Market Overview for Zip Code 78701
There are 212 active listings in Zip Code 78701 with a median list price of $595K and a median sold price of $643K.
Homes average 85 days on market.
Over the past 30 days, 14 homes have sold, with 219 sales in the past 12 months.
The average price per square foot is $711.
About Zip Code 78701
Zip code 78701 covers downtown Austin, the capital city's central business district, bounded roughly by I-35 to the east, Lamar Boulevard to the west, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the north, and Lady Bird Lake (Town Lake) to the south. This area encompasses the Texas State Capitol complex, the Sixth Street entertainment district, the Rainey Street historic district, the Second Street retail corridor, and the Seaholm mixed-use redevelopment. 78701 contains a concentrated mix of high-rise condominiums, office towers, hotels, government buildings, and mixed-use developments within about 1.5 square miles of land area (ACS 2024 5-year estimates for ZCTA 78701).
Real estate in 78701 is dominated by condominiums and loft conversions, in towers such as The Independent (58 stories, 690 feet, completed 2019 at 301 West Avenue), Four Seasons Residences, and 70 Rainey. Rental apartments are plentiful. Single-family homes are rare in 78701, limited to a handful of historic properties in the Judges' Hill and West Downtown areas. Current listing counts and median prices are shown on the Market Overview tab. New tower projects continue along Congress Avenue, Rainey Street, and the Waller Creek corridor.
There are no traditional public schools within 78701, as the area is almost entirely commercial and residential high-rise. Students residing in this zip code are zoned to Austin ISD campuses in adjacent neighborhoods: Mathews Elementary, O. Henry Middle School, and Austin High School. Pease Elementary, which stood at 1106 Rio Grande Street and was the oldest continuously operating elementary school in Texas, closed at the end of the 2019-20 school year under Austin ISD's School Changes plan; the building is being repurposed as an early childhood education center. Austin ISD serves approximately 69,251 students district-wide (2025-26). Licensed private preschools operate downtown, and Austin Community College's Rio Grande campus sits at the northern edge of the zip code on 12th Street. The University of Texas at Austin main campus begins just north of MLK Boulevard.
Downtown Austin is the state capital and Travis County seat, with the Texas State Capitol, Governor's Mansion, and numerous state agency offices concentrated along Congress Avenue and the Capitol complex. The Austin Convention Center on Cesar Chavez Street hosts South by Southwest (SXSW), Austin City Limits Music Festival's ancillary events, and hundreds of conventions annually. Lady Bird Lake's 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail wraps around the southern edge of 78701, connecting to Zilker Park and East Austin. Capital Metro's MetroRail Red Line terminates downtown. Austin Light Rail — the 9.8-mile, 15-station starter line Project Connect was rescoped to in 2023, running from 38th Street to Oltorf and east to Riverside — received its federal Record of Decision in January 2026, with service estimated to begin in 2033.
Living in Zip Code 78701
The Downtown Austin Alliance counted 13,976 downtown residents and 14,164 residential units in its 2026 State of Downtown report. Median household income in 78701 is about $162,000 (ACS 2024 5-year estimates), reflecting the concentration of technology companies, law firms, lobbying firms, and financial services in the central business district. Car ownership is lower than the Austin average, and many trips downtown are made on foot, by bicycle, or by scooter. The Downtown Austin Alliance manages streetscape improvements and safety ambassadors throughout the district.
Most daily errands in 78701 can be run on foot within the roughly 1.5-square-mile zip code. Whole Foods Market's flagship store on 5th and Lamar anchors grocery shopping, supplemented by convenience stores and delivery services. The Sixth Street corridor (divided into East, Dirty, and West Sixth) provides nightlife and live music venues including Esther's Follies and Maggie Mae's. The Second Street District has boutique retail and restaurants such as La Condesa, Irene's, and Trace. The Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail offers a 10-mile loop around Lady Bird Lake for running, cycling, and paddleboarding. Republic Square hosts the SFC Farmers' Market Downtown every Saturday, and Wooldridge Square hosts seasonal events. The Austin Central Library on Cesar Chavez, a six-story facility opened in 2017, provides event space, a rooftop garden, and free public programming.
Things to Do in Zip Code 78701
- Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail: 10-mile loop around Lady Bird Lake for running, cycling, and walking. Connects downtown to Zilker Park and East Austin.
- Sixth Street Entertainment District: Historic street lined with live music venues, bars, and restaurants, spanning the East, Dirty, and West Sixth Street sections.
- Texas State Capitol: 1888 Renaissance Revival building with free guided tours. Taller than the U.S. Capitol. Open daily to the public.
- Austin Central Library: Six-story public library on Cesar Chavez opened in 2017 with a rooftop garden, event spaces, and technology labs.
- Congress Avenue Bridge Bats: An estimated 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge at sunset from March through November — one of the largest urban bat colonies in North America.
Major Employers in Zip Code 78701
- State of Texas (Government): The Texas Capitol complex and state agency offices are concentrated along Congress Avenue and in the Capitol Complex north of the Capitol grounds.
- City of Austin (Government): Austin City Hall on Cesar Chavez Street houses the mayor's and council offices, the city manager's office, and municipal departments.
- Google Austin (Technology): Google's downtown offices are at Sail Tower (Block 185, 601 W. 2nd Street), which it began occupying in late 2025, and at the adjacent 500 W. 2nd Street.
- Meta (Facebook) (Technology): Meta leases office space in downtown Austin for engineering and operations staff.
Zip Code 78701 Schools
Austin ISD serves residents of 78701, with zoned campuses in adjacent neighborhoods — Mathews Elementary, O. Henry Middle School and Austin High School. No traditional public schools are located within downtown proper.
School District: Austin ISD
Public Schools
Pre-Schools
- Stepping Stone Schools Downtown - Licensed childcare and preschool on West 6th Street serving infants through pre-K.
Higher Education
- Austin Community College Rio Grande - Community college campus on 12th Street at the north edge of downtown offering associate degrees and workforce programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is zip code 78701?
78701 covers downtown Austin, bounded by I-35 (east), Lamar (west), MLK Boulevard (north), and Lady Bird Lake (south). It includes the Capitol, Sixth Street, and Rainey Street.
What do condos cost in downtown Austin?
Downtown's residential stock is almost entirely condominiums and loft conversions, in towers including The Independent, Four Seasons Residences and 70 Rainey. Current listing counts and the median price are shown on the Market Overview tab.
Are there grocery stores in downtown Austin?
The Whole Foods Market flagship on 5th and Lamar is the primary grocery store in 78701. Convenience stores and grocery delivery services supplement the limited retail options downtown.
Is downtown Austin walkable?
Downtown Austin is compact — about 1.5 square miles — with the Second Street District, Sixth Street, and Congress Avenue all accessible on foot. Capital Metro bus routes and the MetroRail Red Line serve the area.
What school district serves downtown Austin?
Austin ISD serves 78701 residents, with zoned schools in adjacent neighborhoods — Mathews Elementary, O. Henry Middle and Austin High School. No traditional public schools are within downtown proper. Pease Elementary, which served the area until it closed at the end of 2019-20, is being repurposed as an early childhood education center.
