Chris Galis of Realty Austin has helped client after client find a spot in Austin that feels like home regardless of the area from which they hail. While no two cities are exactly alike, neighborhoods often have quite a bit more in common than we realize. Gallis shows us how Dallas compares with it’s southern compatriot, acknowledging that these two rival cities have plenty similarities.

As Austin continues to grow and develop more tourist-attracting bastions of international commerce (i.e. F1’s Circuit of the Americas), the Austin real estate community emerging around this growth is becoming a full-fledged poster child for a healthy Texas housing market (which, much like Dallas, fared well during the housing bust in early 2008). Let’s take a look at a few comparable Austin and Dallas neighborhoods and what it is that makes them so attractive to their residents.

Highland Park, Dallas | Westlake, Austin

Dallas’ Highland Park neighborhood is infamous for the financial means of its residents. In 2010, the average price of a home in Highland Park was over $1 million, so the finer things in life are no stranger to your typical Highland Park resident. Likewise, Austin’s Westlake real estate features exquisite estates and homes, usually for the well-to-do members of Texas capitol city. The average home price in Westlake was also over $1 million a couple years ago.

Hyde Park, Austin | M Streets, Dallas

The Greenland Hills/M Streets in Dallas proper sits between Highland Park and Lakewood and features quaint tree-lined roads in close proximity to Dallas’ urban core. Hyde Park in Austin, TX is a similar historic neighborhood that features many early to midcentury homes along quiet streets. Homeowners in both neighborhoods have taken to expanding their existing homes, as larger space needs have become the norm. For professionals and families looking for the quintessential suburban residential lifestyle, M Streets and Hyde Park have it all.

Victory Park, Dallas | Warehouse District, Austin

If you’re looking for a hip urban setting, modern condos, and plenty of nightlife and entertainment choices, then Dallas’ Victory Park and Austin’ Warehouse District both provide plenty. In Victory Park, you can find top-notch shopping, entertainment in one of Dallas’ oldest, yet most modern neighborhood hot spots. Similarly, Austin’s Warehouse District features several modern, luxury high-rise Austin condos in close proximity to its infamous live music and nightlife districts. Both of these neighborhoods provide young professionals and others looking for a hip, urban setting a place to call home.

Austin’s Steiner Ranch | North Dallas

The suburban lifestyle is a way of life unto itself. The further from the urban core you get, neighborhoods and your commute to work tend to grow. North Dallas is the perfect candidate for such a lifestyle. As more and more development occurred in the late 20^th Century, Dallas residents moved north to one of North Dallas’ many neighborhoods that feature large model homes and planned developments. Likewise, Austin’ Steiner Ranch neighborhood is a self-subsistent, gated community with its own shopping centers, schools, and plenty of neighborhood amenities. Both sit a ways from Dallas and Austin’s economic centers.

 What do you think? Do these neighborhoods compare?