) or Bowie High School (7/10, strong AP catalog) depending on specific address. Verify your assignment at austinisd.org.
High school assignments may include Travis Early College HS or Bowie HS. Verify at austinisd.org and ask about magnet transfer options. Private school alternatives are numerous in the 78704 zone.
Real Estate Market
South Austin · Historic 78704 · one of Austin’s strongest appreciation stories.
| Segment | Price range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Historic Bungalows | $540K – $700K | 900–1,400 sq ft · original Craftsman · great entry into 78704 |
| Renovated (Most Active) | $700K – $1.0M | 1,400–2,200 sq ft · updated kitchen + baths · open layouts |
| Upper Range | $1.0M – $1.5M | larger lots · 2,200–3,000 sq ft · full custom renovations |
| Luxury / Teardown | $1.5M – $2.0M+ | custom builds on premium lots · SoCo or lake proximity |
Market stats:
- $850K median price
- 20–40 days on market
- 99% sale-to-list
- ~25% price reduced
What commands a premium: walking distance to SoCo and Lady Bird Lake · renovated kitchen + baths · larger lot · unique architectural character · corner lot · quiet cul-de-sac location.
What to consider: original unupdated homes need significant investment · Blunn Creek flood zone for some lots · street parking only (no garages on most original bungalows) · pre-1960s plumbing/electrical.
Market pulse: roughly a 2.0% tax rate (2025 est.), 20–40 day average days on market (2024–25), and a 99% sale/list ratio.
Amenities & Parks
Big Stacy Pool, South Congress walkability, and Lady Bird Lake — impossible to replicate.
- Big Stacy Pool — historic City of Austin outdoor pool · 200 E Monroe St · spring-fed cool water · 1930s facility · free for Austin residents · one of Austin’s most beloved summer traditions, in your neighborhood. No suburban community can replicate this.
- South Congress (SoCo) — Walkable — Austin’s most iconic commercial street is within walking distance for most Travis Heights homes. Boutique shops, live music venues, iconic restaurants, and galleries create a daily lifestyle environment unlike any suburban alternative.
- Congress Avenue Bridge Bats — world’s largest urban bat colony — 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats — Congress Ave Bridge · August–October · 10-minute walk. The bat emergence is an Austin cultural tradition, and Travis Heights residents walk to it.
- Blunn Creek Preserve — 25-acre natural preserve running through the eastern neighborhood edge · creek habitat · hike/bike trail · native landscape. A natural buffer and trail corridor in the heart of an urban neighborhood.
- No Mandatory HOA — Travis Heights is one of Austin’s largest neighborhoods without a mandatory HOA — rare at this scale. No dues, no architectural review committees, no rental restrictions from an HOA. This is a meaningful lifestyle and financial differentiator.
- Live Music Venues — Walkable — Continental Club, Saxon Pub, and other SoCo venues are within walking distance. Travis Heights residents walk to live music on weeknights — a quintessential Austin experience that cannot be replicated in a suburb.
Parks & Outdoors — Big Stacy Pool, Lady Bird Lake, Blunn Creek, and Barton Creek Greenbelt within reach:
- Big Stacy Park & Pool (in neighborhood) — historic spring-fed outdoor pool + park · 200 E Monroe St · City of Austin operated · one of Austin’s most beloved neighborhood amenities.
- Little Stacy Park (in neighborhood) — playgrounds · picnic pavilion · mature live oaks · community gathering hub · parallel park to Big Stacy.
- Blunn Creek Preserve (adjacent) — 25-acre natural preserve · creek habitat · hike/bike trail · native trees and wildlife corridor.
- Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail (5 min walk/bike) — world-class 10-mile trail · kayaking · paddleboarding · Austin’s most active outdoor corridor.
- Barton Creek Greenbelt (10 min) — 12+ miles limestone canyon · hike, bike, swim, climb · Austin’s essential outdoor escape.
Dining & Entertainment
SoCo culture, Big Stacy summers, live music, and Lady Bird Lake.
Community Life & Entertainment:
- Big Stacy Pool Summer Season (Community Signature) — the neighborhood’s living room from spring through fall. Residents walk to their local City of Austin pool — spring-fed, cold, and historic. Big Stacy has a genuine community culture of regulars, lap swimmers, and families. No other Austin neighborhood has a spring-fed public pool in it.
- South Congress Live Music Scene (Walkable) — Continental Club, Saxon Pub, and SoCo’s live music corridor are a walk from most Travis Heights homes. Weeknight shows, Sunday jazz, and impromptu busking create a music culture that is genuinely part of daily neighborhood life.
- Bat Bridge Evenings (Austin Tradition) — the Congress Avenue Bridge bat emergence (August–October) is a 10-minute walk. Watching 1.5 million bats emerge at dusk is one of Austin’s most unique experiences — Travis Heights residents do it casually on weeknight walks.
- ACL Music Festival (October · 10 min) — Austin City Limits Festival in Zilker Park (10 min, October, 2 weekends). One of the world’s top music festivals — Travis Heights residents walk or bike. October brings significant traffic, but residents largely treat it as a backyard event.
Dining & Social Scene — SoCo institutions, the South Lamar corridor, and neighborhood coffee culture.
Walkable from most homes (SoCo):
- Güero’s Taco Bar — Austin institution · patio margaritas · 1412 S Congress Ave · South Austin’s original taco institution · patio full of regulars every evening.
- Home Slice Pizza — NYC-style pizza · worth the wait · 1415 S Congress Ave · best pizza in Austin · long lines, worth every minute.
- Jo’s Coffee — iconic outdoor café · 1300 S Congress Ave · “I love you so much” mural · Austin outdoor coffee culture at its peak.
5–10 minutes (South Lamar):
- Uchi — James Beard · Japanese cuisine · S Lamar Blvd · James Beard award-winning sushi restaurant · Austin’s most acclaimed dining experience.
- Odd Duck — farm-to-table · acclaimed · S Lamar Blvd · Texas farm-to-table cuisine · one of Austin’s most consistently excellent restaurants.
- Alamo Drafthouse S Lamar — dine-in cinema · Austin’s iconic dine-in movie experience · local institution · 5 min from Travis Heights.
Location & Commute
South Austin’s best access to downtown — no highway required.
- Downtown Austin (5–8 min) — Congress Ave north · no highway required · one of Austin’s best downtown-access locations.
- South Lamar District (5–10 min) — immediate / walkable · Uchi, Whole Foods, Alamo Drafthouse, Torchy’s.
- Austin Airport (20–25 min) — I-35 → TX-71 · or rideshare for ~$20.
- The Domain (20–25 min) — Mopac north · Oracle, Indeed, Meta, Amazon.
- South Congress (SoCo) (walkable) — 0.5–1 mile for most homes · Austin’s most iconic lifestyle street.
- St. David’s South Austin Medical (7 min) — 901 W Ben White Blvd · Level III trauma center.
The Honest Take
Travis Heights is one of the few historic Austin neighborhoods where the lifestyle is so compelling that buyers often choose it despite knowing the schools are solid but not top-ranked. The 78704 ZIP code carries its own premium — and for good reason. When buyers want to be in Austin’s cultural heart, within walking distance of SoCo and Lady Bird Lake, with a Craftsman bungalow and no HOA, Travis Heights is the answer.
Be clear-eyed about the trade-offs: original unupdated homes need significant investment, some Blunn Creek-adjacent lots fall in a flood zone, most original bungalows have street parking only with no garages, and pre-1960s plumbing and electrical are common. Sam knows the Travis Heights market — the best blocks, flood zone specifics, bungalow renovation realities, and how the 78704 lifestyle compares to other Austin alternatives.
Daily Life
South Austin’s most walkable neighborhood — SoCo, South Lamar, and downtown all accessible without a highway.
Grocery:
- HEB Ben White at Lamar — 5 min · full service + pharmacy · primary grocery for Travis Heights.
- Whole Foods South Lamar — 5 min (walkable for some residents) · premium grocery + prepared foods.
- Central Market North Lamar — 15 min · Austin’s beloved specialty grocery.
Medical:
- St. David’s South Austin Medical — 901 W Ben White Blvd · 7 min · Level III trauma center.
- ARC South Lamar Urgent Care — walk-in urgent care · S Lamar · 5 min.
Neighborhood Lifestyle:
- Big Stacy Pool — in neighborhood · City of Austin spring-fed pool · neighborhood’s living room spring through fall.
- Lady Bird Lake Trail — 5-min walk/bike · 10-mile hike and bike trail · kayak and paddleboard rentals.
- SoCo Shops & Boutiques — walkable · unique Austin boutiques, vintage shops, art galleries · no chain stores.
Shopping & Entertainment:
- Barton Creek Square Mall — 15 min · full retail, Nordstrom, Apple Store.
- South Lamar Entertainment — 5 min · Alamo Drafthouse, Uchi, Uchiko, Torchy’s, Odd Duck.
FAQ
Sam’s straight answers to Travis Heights’ most common buyer questions.
What is Travis Heights known for? Historic 1920s–1950s Craftsman bungalows and Tudor cottages, Big Stacy Pool (City of Austin spring-fed outdoor pool in the neighborhood), walkable South Congress Avenue, Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail 5 minutes away, and no mandatory HOA. The 78704 ZIP code is Austin’s most culturally coveted residential address.
Is Travis Heights walkable? Walk Score 80+. South Congress shops, restaurants, and live music venues are walkable from most addresses. Lady Bird Lake trail is a 5-minute walk or bike ride. Downtown Austin is a 5-minute drive with no highway. This is exceptional walkability for a primarily single-family neighborhood.
What schools serve Travis Heights? Austin ISD: Travis Heights Elementary (7/10, Dual Language Program), Fulmore Middle (6/10, Fine Arts Focus), and Travis Early College HS or Bowie High (7/10) depending on specific address. Verify at austinisd.org and ask about magnet transfer options.
Why are prices high despite a 6/10 middle school? Location, walkability, architectural character, Lady Bird Lake proximity, SoCo lifestyle premium, and extremely limited supply. The 78704 ZIP has consistently outperformed the broader Austin market in appreciation. Most buyers in this market choose the lifestyle first — the irreplaceable character and location drive demand more than school ratings.
Is there an HOA? No formal master HOA — one of Austin’s largest residential neighborhoods without mandatory HOA dues. No monthly fees, no architectural review, no rental restrictions from an HOA. Some newer condo developments within the broader area may have HOAs, but the historic single-family neighborhood does not.
Property taxes? Travis County approximately 2.0% effective rate. On $850K, approximately $17,000/year. Verify at traviscad.org for your specific property.
Does Travis Heights flood? Some properties along Blunn Creek have flood zone designations — flood insurance requirements and development restrictions may apply. Never skip a flood zone check for any Blunn Creek-adjacent property. Verify your specific property at msc.fema.gov or ask Sam to pull the flood map.
Is it a good investment? One of Austin’s strongest long-term appreciation stories. The 78704 ZIP has consistently outperformed the broader Austin market. The outdoor lifestyle premium, architectural character, no-HOA status, limited supply, and proximity to downtown make this a strong long-term hold.