Is The Bluffs of Great Hills safe?
Austin, Texas · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates The Bluffs of Great Hills as “Go”.
What makes up this score?Recent news
Gogo's take on The Bluffs of Great Hills
“Go. The Bluffs of Great Hills is an exceptionally safe, quiet, and affluent residential enclave nestled in the scenic hills of Northwest Austin. Visitors face virtually no violent crime risks, though visitors should exercise normal common sense regarding locking vehicles at trailheads and driveways.”
About the area
The Bluffs of Great Hills is a tranquil, tree-canopied neighborhood characterized by rolling topography, custom single-family homes, and access to serene greenbelts. While almost purely residential and reliant on personal vehicles, it sits just minutes away from prime retail and dining hubs at the Arboretum and The Domain.
- Wooded Hills
- Quiet / Residential
- Affluent Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in The Bluffs of Great Hills
Walk score: 21/100 · Bike score: 26/100
There are no bike-share docking stations in the neighborhood, and road cycling requires caution due to steep grades, sharp turns, and a lack of dedicated bike lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are among the lowest in the Austin metropolitan area.
- High median household incomes exceeding $130,000 paired with negligible poverty and high homeownership rates.
- Direct neighborhood access to well-maintained nature trails and outdoor recreation at Great Hills Park.
- Well-maintained infrastructure, lush landscape maintenance, and active neighborhood civic association.
Cons
- Steep topography and limited sidewalk coverage make walking or cycling difficult for everyday transit.
- Completely car-dependent with zero commercial amenities or dining within interior residential pockets.
- Occasional opportunistic vehicle burglaries occur at public park trailheads and residential driveways.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is virtually non-existent within the neighborhood's residential interior. Minor panhandling is occasionally observed at commercial intersections near highway interchanges like US-183 and Loop 360.
What The Bluffs of Great Hills is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with local residents jogging, walking dogs, and tending to yards along shaded streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Very quiet and safe, with light local traffic and occasional visitors enjoying the neighborhood park trailheads.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm residential setting where activity winds down into quiet neighborhood streets with little through-traffic.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely quiet and safe, though interior streets are relatively dark due to low streetlight density.
Transit, parking and getting around
CapMetro operates bus Route 383 along Jollyville Road and Great Hills Trail periphery, but interior residential roads lack transit service. The nearest commuter rail stop is CapMetro's Kramer Station (Red Line), located about 4 miles east.
Residential street parking is free, plentiful, and unmetered throughout the community, while adjacent shopping centers offer expansive free surface lots.
Things to do in The Bluffs of Great Hills
- Hike the shaded creekbed trails and cross footbridges at Great Hills Park.
- Play a round of golf or tennis at the private Great Hills Country Club.
- Visit the nearby scenic overlooks of the Texas Hill Country along Loop 360 and Great Hills Trail.
Local favorites
- Manuel's Mexican Restaurant · Mexican Restaurant · 4.4★ (1280)Upscale regional Mexican cuisine, agave cocktails, and weekend jazz brunch in a polished setting.
- Roaring Fork · American Restaurant · 4.5★ (2150)Rustic-chic lakeside dining serving wood-fired steaks, rotisserie meats, and classic cocktails.
- Amy's Ice Creams · Ice Cream Shop · 4.6★ (2220)Iconic local Austin ice cream parlor known for artisan flavors and entertaining scoopers.
Neighborhoods near The Bluffs of Great Hills
Common questions about The Bluffs of Great Hills
Is The Bluffs of Great Hills safe to walk at night?
Generally yes — use the same awareness you would anywhere after dark.
Is The Bluffs of Great Hills a good place to live?
On safety, The Bluffs of Great Hills scores 91/100 — safer than most of the areas we score, which is a good start for anyone looking to live here.
How walkable is The Bluffs of Great Hills?
Walk score 21/100 and bike score 26/100. Most trips need a car.
Which areas near The Bluffs of Great Hills are safer?
The Bluffs of Great Hills scores as high as or higher than its closest neighbors.
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