Is North Star safe?
Austin, Texas · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates North Star as “Go, stay aware”.
What makes up this score?Recent news
Gogo's take on North Star
“Go with care. North Star is a largely quiet, working-class residential and commercial pocket in North Austin that is generally manageable during the day. Visitors should practice standard urban awareness, lock car doors, and avoid dimly lit commercial parking strips or transit stops along major thoroughfares late at night.”
About the area
North Star is a modest suburban neighborhood in North Austin situated near the intersection of US-183 and North Lamar Boulevard. It features a mix of mid-century single-family homes, apartment communities, and busy strip centers with international dining options. While primarily residential, its proximity to major highways makes it a convenient pass-through corridor.
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Diverse
- Working-Class
Walking and biking in North Star
Walk score: 58/100 · Bike score: 52/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is sparse on major thoroughfares like US-183, though quiet residential streets connect south toward the Crestview and Brentwood neighborhood bikeways; CapMetro bikeshare is not prevalent here.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Established residential streets with active neighborhood presence and low daylight violent crime
- Diverse and authentic international dining spots within and bordering the neighborhood
- Direct highway access to US-183, Mopac, and I-35 for swift city navigation
- Relatively high rate of household vehicle ownership and high residential occupancy
Cons
- Elevated rates of property crime including vehicle break-ins and catalytic converter theft along arterial corridors
- Above-average renter concentration and aging apartment infrastructure compared to West Austin
- Limited pedestrian infrastructure with patchy sidewalks and poor lighting on secondary streets
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present along the US-183 highway overpasses, commercial intersections, and bus shelters along North Lamar Boulevard, but is minimal within the interior residential streets.
What North Star is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and busy with morning commuters and school traffic; very safe for walks on residential streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active with local traffic and bustling strip malls; standard safety awareness is sufficient.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Commercial plazas remain busy with dining patrons, while residential streets quiet down quickly.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Traffic thins considerably; exercise caution near highway frontage roads, bus stops, and unlit parking lots where property crime risks increase.
Transit, parking and getting around
CapMetro serves the area primarily via Route 383 along Research Blvd and frequent Route 801 rapid bus on North Lamar Boulevard. The nearest commuter rail is the CapMetro Rail Crestview Station, located roughly 2.5 miles south.
Parking is overwhelmingly free and easy to find across open surface lots in shopping centers and on residential side streets.
Things to do in North Star
- Sample authentic regional tacos and Mexican street food along North Lamar Boulevard
- Explore Asian cuisine and specialty grocers nearby along Research Boulevard and Anderson Lane
- Visit Quail Creek Park just to the east for open green space and disc golf
Local favorites
- Tacos El Charly · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (1150)Popular late-night taco stand acclaimed for traditional suadero and al pastor tacos.
- Chuy's · Tex-Mex Restaurant · 4.4★ (3400)Lively outpost serving generous portions of classic Tex-Mex fare and signature sauces.
- Szechuan House · Chinese Restaurant · 4.3★ (820)Neighborhood favorite serving authentic, spice-forward Sichuan dishes and noodles.
Neighborhoods near North Star
Common questions about North Star
Is North Star safe to walk at night?
Mostly, on the busier, well-lit streets. Avoid empty side streets late at night.
Is North Star a good place to live?
On safety, North Star scores 70/100 — about average for the metro — most residents get by with normal city awareness.
How walkable is North Star?
Walk score 58/100 and bike score 52/100. Some errands can be done on foot.
Which areas near North Star are safer?
Scofield Farms (88), Bradford Pointe (85), The Centrum (84) score higher nearby.
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