3.3 out of 10

Johnston Terrace

Ranked 52nd best neighborhood in Austin
30.256419045621 -97.6848118388535
Great for
  • Cost of Living
  • Parking
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Peace & Quiet
Not great for
  • Pest Free
  • Gym & Fitness
  • Childcare
  • Medical Facilities
  • Shopping Options
Who lives here?
  • Singles
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Families with kids
  • Hipsters

Reviews

1/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 1/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 1/5
  • Gym & Fitness 1/5
  • Internet Access 1/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 5/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 2/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 2/5
2yrs+

"Industrial landscape, low-income neighborhood, and one nice park"

This is a pretty utilitarian neighborhood. There is still a fair amount of manufacturing that goes on here, so the industrial look is real. There are plenty of auto repair shops, landscapers, masons and contractors based here. Airport Rd isn’t pretty, but you can find cheap tacquerias, convenient fast food, and a Goodwill along this corridor.

For what it’s worth, this low-income, high-crime rate neighborhood does have a 26-acre green space called Govalle Park. The park is equipped with basketball and volleyball courts, a baseball field and a multipurpose field, a swimming pool, and plenty of picnic facilities and barbecue pits.
Pros
  • Goodwill located here
  • Govalle Park
  • Cheap rent
Cons
  • High crime
  • Run-down homes
Recommended for
  • Singles
1/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 1/5
  • Safe & Sound 1/5
  • Clean & Green 1/5
  • Pest Free 1/5
  • Peace & Quiet 1/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 1/5
  • Shopping Options 1/5
  • Gym & Fitness 1/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 1/5
  • Parking 1/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 1/5
  • Public Transport 2/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 2/5
  • Childcare 1/5
2yrs+

"A Neglected Part of Austin"

The part of Austin east of Interstate 35 has long had a reputation for not being the best part of town, and with good reason. The Johnston Terrace is the example that proves the generalization is right as this neighborhood has long been neglected and has many run down properties and foreclosed homes. Prices for what homes are here are lower than average in Austin for good reason. This is also a high crime area that has also in the past been used as a dumpground.

This area is served by the Austin Independent School District, which has many of its poorer performing schools in this area. Traffic in the area can back up and public transportation is limited in this part of the city. There are not a lot of places to get a bite to eat in this area unless you're a fan of authentic Mexican. Nightlife options are also non-existent and you don't want to be out after dark in this neighborhood anyway.
Pros
  • Cheap rent
Cons
  • Dump ground
  • High crime
  • Toxic
  • Closing school
  • Run-down homes
Recommended for
  • Singles
2/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 2/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 2/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 2/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 2/5
  • Childcare 2/5
2yrs+

"Heavy industry at the edge of town, and little else"

Located east practically right at the edge of town, there is a pocket of neighborhood that is situated inconveniently between major industry and highway traffic. Johnston Terrace isn't just run down, it's also poorly located. Prices are kept low, but there is almost no benefit to be found from living in this spot.

Traffic on highway 183 can back up pretty significantly, and trying to make it anywhere on east 7th or Airport can be problematic at rush hour. The neighborhood isn't conveniently located next to much, and what can be found there is in pretty rough shape. The only thing that It really has going for it is the lower cost of living that you can expect to find.

In all truth, for this price range you would do better to find a part of town that, even if it offers little itself, will at least be adjacent to things you might need. Living this far out you may as well try some of the closer suburbs. It’s still possible to get downtown from here without too much fuss, but you would really do well to just find another neighborhood. All and in all there isn't a lot of reason to want to live here if you have any choice in the matter. Unless the chips are really down, I’d recommend taking a pass.
Pros
  • Cheap rent
Cons
  • Dump ground
  • High crime
  • Toxic
2/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 1/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 2/5
  • Public Transport 2/5
  • Schools 2/5
2yrs+

"Overlooked and neglected part of town"

While generalizations are often risky, Austin’s east side has long had the reputation for being the less attractive side of town, more subject to crime and run-down neighborhoods. While it is true that many of the neighborhoods found east of Interstate 35 are enjoying improvements and gentrification, unfortunately, the Johnston Terrace neighborhood has so far not been a beneficiary of this trend.
Located between the Austin NW railroad tracks on the north, Highway 183 on the south and east, and Airport Boulevard to the west, this neighborhood struggles with high poverty and higher crime rates than the rest of the city. There are many run down homes found here, some of which should simply be torn down. Trash litters yards and the streets, reflecting the lack of community pride.
However, there are some residents of this neighborhood who are fighting to turn it around. The city of Austin has been involved in supporting neighborhood planning efforts to create a vision for the neighborhood to reduce crime, promote a stronger sense of community and build a more vibrant neighborhood.

The area has potential if the neighborhood can succeed in turning things around. It is accessible to downtown and Lady Bird Lake, and housing prices are affordable, although costs are rising. Average home prices are around the $150s for a modest-sized home. Located within its boundaries is East Austin College Prep, an open enrollment charter school that has been working to collaborate with the neighborhood to encourage positive socio-economic change to the area.
Pros
  • Organized community
  • Cheap rent
Cons
  • High crime
  • Run-down homes
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
  • Students
1/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 1/5
  • Pest Free 1/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 1/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 1/5
  • Gym & Fitness 1/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 1/5
  • Public Transport 1/5
  • Medical Facilities 1/5
  • Schools 2/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"An ugly blot on Austins green reputation"

Avoid, avoid, avoid. No matter what a real estate agent tells you, or what deals apartment complexes may offer, definitely do your research on this area before deciding it’s worth the risk. This area is filled with a number of hazardous waste storage sites, so not only is it probably polluting the land and water around it and making residents sick, it’s also one big hypocritical blot on Austin’s green movement. So much of the city is focused on the fact that this is a huge metropolis with such a relatively small carbon footprint, but I just feel like everyone is ignoring the fact that this area even exists. It’s like the greenness and beauty of Guerrero Park provides just enough distraction that Johnston Terrace disappears, and then Austin leaders get to pat themselves on the back about how awesomely earth-friendly we are. There needs to be an organized movement to get the city and corporations to stop abusing this area and exploiting the residents who are forced to rent or purchase homes here because the land value is so cheap. Other areas have benefited from rejuvenation when it means cleaning up the parks, improving the schools, and making the area more family friendly. Well, unless you want your future family to glow in the dark and have extra fingers and toes, stay away from here just to be safe. Whew. I’m stepping down from my soapbox now.
Pros
  • Cheap rent
Cons
  • Toxic
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 2/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 2/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 2/5
  • Childcare 2/5
2yrs+

"A Work in Progress"

What is often described as a dumping ground on the east side, the residents of Johnston Terrace are taking efforts to revitalize the cultural vibrancy of the area. Home to houses, warehouses and art studios, there is plenty of room for creativity, but first an overhaul on condemned properties and getting the local schools back in swing are required. This weirdly shaped polygonal community set between Airport Blvd. and Hwy 183 is a work in progress for those who see the potential in this east side neighborhood. The local real estate is some of the cheapest in the city with mortgage prices going as low as $90,000. Many residences are wooden single family houses and mobile homes that provide shelter for the working class that dominates the community.

Bolm Rd. is the main thorough street as it connects Airport and 183 as well as provide entrances to the well hidden and dead end dirt roads that back up to the studios and warehouses. There is not much to offer in terms of nightlife as most of the activity is closer to the I-35 corridor and there are few restaurants within the immediate area. One of the public schools due to lack of district funding has been closed down, so families will have to have their children attend the nearest schools in neighboring areas. Johnston Terrace still fits the stereotypical artist environment with cheap wooden or tin studios that the starving creative types are still able to afford. It is best, though, to keep studios and cars locked as anything valuable will indeed get stolen.
Pros
  • Studio space
  • Cheap rent
Cons
  • Dump ground
  • Closing school
Recommended for
  • Hipsters
  • Trendy & Stylish

Best Neighborhoods to Live In

Best Cities to Live In

Tell everyone what you love about your neighborhood!

Leave a Review

Have a question?

How are schools? Is the area safe? What about public transit options?" Why not ask our community of locals!

Ask Now

Selling or Renting Your Home?

Maximize the selling price of your home by sharing what you love about your suburb to increase its appeal...

Leave a Review

Corporate Relocation Manager?

Enable your employees to share local knowledge in a private, trusted environment with those relocating... while building community.

Learn More