Is Barton Hills safe?
Austin, Texas · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Barton Hills as “Go”.
What makes up this score?Recent news
Gogo's take on Barton Hills
“Go. Barton Hills is one of Austin's safest and most desirable residential neighborhoods, offering immediate access to the Barton Creek Greenbelt and Zilker Park with exceptionally low violent crime rates. The only primary concern for visitors is opportunistic vehicle break-ins at popular trailhead parking lots.”
About the area
Nestled into lush hills just south of downtown Austin, Barton Hills is a tranquil, affluent neighborhood defined by mid-century homes, winding streets, and dense canopy cover. It serves as a prime gateway for outdoor recreation while remaining minutes away from the vibrant dining corridors along South Lamar and Barton Springs Road.
- Greenery & Parks
- Peaceful & Residential
- Active Outdoors
- Hilly & Scenic
Walking and biking in Barton Hills
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 58/100
While neighborhood hills can be challenging, the area connects directly to the Violet Crown Trail, Barton Creek Greenbelt, and the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail via Zilker Park, with MetroBike stations along Barton Springs Road.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are significantly lower than both Austin and national averages
- High median household incomes exceeding $130,000 and exceptionally low poverty rates under 5%
- Immediate, walkable access to premier nature trails and outdoor recreation
- Quiet, low-density residential streets with strong community engagement
Cons
- Frequent opportunistic car burglaries at Greenbelt trailheads and along Barton Skyway
- Hilly topography and many streets lacking continuous sidewalks or streetlights
- High traffic congestion during major Zilker Park events like ACL Festival
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential streets, though occasional temporary encampments may be encountered in deeper, undeveloped sections of the Barton Creek Greenbelt or near major highway underpasses along Ben White Blvd (Hwy 290) and South Lamar.
What Barton Hills is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and bustling with joggers, dog walkers, and cyclists taking advantage of the cool morning canopy.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and residential with recreational trail users filtering in and out of the Greenbelt access points.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and tranquil as residents return home and diners head to the nearby South Lamar and Barton Springs corridors.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and quiet due to limited streetlights, but safe to traverse if exercising standard personal awareness.
Transit, parking and getting around
CapMetro serves the neighborhood edges via bus routes like Route 3 and Route 30 along South Lamar and Barton Springs Road; Austin's light rail/commuter service (CapMetro Rail) is not directly accessible and requires a short rideshare or connecting bus downtown.
Residential street parking is generally free and accessible, though parking near Greenbelt trailheads (such as Spyglass Drive) fills quickly on weekends and requires locking vehicles to deter theft.
Things to do in Barton Hills
- Hike, run, or rock climb along the scenic Barton Creek Greenbelt trail access points
- Take a short walk to Zilker Metropolitan Park and swim in natural spring water at Barton Springs Pool
- Explore the quiet residential mid-century architecture and lush tree-lined neighborhood streets
Local favorites
- Tacodeli (Spyglass) · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (1650)Beloved local outpost serving creative breakfast and lunch tacos right by the Greenbelt trailhead.
- Thom's Market - Barton Springs · Grocery Store · 4.7★ (320)Charming boutique neighborhood corner market offering local snacks, craft beer, and gifts.
- Juliet Italian Kitchen · Italian Restaurant · 4.4★ (2100)Upscale neighborhood patio dining featuring classic handmade pasta and specialty cocktails.
Neighborhoods near Barton Hills
Common questions about Barton Hills
Is Barton Hills safe to walk at night?
Generally yes — use the same awareness you would anywhere after dark.
Is Barton Hills a good place to live?
On safety, Barton Hills scores 89/100 — safer than most of the areas we score, which is a good start for anyone looking to live here.
How walkable is Barton Hills?
Walk score 42/100 and bike score 58/100. Most trips need a car.
Which areas near Barton Hills are safer?
Barton Hills scores as high as or higher than its closest neighbors.
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