Allandale Neighborhood | Austin, TX
The Allandale neighborhood in Austin, TX is one of the city’s most beloved places to call home. Located in north central Austin, Allandale offers tree-lined streets, classic mid-century homes, and a tight-knit community feel — all just 10 to 15 minutes from Downtown Austin. If you are searching for a neighborhood with real character, great schools, and easy access to everything Austin has to offer, Allandale deserves a serious look.
About the Allandale Neighborhood in Austin, TX
Allandale is a quiet, established residential neighborhood in north central Austin. Its boundaries run from Anderson Lane to the north, Burnet Road to the east, 45th Street to the south, and MoPac Expressway to the west. Shoal Creek runs right through the middle of the neighborhood, giving it a natural, green corridor that residents love.
With a population of around 8,200 people and roughly 3,500 households, Allandale feels like a true neighborhood — the kind where people wave to each other on morning walks and kids ride bikes to the local park. The Allandale Neighborhood Association, founded in 1973, is one of the oldest and most active in Austin, with over 3,500 homes in its membership area.
Commuting is easy from Allandale. With no traffic, you can reach Downtown Austin in about 10 minutes. MoPac on the west and Burnet Road on the east give you quick access to the rest of the city in any direction.
Homes in the Allandale Neighborhood, Austin TX
Most homes in Allandale were built in the 1950s and 1960s. You will find classic ranch-style houses, bungalows, Craftsman-style homes, and a growing number of new modern builds and custom homes. Lots in Allandale tend to be larger than in neighboring areas, and the mature oak and pecan trees that shade nearly every street give the neighborhood its distinctive, canopy-covered feel.
Allandale is divided into three sections: Older Allandale, Allandale, and Allandale North. Each has its own character, but all share the same relaxed, residential atmosphere. Home values here are generally more accessible than in nearby Rosedale or Northwest Hills, making Allandale an attractive option for buyers who want central Austin without the premium price tag.
What to expect when buying in Allandale:
- Ranch-style and mid-century modern homes on generous lots
- Mature oak and pecan trees throughout the neighborhood
- A mix of original 1950s–1960s homes and newer custom builds
- More square footage per dollar than many comparable central Austin neighborhoods
- Strong appreciation history — rated one of Austin’s top zip codes for real estate in recent years
- Some properties near Shoal Creek may be in a flood zone — always verify with your agent
Schools in the Allandale Neighborhood
Families in the Allandale neighborhood in Austin, TX are served by Austin ISD. The schools here are among the most respected in the district, and many children in Allandale walk to school — a rare luxury in a modern city.
- Gullett Elementary — A-rated school serving most of Allandale
- Highland Park Elementary — serves the southernmost portion of the neighborhood
- Lamar Middle School — home to a Fine Arts Academy
- McCallum High School — ranked 10th Best High School for the Arts in Texas, with an A-minus to A overall score on Niche
- Rosedale School — an alternative K–12 school also nearby
Things to Do in Allandale, Austin TX
Life in Allandale centers around Burnet Road, the lively commercial strip running along the neighborhood’s eastern edge. It is packed with some of Austin’s most popular restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and local businesses. You are never more than a 15-minute walk from a great cup of coffee or a cold beer.
Dining and drinks
- Top Notch Hamburgers — an Austin institution and filming location for the movie Dazed and Confused
- The Peached Tortilla — Southern and Asian fusion with a devoted following
- Fonda San Miguel — upscale interior Mexican cuisine in one of Austin’s most beautiful dining rooms
- Yard Bar — a dog-friendly bar and restaurant on Burnet Road, open since 2015
- Pint House Pizza — one of Austin’s flagship breweries with great pizza and a family-friendly vibe
- Barley Swine — a highly regarded farm-to-table restaurant on Burnet Road
- Little Longhorn Saloon — the home of Austin’s famous Chicken Shit Bingo on Sunday nights
Parks and outdoor spaces
- Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park — home to a seasonal pool, tennis courts, and basketball courts along Shoal Creek
- Shoal Creek Trail — a beloved hike-and-bike trail that runs through the heart of the neighborhood
- Multiple smaller pocket parks tucked into Allandale’s residential streets
Shopping and everyday needs
- H-E-B grocery on Burnet Road for everyday shopping
- A wide range of boutiques, vintage shops, salons, and local businesses along Burnet Road
- Easy access to major employers including Apple, Amazon, Whole Foods Market headquarters, and 3M
The History of the Allandale Neighborhood
Allandale has a history that goes all the way back to the Republic of Texas. In 1841, the land that would become this neighborhood was part of a grant given to George W. Davis by President Mirabeau B. Lamar — a reward for Davis’s service at the Battle of San Jacinto. The Davis family cemetery, a Texas Historical Cemetery, still stands in Allandale today.
The neighborhood as we know it began taking shape in the 1930s, with the bulk of its homes built during the 1950s and 1960s. Developer W. Murray Graham — the same man who shaped Enfield, Tarrytown, and Bryker Woods — platted the original Allandale sections. Allandale Oaks followed in 1951, and the neighborhood has grown in sections ever since.
Austin’s famous Air Conditioned Village
Here is a piece of history that most people don’t know: Allandale was once home to America’s first Air Conditioned Village. In 1954, the National Association of Home Builders partnered with air conditioning manufacturers to build 22 brand-new homes in Allandale, each fitted with central air conditioning — a technology so new that fewer than 1 in 10 new homes nationwide had it.
Twenty-two families moved in and became part of a real-life experiment. The homes were designed specifically to maximize cooling efficiency — insulated walls, wide roof overhangs, and strategically placed windows. The project was a success. By 1957, the Federal Housing Administration changed its policies to back mortgages for homes with central air conditioning. Allandale helped change how America lives.
Some of those original 22 homes are still standing and occupied in Allandale today — now with updated air conditioning units, of course.
The Memorial Day Flood of 1981
Allandale’s history also includes one of Austin’s most devastating weather events. On Memorial Day 1981, eleven inches of rain fell in just three hours. Shoal Creek — which normally flows at 90 gallons per minute — surged to 6.55 million gallons per minute. Thirteen people lost their lives across the city, and hundreds of homes were destroyed.
The flood changed how Austin approaches stormwater management and led to the creation of the city’s Flood Early Warning System. If you are considering a home near Shoal Creek, your agent can help you review the current flood zone maps.
What It Is Like to Live in the Allandale Neighborhood
Residents describe Allandale as the kind of neighborhood that feels like it belongs to a different, slower era — in the best possible way. Parents walk kids to school in the mornings. Neighbors know each other by name. The streets are quiet, the trees are tall, and on weekends, people are out walking dogs and riding bikes.
At the same time, everything modern Austin has to offer is close by. You are minutes from great restaurants, major employers, and the energy of Downtown Austin. Allandale manages to feel removed from the hustle without actually being far from anything.
The Allandale Neighborhood Association keeps the community connected through events, newsletters, and advocacy on local issues. Membership is voluntary, but participation is strong. It is the kind of place where people genuinely invest in where they live.
Find Your Home in the Allandale Neighborhood, Austin TX
Whether you are a first-time buyer drawn to Allandale’s character and value, or a growing family looking for great schools and a real sense of community, Allandale is worth your time. Our team at Cornwall Properties Group knows this neighborhood well.
Browse homes for sale in the Allandale neighborhood today, or contact us to schedule a tour. We would love to show you around.
