Market Overview for St. Johns
There are 29 active listings in St. Johns with a median list price of $256K and a median sold price of $365K.
Homes average 57 days on market.
Over the past 30 days, 2 homes have sold, with 21 sales in the past 12 months.
The average price per square foot is $257.
About St. Johns
St. John is one of Austin's oldest neighborhoods, established in 1929 to provide housing for freed African Americans as a Freedman community with deep roots in the city's African American history. The historic community is located within the 78752 zip code, geographically straddling Interstate 35 with proximity to US-183 and US-290. Current median home prices are approximately $475,000-$481,215 with 22 homes sold over the last 12 months. The neighborhood features original ranch-style wood-frame and brick homes representing Central Texas construction spanning the past century. Historic character combines with ongoing redevelopment as investors renovate or rebuild properties, creating a transitional community with mixed housing ages ranging from 100+ years old to new construction. St. John has served as a pivotal anchor to Austin's African American community in Central Texas over the centuries.
St. John is served by Austin ISD with Blackshear Elementary serving the area. Blackshear is Austin's oldest operating elementary school, founded in 1891 to provide free public education to African American children in the former Gregory Town community. The school now offers the first dedicated arts program in AISD with social and emotional learning emphasis and gifted programs for advanced learners. Blackshear serves PK-5 with 226 students, 23 experienced teachers, and enrichment programming. Travis Middle School and Reagan High School serve secondary education with Austin ISD curriculum offerings and advanced placement courses. St. John's strategic location near major highways (I-35, US-183, US-290) within 0.5 miles creates convenient access to downtown Austin, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and regional employment centers.
The St. John Site redevelopment project represents significant ongoing change, with the City of Austin and Greystar partnering to transform the former Home Depot and Chrysler Dealership (7211-7309 North I-35, now 800 E. St Johns Avenue) into mixed-use development. This 19-acre public-private partnership will deliver 526 units of housing, with 263 units set aside at 50%, 60%, and 70% of median income levels. The redevelopment reflects broader Austin interest in the neighborhood's proximity to downtown and transit connections. Starting in 2025, the project team engaged the City of Austin's Art in Public Places Program to identify artists interpreting St. John's history through public artwork. Nearby Linc complex provides shopping, dining, and entertainment within 2 miles. The Virginia L. Brown Recreation Center and Gustavo La Garcia District Park serve community recreation needs.
St. John offers affordable housing, historic cultural significance, and strategic location near downtown Austin and major employment corridors. The neighborhood combines established community roots with active redevelopment, attracting both long-term residents honoring the community's history and new residents drawn by affordability and urban proximity. Home prices reflect affordability relative to central Austin (median $475K) while maintaining proximity to downtown (10-15 minutes), making this neighborhood practical for first-time buyers, investors, and those seeking walkable urban living. The University of Texas at Austin (24,000+ employees), City of Austin government, and major tech employers are within reasonable commute distances of 5-15 minutes. The neighborhood's strategic location on the northeast corner of St. Johns Avenue and I-35 creates connectivity to all employment corridors while maintaining pedestrian-scale community character in a transitional urban setting.
Living in St. Johns
Living in St. John means residing in a historically significant Austin neighborhood with deep roots in the African American community while experiencing active redevelopment and community transformation. Daily life benefits from proximity to downtown Austin, with commute times of 10-15 minutes to central business district, UT campus, or employment centers along Sixth Street and Congress Avenue. The neighborhood combines established homes with new construction as properties are redeveloped through both community investment and the St. John Site mixed-use project, creating visual diversity and ongoing community change. Residents enjoy walkable access to nearby Linc complex shopping and dining, local parks, and recreation centers. The community attracts both long-term residents with roots reflecting the neighborhood's century-long history and new arrivals seeking affordable Austin housing near downtown. The neighborhood offers strong cultural significance for many residents with multigenerational ties to St. John's history.
St. John experiences typical downtown Austin summers with heat exceeding 100 degrees offset by indoor attractions, parks, and recreation centers. Proximity to I-35 creates traffic noise but provides quick highway access for commuting to employment centers, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, or regional destinations within 15-20 minutes. The Virginia L. Brown Recreation Center offers fitness facilities, sports courts, and community programming. Gustavo La Garcia District Park and St. John Park provide green space and recreation. The neighborhood features diverse dining including Crossroads Grille and various independent restaurants reflecting community character and tastes. Many residents walk or bike short distances to UT campus, downtown entertainment venues, or tech employment centers. Blackshear Elementary's new arts program provides cultural enrichment for students and the broader community, honoring St. John's history.
Things to Do in St. Johns
- Linc Complex: 2 miles away with shopping, dining, and entertainment options including retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
- Blackshear Elementary Historic Campus: Austin's oldest operating elementary school building with historic significance to African American community and city history.
- St. John Park: Neighborhood park nearby offering green space, picnic areas, and community gathering spaces.
- Virginia L. Brown Recreation Center: Community recreation facility with gym, sports courts, programming, and fitness classes.
- Downtown Austin: 10-15 minute drive to museums, live music venues, restaurants, Zilker Park, and Lady Bird Lake recreation.
- Gustavo La Garcia District Park: Neighborhood park with athletic fields, playground, and recreational facilities for community use.
Major Employers in St. Johns
- University of Texas at Austin (Education): Major Austin employer with 24,000+ staff across academic and administrative functions.
- City of Austin (Government): Significant municipal employment with City Hall downtown and various departments.
- Apple (Technology): Tech employer with Austin operations and hiring across the metro area.
- Ascension/Seton Healthcare (Healthcare): 14,000+ employees with Dell Children's Medical Center and hospitals throughout Austin.
- Tesla (Technology): 20,000+ Austin-area employees with manufacturing and corporate operations.
St. Johns Schools
St. Johns is served by Austin Independent School District. Students typically attend Pickle Elementary or Brown Elementary for elementary school, Webb Middle School for middle school, and Northeast Early College or Navarro Early College or Eastside Early College for high school.
School District: Austin Independent School District
Public Schools
Pre-Schools
- St. John Community Preschool
- Austin ISD Early Learning Center
Private Schools
- Austin Christian Academy - Faith-based K-12 school with college-preparatory focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median home price in St. John?
The median home price in St. John is approximately $475,000-$481,215. Home prices have declined 5% in the last 12 months with 22 homes sold.
What is the history of St. John neighborhood?
St. John was established in 1929 to provide housing for freed African Americans. It remains historically significant to Austin's African American community and features homes spanning over 100 years.
Which school serves St. John?
Blackshear Elementary School serves St. John. Founded in 1891, it is Austin's oldest operating elementary school with AISD's first dedicated arts program.
How close is St. John to downtown Austin?
St. John is within 10-15 minutes drive to downtown Austin via I-35. The neighborhood straddles I-35 and is within 0.5 miles of three major freeways (I-35, US-183, US-290).
What major redevelopment is happening in St. John?
The St. John Site (7211-7309 North I-35, formerly Home Depot and Chrysler dealership) is being redeveloped by the City of Austin and Greystar into a 19-acre mixed-use project with residential and commercial components.
