By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News
The 78730 zip code, which includes River Place, Long Canyon, Westminster Glen and Glenlake, has seen a significant population growth which has far exceeded projections by the City of Austin.
In 2010, the 78730 zip code had a population of 7,022. That number was projected to increase to only 7,091 residents by 2020, according to the Delphi, Trends, and Imagine (DTI) Austin 2040 Population and Employment Forecast. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2009-13 American Community Survey, however, shows that the 78730 zip code already has a population of 8,916 residents.
The 78732 zip code, which includes Steiner Ranch, has a population of 15,097 residents, up from 14,588 residents in 2010. The zip code is projected to grow to 16,521 residents by 2020, according to DTI Austin.
The 78726 zip codes has a population of 13,181 residents, up from 12,710 residents in 2010. The zip code is projected to grow to 15,981 residents by 2020.
There are several factors contributing to the growth in population in Four Points according to local real estate agents.
“One of the primary reasons people move to the Four Points area is because of our schools,” said Rhonda Durrill, real estate agent with Avalar Real Estate. “They are some of the very best in Central Texas. Based on a recent ‘2014 & 2015 U.S. News and World Report,’ Vandegrift High School was one of only, four Central Texas high schools to receive a Gold medal as one of the Best High Schools in Texas. Since it’s such a great public high school, many of my clients request to be in the area that feeds into VHS.”
Even with the traffic issues and perceptions in Four Points and the rest of Austin, “if I have clients relocating to Austin with children, the first thing on their wish list is usually a great school,” Durrill said.
Gene Arant with real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty agrees that the high quality schools continue to be a huge factor in people moving to the Four Points area. “The schools — that’s always a driving force,” he said.
Arant attributes the majority of the growth specifically in 78730 to new apartment developments. The main “thing that’s happened is you’ve got all the new apartments.”
Durrill adds that in general, the homes in Four Points are relatively new and in good condition. “For many, when comparing the Westlake and Four Points areas, the amount of home you get for your money is worth the extra drive,” she said.
The beauty in the area also attracts people. “Rolling hills, lakes, rivers and perfectly manicured landscapes. The Four Points area has it all, schools, beautiful homes, and breathtaking landscape,” Durrill said.
Arant said most of the local homes are family oriented as far as the number of bedrooms. “Also, it’s a beautiful place to live, it’s very safe, you’ve got both lakes; it’s got a lot to offer,” he added.
Craig Smyser, real estate agent with RE/MAX Capital City, echoes similar thoughts. “The schools and family lifestyle are the two big reasons (people move to Four Points),” he said.
The Census released updated data in September as part of the 2014 American Community Survey, which looked at demographic data for cities with populations of at least 65,000. More specific, neighborhood-level data will be released in December.The Delphi, Trends, and Imagine Austin 2040 Population and Employment Forecast is the first long-range, small-polygon-based forecast to be collectively and collaboratively created by city departments for Austin following the release of Census 2010 data, according to information on the city of Austin website.
“American Community Survey statistics inform us of how communities evolve and change, allowing us to see the effects of everything from natural disasters to new laws and policies,” said Census Bureau Director John Thompson. “Each new year of statistics provides fresh information for the public to use and compare with the year before, helping to tell America’s story and that of communities from Boston to Honolulu and everywhere in between.”
Austin 4th fastest growing city in nation
Four Points is contributing to Austin being the fourth, fastest growing metro area in the nation among cities with populations of more than 100,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which released data in September as part of the 2014 American Community Survey.
Austin is the second fastest-growing metro area in Texas, coming in behind the Midland area, which grew by 7,747 residents to 163,470 residents in 2014 for the third-fastest growth rate in the nation of 4.97 percent.
The Austin area grew from 1,883,051 residents in 2013 to 1,943,299 residents in 2014, adding 60,248 residents for a growth rate of 3.2 percent. That equates to an average of 165 new Austin-area residents a day, including babies born here.
Travis County was the 42nd-fastest growing county in the U.S. in 2014, adding 30,191 residents and growing from a population of 1,120,954 in 2013 to 1,151,145.
Hays County south of Austin was the third-fastest growing county, by percentage, in the U.S. in 2014, according to the Census. Hays County added 8,999 residents, according to the data. Its population grew from 176,026 in 2013 to 185,025 in 2014, a growth rate of 5.11 percent.
Williamson County north of Austin was the 10th-fastest growing county in the U.S. in 2014. It added 18,236 residents and grew from a population of 471,014 in 2013 to 489,250, a growth rate of 3.87 percent.
Texas grew by 1.92 percent in 2014, adding 508,765 residents and growing from a population of 26,448,193 in 2013 to 26,956,958. Texas’ 1.92 percent growth rate tied it for the second-fastest growing U.S. state or territory with the District of Columbia, which added 12,444 residents in 2014, growing from 646,449 residents to 658,893 residents. Only North Dakota grew at a faster rate, 2.2 percent, adding 16,089 new residents in 2014 and growing from 723,393 residents to 739,482 residents.