You search “apartments near St. David’s” and get a list of communities near one hospital. Sticker prices. Map pins. Maybe a commute time estimate based on 9 AM traffic.
Three problems with that.
First, St. David’s isn’t one hospital. It’s four, plus Heart Hospital of Austin. The medical center on E. 32nd, the south campus off Ben White, the north campus on MoPac near the Domain, and the Round Rock hospital. St. David’s HealthCare is the third-largest private employer in the Austin area, with more than 10,600 employees. A search result that only shows you apartments near one campus is leaving out three-quarters of the picture.
Second, sticker prices are lying to you right now. Austin’s rental market is oversupplied. CoStar reports that 65% of Austin apartment complexes offered some form of concession in the past year to attract tenants. More than 75% of the communities I profiled for this article are giving away 1 to 2.5 months of free rent. A community advertising $1,328 a month with 2 months free actually costs $1,107 after you spread that concession across your lease. A community down the street advertising $1,205 with zero concessions costs exactly $1,205. The apartment that looks cheaper on the website costs you $98 more per month. Nobody ranking by sticker price is showing you that.
Third — and this is the one nobody talks about. Healthcare workers on 12-hour shifts don’t commute in rush hour. You’re leaving at 6:30 AM or 6:30 PM. Austin’s traffic peaks at 7:30 AM and 5:30 PM. That means your actual commute is 30 to 40% shorter than what Google Maps shows at default settings. Communities that look “too far” for a 9-to-5 worker are perfectly reasonable on a 7-to-7 schedule.
I track pricing and concessions across over 1,000 Austin apartment communities. I’ve done 500+ in-person tours. I profiled 64 communities within commuting distance of all four St. David’s campuses and ranked every one by what you’ll actually pay per square foot. This is the analysis that doesn’t exist anywhere else. And it changes which apartment you should pick.
St. David’s Campuses: Where You’re Actually Working
St. David’s operates four hospitals across the Austin metro, plus Heart Hospital of Austin. Your apartment search depends on which one you report to and whether there’s any chance you’ll float between campuses.
| Campus | Address | Area | Key Commute Roads |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. David’s Medical Center | 919 E. 32nd St, Austin 78705 | Central Austin (near UT) | I-35, Lamar Blvd, 38th St |
| St. David’s South Austin | 901 W. Ben White Blvd, Austin 78704 | South Central | Ben White (Hwy 71), S. Lamar, MoPac |
| St. David’s North Austin | 12221 N. MoPac Expy, Austin 78758 | North Austin / Domain area | MoPac, Parmer Ln, Burnet Rd |
| St. David’s Round Rock | 2400 Round Rock Ave, Round Rock 78681 | Round Rock | I-35, US 79, A.W. Grimes |
| Heart Hospital of Austin | 3801 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin 78756 | Central/North Austin | Lamar Blvd, MoPac, 38th St |
Heart Hospital of Austin sits between the Medical Center and the North Austin campus. If you work there, the communities I profiled for both of those campuses are relevant, so check both ranking tables.
Here’s what changes your commute math: if you’re working 7-to-7 shifts (and most St. David’s clinical staff are), you’re not driving in rush hour. Austin’s traffic peaks hit around 7:30 AM and 5:30 PM. A day shift nurse leaving home at 6:15 AM and driving home at 7:15 PM misses the worst of both. Night shift is even better. 7 PM arrival is post-rush, 7 AM departure is before the morning peak builds.
What that means in practice: a community that Google Maps calls “22 minutes” from St. David’s North during rush hour is probably 13 or 14 minutes when you’re actually driving. That’s not a small difference. It opens up communities in Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Wells Branch that might look too far if you’re comparing commute times at 8:30 AM.
Cross-Campus Commute Times (at Shift Change, Not Rush Hour)
If you float between campuses or want flexibility for future transfers, here’s what the drives actually look like at 6:30 AM or 7:00 PM:
| From → To | Medical Center | South Austin | North Austin | Round Rock | Heart Hospital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Center | — | 12-15 min | 15-18 min | 25-30 min | 5-8 min |
| South Austin | 12-15 min | — | 20-25 min | 30-40 min | 15-18 min |
| North Austin | 15-18 min | 20-25 min | — | 12-18 min | 10-12 min |
| Round Rock | 25-30 min | 30-40 min | 12-18 min | — | 20-25 min |
| Heart Hospital | 5-8 min | 15-18 min | 10-12 min | 20-25 min | — |
If you float between campuses, this table shows why the MoPac and I-35 corridors are the most flexible home bases. North Austin communities give you reasonable access to three of five locations without a painful drive.
St. David’s is a system, and nurses move within it. PRN staff pick up shifts at different campuses. Permanent nurses get floated when census is high at another facility. If there’s any chance your assignment will shift, think about which communities give you a reasonable drive to at least two campuses.
How I Ranked These: Net Effective Rent, Not Sticker Price
Most apartment sites show the advertised rent and sort by distance. That worked when communities charged what they listed. It doesn’t work right now.
Austin’s rental market has way more empty apartments than it should. Over 30,000 new apartment units were delivered in the past year alone, pushing vacancy rates to nearly 13.8%, a multi-year high. Austin’s median rent has fallen more than 16% since 2021, one of the biggest drops in the country. Properties built in 2022 through 2024 are still leasing up. The result: aggressive concessions across all four St. David’s campus areas. Of the 64 communities I profiled, over 75% are running some form of free rent, gift card, or move-in deal. When three out of four properties are giving away rent, comparing sticker prices is comparing fiction.
The math I use:
Net Effective Rent = (Months You Pay ÷ Lease Term) × Monthly Rent
For communities stacking gift cards on top of free months, I calculate a “fully effective rent” that spreads the gift card across the lease too.
Here’s what that looks like across the four campuses, one example each:
| Community | Campus | Sticker Midpoint | Months Free | Gift Card | NER/Month | Fully Eff $/Sqft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texan 26 | E. 32nd St | $944 | 1.0 | $600 | $865 | $0.44 |
| Establishment | South Austin | $1,328 | 2.0 | $0 | $1,106 | $1.40 |
| Stone Oak at Parmer | North Austin | $1,588 | 2.5 | $0 | $1,258 | $1.12 |
| Lakeside at La Frontera | Round Rock | $1,342 | 1.5 | $0 | $1,174 | $1.11 |
Texan 26 advertises a $944 midpoint rent. After 1 month free and a $600 gift card spread across 12 months, the fully effective rent drops to $815 a month. That’s $0.44 per square foot. Meanwhile, communities near the same campus advertising $1,700 with no concessions sit at $1.80 or higher per square foot. The “cheaper” one isn’t always the one with the lower number on the website.
You can run your own numbers with our net effective rent calculator.
A Note on How I Built These Lists
I profiled communities within a reasonable commute of each campus that are professionally managed and work with apartment locators. The community pays me a referral fee from their marketing budget when I place a client, and your rent stays the same whether you use me or not. That’s how my service stays free. And I filtered for communities currently offering concessions or priced below the submarket median, because that’s where the value is right now. There are other communities near each campus that I didn’t include. Some because they don’t pay locator fees. Others because they weren’t competitive on value at the time I pulled this data. If you want the full picture for a specific campus, call me and I’ll walk you through everything available.
Concession Clawback: Read This Before You Sign
One warning about concessions: most require completing the full lease term. Break a 12-month lease at month 8 after getting 2.5 months free on a $1,588 apartment, and the community can claw back the prorated value of those free months. That could be $3,000+ on top of early termination fees. Concessions are real savings, but only if you stay the full term. If your assignment might change or you’re considering buying a house within the year, a shorter concession period means less financial risk if things shift.
The Year 2 Reality
These numbers are for Year 1. When your lease renews, you’re negotiating from the full advertised rate, not the concession rate. A nurse paying $1,231 net effective (after 2.5 months free on a $1,555 sticker) will face a renewal offer at or near $1,555. That’s a 26% effective increase. In this oversupplied market, some communities are offering renewal concessions too. But it’s not guaranteed. If you’re planning to stay in Austin long-term (and most permanent St. David’s staff do), look at both columns in the ranking tables: the net effective rate tells you your Year 1 cost, and the listed $/sqft tells you where you’ll start negotiating in Year 2.
Parking and Utility Costs the Tables Don’t Show
One more hidden cost: parking. Most communities on these lists include one surface lot spot for free. But covered parking or garage parking, which matters when it’s 105 degrees in August and your scrubs are melting before you get to the car, runs $50 to $150 a month at Class A communities. The value tier properties (B+/C class) generally include free surface parking without an upgrade fee. Ask before you sign.
Utilities are the other thing the tables don’t capture. Older buildings (pre-2010 construction) with standard insulation and aging HVAC systems typically run $100 to $150 more per month in electricity during Austin’s summer (June through September) compared to 2020+ construction with Energy Star appliances and modern insulation. That narrows the gap between the value tier and the midrange tier. A community at $1.12/sqft net effective plus $150 in summer utilities is closer to $1.25-$1.30 total. Still cheaper than most Class A options, but the spread is smaller than the rent numbers alone suggest.
That’s why I rank every community by net effective rent per square foot. It’s the only honest comparison when most of the market is running specials.
What Healthcare Workers Actually Earn and What That Means for Your Apartment Search
This is the section nobody else writes, and it’s the one that matters most if you’re not a physician.
St. David’s employs more than 10,600 people across its campuses. That workforce spans from attending surgeons making $300K to environmental services staff making $30K. The average Austin RN earns around $82,750 per year, with new grads starting closer to $73,000. Your apartment search is completely different at those two ends of the spectrum. And most of the workforce is closer to the lower end than the upper.
Here’s the math that matters. Most apartment communities require gross monthly income of 3 times the monthly rent. Some accept 2.5 times. That income multiplier is what determines which communities will even approve your application.
| Role | Typical Annual Salary | Monthly Gross | Max Rent at 3x | Max Rent at 2.5x |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attending physician | $200K-$400K+ | $16,667-$33,333 | $5,556-$11,111 | Any community |
| Experienced RN (5+ yrs) | $70K-$90K | $5,833-$7,500 | $1,944-$2,500 | $2,333-$3,000 |
| New grad RN | $55K-$65K | $4,583-$5,417 | $1,528-$1,806 | $1,833-$2,167 |
| Surgical / rad tech | $45K-$60K | $3,750-$5,000 | $1,250-$1,667 | $1,500-$2,000 |
| LVN | $42K-$52K | $3,500-$4,333 | $1,167-$1,444 | $1,400-$1,733 |
| CNA / patient care tech | $30K-$38K | $2,500-$3,167 | $833-$1,056 | $1,000-$1,267 |
| Environmental services / dietary | $28K-$34K | $2,333-$2,833 | $778-$944 | $933-$1,133 |
Look at the CNA column. At 3x income, a CNA making $34K qualifies for rent up to $944 a month. At sticker prices, that narrows the field to a handful of communities across all four campuses. But after concessions? Stone Oak at Parmer drops from a $1,097 starting rent to an effective $869. Lakeside at La Frontera drops from $942 to $824. Madison Northridge drops from $850 to $779. Concessions don’t just save money for healthcare workers at these income levels. They unlock communities that would otherwise auto-decline on income ratio.
And here’s something most apartment sites won’t tell you: not every community requires 3x. Some accept 2.5x income, which pushes that CNA’s max rent from $944 to $1,133. I know which communities on each of these campus lists accept the lower multiplier. That single difference can double the number of communities where you’ll get approved.
The Roommate Strategy
If your income puts you below the $1,000/month rent threshold, splitting a two-bedroom with a coworker is the most practical path. The E. 32nd campus has the most roommate-friendly inventory. Texan 26 offers 2-7 bedroom layouts built for roommates, and Miller Square goes up to 4 bedrooms. But on the other campus lists, look at communities with 2-3 bedroom floor plans in the value tier: Lakeside at La Frontera (Round Rock), Stone Oak at Parmer (North Austin), and The Garrison (South Austin) all have 2-3 bedroom layouts where a split brings individual costs under $700-$800 a month.
If your income is tight for the communities near your campus, call me at 512-320-4599. I know which properties accept 2.5x income and which ones work with third-party guarantees like Jetty or TheGuarantors. That call takes five minutes and could double your options.
For physicians and experienced RNs: you qualify everywhere. Your search is about finding the best deal, not getting approved. The ranking tables below show you where the best deals are near each campus so you’re not overpaying because a leasing site showed you the closest pin on the map.
One more income note. If you’re a new hire who hasn’t started yet, most communities accept an offer letter from St. David’s as income verification. You don’t need to wait for your first paystub. Ask the leasing office. If they hesitate, call me. I know which communities handle pre-employment verification smoothly and which ones make it complicated.
Use our rent affordability calculator to find your exact range based on your gross income.
St. David’s Medical Center: E. 32nd St (Central Austin): 17 Communities Ranked
All pricing as of June 2026.
The main campus sits in Central Austin near UT, which means two things for your apartment search. Surrounding neighborhoods (East Austin, Mueller, Hyde Park, Downtown) have dense apartment inventory with strong transit access and walkability. But Central Austin commands higher rents than the suburban campuses, and the nearby communities range from a 1970s renovation at $1.04/sqft to a downtown high-rise at $3.65/sqft. The spread is the widest of any campus.
Communities near this campus are also within 10-15 minutes of Dell Seton Medical Center, Dell Children’s Medical Center, and UT Health Austin. If your household has two healthcare workers at different systems, this is the most flexible campus area.
Commute reality on a 7-to-7 schedule: I-35 through this stretch is bad even off-peak, but Lamar Blvd and the East Austin grid are manageable at 6:30 AM. Most East Austin communities are under 10 minutes from the hospital at shift change times.
| Rank | Community | Class | Built/Reno | Listed $/Sqft | Months Free | Gift Card | Fully Eff $/Sqft | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texan 26 | A- | 2014/2021 | $0.51 | 1.0 | $600 | $0.44 | $779-$1,109 |
| 2 | Miller Square | C | 1971/2017 | $1.13 | 1.0 | — | $1.04 | $799-$1,599 |
| 3 | M Station | B+ | 2011 | $1.46 | 2.0 | — | $1.22 | $1,065-$1,725 |
| 4 | The Jordan at Mueller | A- | 2019 | $1.26 | 0 | — | $1.26 | $1,155-$1,530 |
| 5 | Platform | A | 2017 | $1.64 | 1.5 | — | $1.44 | $363-$2,697 |
| 6 | Alma Cherrywood | C- | 1969/2009 | $1.94 | 0 | $750 | $1.86 | $999-$1,950 |
| 7 | Sabina | A- | 2014 | $2.12 | 1.0 | — | $1.94 | $1,335-$2,765 |
| 8 | The Rail | A | 2022 | $2.32 | 2.0 | — | $1.94 | $950-$2,395 |
| 9 | MLK Highline | A | 2022 | $2.04 | 0 | — | $2.04 | $1,275-$2,150 |
| 10 | Elan East | A- | 2014 | $2.18 | 0 | — | $2.18 | $1,549-$2,511 |
| 11 | The Emma Browning | A | 2025 | $2.73 | 2.0 | — | $2.27 | $1,449-$3,299 |
| 12 | Avenir | A+ | 2021 | $2.87 | 2.0 | $500 | $2.36 | $1,753-$4,372 |
| 13 | Rivette Tower | A | 2024 | $2.36 | 0 | — | $2.36 | $1,219-$4,888 |
| 14 | Camino Flats | C | 1987/2008 | $2.41 | 0 | — | $2.41 | $1,325-$3,199 |
| 15 | AMLI at Mueller | A- | 2014 | $2.62 | 0 | — | $2.62 | $1,742-$3,078 |
| 16 | Aura Thirty2 | A | 2020 | $3.03 | 0.5 | — | $2.90 | $1,826-$3,635 |
| 17 | The Waller | A+ | 2022 | $4.75 | 2.8 | — | $3.65 | $2,031-$10,230 |
A few things jump out. The top five range from $0.44 to $1.44 per square foot, a massive value gap below the rest of the list. Then there’s a cluster from $1.86 to $2.41 in the midrange, and a premium tier above $2.60 for physicians and senior staff who want new construction downtown.
Texan 26 (#1) · 1009 W 26th St, Austin 78705. A-, 2014 build with 2021 renovation. 2-7 bedrooms, $779-$1,109. Currently offering 1 month free plus a $600 gift card (expires 9/5/2026). Fully effective: $815/mo ($0.44/sqft). That per-square-foot number is the lowest on any campus list in this article because the unit sizes are large (885-2,800 sqft. These are multi-bedroom shared units designed for the UT market). Fair warning: this is student-adjacent housing. If you’re a night shift nurse who needs quiet at 2 PM on a Thursday, the UT Campus submarket may not be your best fit. But for day shift workers splitting rent with a roommate, the math is hard to beat. No published rating.
Miller Square (#2) · 918 E 40th St, Austin 78751. C class, 1971 build with 2017 renovation. Studios to 4-bedrooms, $799-$1,599. Running 1 month free. Net effective: $1,099/mo ($1.04/sqft). This is the budget pick for this campus. The C class rating means older bones, thinner walls, and builder-grade finishes even post-renovation. But it’s one of the only communities near this campus where a CNA or patient care tech making $34K can qualify at 3x income on the lower-priced units. Rating: 3.6.
M Station (#3) · 2906 E MLK Jr Blvd, Austin 78702. B+, built 2011. 1-3 bedrooms, $1,065-$1,725. Two months free right now. Net effective: $1,162/mo ($1.22/sqft). Strong midrange pick with a 4.0 rating. The 2 months free drops a solid B+ property below several Class A communities on a per-square-foot basis. East Austin location means a quick commute to the Medical Center via 7th or 12th Street. One important detail: M Station is affordable housing managed by Foundation Communities with income caps, not just minimums. A single person can’t earn more than $74,960 (80% AMI) to qualify. Two-person households cap at $85,680. That means CNAs, LVNs, and techs making under $55K are a great fit. New grad RNs at $55K-$65K may qualify. Experienced RNs at $75K+ will likely be over the limit. Check the qualifications page before applying.
Platform (#5) · 2823 E MLK Jr Blvd, Austin 78702. Class A, built 2017. Studios to 2-bedrooms, $363-$2,697. Running 6 weeks free. Net effective: $1,339/mo ($1.44/sqft). The $363 studio price catches your eye, and it should. That’s one of the lowest entry points on any campus list. Studios start at 380 sqft, which is tight. But for a single healthcare worker who prioritizes proximity and cost over space, Platform puts you in a Class A building at a price point that works on a new grad RN salary. Rating: 3.6.
The Rail (#8) · 2921 E 17th St, Austin 78702. Class A, built 2022. Studios to 2-bedrooms, $950-$2,395. Two months free. Net effective: $1,394/mo ($1.94/sqft). This is where new construction starts on this campus list. The 2022 build means modern insulation, solid-core doors, and lower utility bills than the older properties above it in the rankings. If you’re working night shift and need daytime quiet, the construction quality matters more than the per-square-foot premium. Rating: 4.0.
For more apartment options in these neighborhoods, check our full East Austin apartments guide and Central Austin guide.
St. David’s South Austin: Ben White Blvd: 12 Communities Ranked
All pricing as of June 2026.
The South Austin campus sits at Ben White and MoPac, which puts it in the heart of Austin’s most affordable rental corridor. Ten of 12 communities I profiled here were built between 1970 and 1987. Most have been renovated. None are new construction luxury. This is the campus where budget-constrained healthcare workers have the most options.
Ascension Seton Southwest is about 10 minutes west on Ben White/71, so if your household has a partner working at that system, this area covers both commutes.
If you’re a CNA, LVN, or tech making under $50K, this campus list has more qualifying communities than any other St. David’s location. Eight of 12 come in under $1.65/sqft net effective.
| Rank | Community | Class | Built/Reno | Listed $/Sqft | Months Free | Gift Card | Fully Eff $/Sqft | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Garrison | C | 1970/2023 | $1.28 | 0.5 | — | $1.23 | $725-$1,510 |
| 2 | Establishment | C | 1972/2013 | $1.68 | 2.0 | — | $1.40 | $1,000-$1,655 |
| 3 | Stoney Ridge | C+ | 1984/2020 | $1.81 | 2.0 | — | $1.51 | $1,075-$1,500 |
| 4 | The Arts at South Austin | C | 1984/2009 | $1.52 | 0 | — | $1.52 | $1,054-$1,358 |
| 5 | 44 South | A | 2020 | $1.98 | 2.5 | — | $1.57 | $1,033-$2,240 |
| 6 | Bainbridge | C- | 1971/2002 | $1.60 | 0 | — | $1.60 | $819-$1,847 |
| 7 | Prospect | A | 2023 | $1.99 | 2.3 | — | $1.60 | $963-$2,515 |
| 8 | Alma Soco | C- | 1979/2010 | $1.72 | 0 | $500 | $1.65 | $799-$1,150 |
| 9 | Sundance | C | 1987/2010 | $1.80 | 0 | — | $1.80 | $955-$1,455 |
| 10 | Bishop Momo | A | 2024 | $2.19 | 2.0 | — | $1.82 | $1,029-$3,045 |
| 11 | Oak Grove | C- | 1979/2015 | $1.85 | 0 | — | $1.85 | $1,150-$1,800 |
| 12 | Old South Austin | C | 1985/2013 | $2.18 | 1.0 | — | $2.00 | $1,175-$1,500 |
Notice the pattern: the top three are all C or C+ class properties from the 1970s and 1980s with renovations, running 0.5 to 2 months free. The only Class A communities (44 South, Prospect, Bishop Momo) are running 2+ months of concessions to compete with the older, cheaper inventory around them.
The Garrison (#1) · 1801 Fortview Rd, Austin 78704. C class, 1970 build with a 2023 renovation. Studios to 3-bedrooms, $725-$1,510. Running half a month free plus waived admin fee. Net effective: $1,071/mo ($1.23/sqft). The 2023 renovation is the most recent reno on this list, which helps offset the 1970 bones. Starting rent of $725 is one of the lowest across all four campuses. A CNA making $30K ($2,500/month gross) qualifies at the 2.5x income threshold this property uses. Most other communities require 3x. Rating: 4.1.
Establishment (#2) · 3501 S 1st St, Austin 78704. C class, 1972 build with 2013 renovation. 1-2 bedrooms, $1,000-$1,655. Two months free. Net effective: $1,106/mo ($1.40/sqft). The 2 months free brings this solidly into the affordable zone for new grad RNs and techs. Older renovation (2013) means finishes aren’t as fresh as The Garrison, but the concession makes the math work. Rating: 3.9.
Prospect (#7) · 122 Sheraton Ave, Austin 78745. Class A, built 2023. Studios to 2-bedrooms, $963-$2,515. Up to 10 weeks free. Net effective: $1,404/mo ($1.60/sqft). Here’s the contrarian math on this campus. Prospect is a 2023 Class A build netting to $1.60/sqft. Sundance (#9) is a 1987 C class property with zero concessions at $1.80/sqft. You’re paying more per square foot for a 40 year old building with no special than for a brand new Class A with 10 weeks free. In any normal market, that wouldn’t happen. Right now, it does. Rating: 4.2.
Alma Soco (#8) · 126 W Alpine Rd, Austin 78704. C-, 1979 build with 2010 renovation. Studios and 1-bedrooms only, $799-$1,150. Running a $500 gift card on look and lease (expires 8/11/2026). Fully effective: $933/mo ($1.65/sqft). Small units. The midpoint is just 566 sqft. But at $799 starting rent, this is one of the few communities where environmental services and dietary staff can qualify without a guarantor. Limited to studios and 1-beds. Rating: 3.2.
For more options in this area, see our full South Austin apartments guide.
St. David’s North Austin: MoPac / Domain Area: 24 Communities Ranked
All pricing as of June 2026.
The North Austin campus sits right off MoPac at Braker Lane, which puts it in the middle of Austin’s densest apartment submarket. Twenty-four communities within commuting distance. More inventory, more aggressive concessions, and more variety than any other campus.
This is also the campus closest to Heart Hospital of Austin on North Lamar. If you work at Heart Hospital, these rankings apply to you too. Most of these communities are about the same drive to both. This corridor also serves workers at Ascension Seton Williamson (about 15 min north) and Baylor Scott & White in Round Rock.
Concessions here are aggressive. Twenty of 24 communities are running some form of deal. Several are stacking 2.5 months free. A few are adding gift cards on top. When that many properties are competing for tenants, the sticker price on the website is a starting point, not a final number.
| Rank | Community | Class | Built/Reno | Listed $/Sqft | Months Free | Gift Card | Fully Eff $/Sqft | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stone Oak at Parmer | B+ | 2001/2017 | $1.42 | 2.5 | — | $1.12 | $1,097-$2,080 |
| 2 | Bridge at Waters Park | B- | 1996/2024 | $1.41 | 2.0 | — | $1.18 | $944-$1,845 |
| 3 | Madison Northridge | B- | 1985/2019 | $1.31 | 1.0 | — | $1.20 | $850-$1,350 |
| 4 | DK Riata | A | 2017 | $1.39 | 1.5 | — | $1.21 | $1,295-$2,262 |
| 5 | Twelve100 | B | 1997/2021 | $1.45 | 1.5 | — | $1.27 | $944-$1,979 |
| 6 | The Wayman | C+ | 1995/2014 | $1.42 | 1.0 | — | $1.30 | $981-$1,530 |
| 7 | Radius at the Domain | C+ | 1995/2007 | $1.59 | 2.0 | — | $1.32 | $919-$1,844 |
| 8 | Twenty15 | C | 1985/2015 | $1.51 | 1.5 | — | $1.32 | $879-$1,364 |
| 9 | The Kelsey at Scofield Farm | A | 2024 | $1.66 | 2.5 | — | $1.32 | $1,095-$2,015 |
| 10 | Melrose Trail | B- | 1986/2016 | $1.49 | 1.0 | — | $1.37 | $835-$1,325 |
| 11 | Broadstone North ATX | A | 2023 | $1.94 | 2.3 | — | $1.57 | $1,299-$2,327 |
| 12 | Lenox Grand | A | 2023 | $1.98 | 2.5 | — | $1.57 | $1,289-$2,545 |
| 13 | Highline | A | 2016 | $1.90 | 2.0 | — | $1.58 | $1,285-$2,449 |
| 14 | Alloy | A | 2024 | $2.06 | 2.5 | — | $1.63 | $1,433-$3,017 |
| 15 | Alexan Braker Pointe | A | 2023 | $2.15 | 2.5 | — | $1.70 | $1,575-$2,912 |
| 16 | Gallery at Domain | A- | 2015 | $2.03 | 1.5 | — | $1.77 | $1,015-$2,400 |
| 17 | Magnolia Scofield Ridge | A | 2024 | $2.24 | 2.5 | — | $1.77 | $1,199-$2,499 |
| 18 | The Monterra | A- | 2014 | $1.78 | 0 | — | $1.78 | $1,215-$2,042 |
| 19 | The Edition | A | 2024 | $2.26 | 2.0 | — | $1.88 | $1,414-$2,904 |
| 20 | Bridge at The Kenzie | A- | 2014 | $2.18 | 1.5 | — | $1.91 | $1,285-$3,326 |
| 21 | Modera EaDo | A | 2023 | $2.40 | 2.0 | — | $2.00 | $1,376-$3,307 |
| 22 | Flatiron Domain | A | 2020 | $2.82 | 0 | — | $2.82 | $1,653-$5,745 |
| 23 | The Watson | A | 2026 | $3.41 | 0 | — | $3.41 | $1,230-$7,950 |
| 24 | The Bowen | A+ | 2021 | $5.08 | 2.0 | — | $4.24 | $1,975-$13,495 |
The top 10 are all under $1.37/sqft net effective, and they span everything from a 1985 C class renovation to a brand new 2024 Class A. That’s what concessions do in a market with this many empty units. Property age and class matter less than which specials are running.
Stone Oak at Parmer (#1) · 5400 W Parmer Ln, Austin 78727. B+, 2001 build with 2017 renovation. 1-3 bedrooms, $1,097-$2,080. Currently offering 2.5 months free. Net effective: $1,258/mo ($1.12/sqft). Best overall value near this campus, same community that tops the rankings in our Apple campus article for the same reason. Arboretum location puts you 8-10 minutes from St. David’s North at shift change. Renovation is solid but not flashy. Rating: 3.1.
Madison Northridge (#3) · 12001 Metric Blvd, Austin 78758. B-, 1985 build with 2019 renovation. 1-2 bedrooms, $850-$1,350. One month free. Net effective: $1,008/mo ($1.20/sqft). The $850 starting rent is the lowest on this campus list. An LVN making $45K qualifies here at 3x income. The B- class means you’re getting functional finishes, not Instagram-ready ones. But if your priority is keeping housing costs low so you can pay down student loans or save for a house, this is the community to look at. Rating: 3.9.
The Kelsey at Scofield Farm (#9) · 1501 W Howard Ln, Austin 78753. Class A, brand new 2024 construction. 1-3 bedrooms, $1,095-$2,015. Running 2.5 months free. Net effective: $1,231/mo ($1.32/sqft). A 2024 Class A build netting to $1.32/sqft, cheaper than 14 older communities on this same list. The 2.5 months free on a brand new property is aggressive. For night shift workers, the new construction means better soundproofing, modern insulation, and lower utility costs. Rating: 3.2.
Lenox Grand (#12) · 13505 Burnet Rd, Austin 78758. Class A, 2023 build. 1-3 bedrooms, $1,289-$2,545. Two and a half months free. Net effective: $1,518/mo ($1.57/sqft). Burnet Road gives you walkable access to restaurants and bars south toward the Domain and North Loop. Good pick for experienced RNs and senior staff who want Class A quality near dining and nightlife without paying Domain prices. Rating: 4.5, one of the highest-rated communities on any campus list.
The Monterra (#18) · 13401 Legendary Dr, Austin 78729. A-, built 2014. 1-3 bedrooms, $1,215-$2,042. Zero concessions. NER: $1,628/mo ($1.78/sqft). This is the comparison that proves why running the concession math matters. The Monterra charges full price. Highline (#13), on the same street in the same submarket, is a newer 2016 build running 2 months free at $1.58/sqft. On a comparable 1,000 sqft unit, Highline saves you roughly $200 a month. That’s $2,400 over a year. Same neighborhood, similar commute, better deal. The Monterra has a 4.1 rating and stable management, which counts for something. But you’re paying for it.
About the premium tier (#22-24): Flatiron Domain, The Watson, and The Bowen are luxury high-rises priced for physicians and hospital administrators. The Bowen at $4.24/sqft net effective after 2 months free tells you how high the base rents are. That’s $6,446 a month after the concession. They’re on the list so you can see them. If you’re an attending making $300K+, they’re worth touring. For everyone else, focus on ranks 1 through 15.
Want to know which of these specials are actually available this week? Call me at 512-320-4599 or text 512-865-4672. I’ve toured hundreds of apartments across North Austin. I can tell you which ones match your budget and commute before you waste a day off driving around.
For more options in this area, see our full North Austin apartments guide.
St. David’s Round Rock: 11 Communities Ranked
All pricing as of June 2026.
The Round Rock campus sits on the east side of town, off I-35 and US 79. Different rental market than Austin proper. Fewer communities overall, but solid value, especially for healthcare workers who want space, lower costs, and a suburban pace.
Baylor Scott & White Round Rock and Ascension Seton Williamson are both within 10-15 minutes of most communities on this list, so dual-healthcare households have options here too.
Round Rock’s traffic is lighter than Austin’s, so the 7-to-7 shift advantage is less dramatic here. That said, if you ever float to St. David’s North Austin, the off-peak drive is 15-18 minutes via MoPac or I-35. Manageable. The Round Rock campus is the hardest one to commute from to the other three St. David’s locations, so if cross-campus flexibility matters to you, this may not be the best home base.
Several Cedar Park communities made this list. Cedar Park sits between Round Rock and North Austin on 183/183A, giving you reasonable commute access to both the Round Rock and North Austin campuses.
| Rank | Community | Class | Built/Reno | Listed $/Sqft | Months Free | Gift Card | Fully Eff $/Sqft | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lakeside at La Frontera | B+ | 2001/2022 | $1.27 | 1.5 | — | $1.11 | $942-$1,741 |
| 2 | Ventana Oaks | B- | 1990/2022 | $1.62 | 2.5 | — | $1.28 | $1,089-$2,360 |
| 3 | Broadstone Frontera Ridge | A | 2023 | $1.77 | 2.5 | $1,500 | $1.28 | $1,197-$2,616 |
| 4 | Latitude at Presidio | A | 2017 | $1.67 | 2.5 | — | $1.33 | $1,137-$2,439 |
| 5 | Derby Park | C | 1984/2008 | $1.49 | 1.0 | — | $1.36 | $880-$1,205 |
| 6 | Sycamore Springs | B- | 1996/2019 | $1.57 | 1.5 | — | $1.37 | $1,091-$2,131 |
| 7 | La Frontera Square | B+ | 2009/2015 | $1.60 | 1.0 | — | $1.47 | $945-$1,970 |
| 8 | The Wyatt | A | 2024 | $1.99 | 2.3 | $1,000 | $1.53 | $1,391-$2,788 |
| 9 | Rock 35 | C | 1984/2015 | $1.75 | 1.0 | — | $1.61 | $1,159-$1,601 |
| 10 | The Falls Round Rock | B | 1995/2019 | $1.65 | 0 | — | $1.65 | $1,060-$1,865 |
| 11 | Foxfire | C+ | 1983/2020 | $1.85 | 0 | — | $1.85 | $1,399-$1,714 |
The entire list stays under $1.85/sqft. No luxury high-rises out here, no $4,000+ penthouses. Round Rock is where your housing dollar goes the furthest.
Lakeside at La Frontera (#1) · 941 Hesters Crossing Rd, Round Rock 78681. B+, 2001 build with 2022 renovation. 1-3 bedrooms, $942-$1,741. Currently offering 50% off 3 months. Net effective: $1,174/mo ($1.11/sqft). The La Frontera development gives you walkable access to restaurants and retail. Fresh 2022 renovation. Lowest net effective per square foot of any community across all four campus lists (tied with Stone Oak at Parmer for North Austin). Rating: 3.1.
Broadstone Frontera Ridge (#3) · 1300 Louis Henna Blvd, Round Rock 78681. Class A, 2023 build. 1-3 bedrooms, $1,197-$2,616. Running 2.5 months free AND a $1,500 gift card. Fully effective: $1,384/mo ($1.28/sqft). Best total concession package on this campus by a wide margin. The $1,500 gift card on top of 2.5 months free puts this 2023 Class A build at the same price tier as renovated B- properties from the 1990s. If you’re an experienced RN making $75K who wants new construction without overpaying, this is the pick. No published rating yet.
Derby Park (#5) · 1200 S Mays St, Round Rock 78664. C class, 1984 build with 2008 renovation. 1-2 bedrooms, $880-$1,205. One month free. Net effective: $956/mo ($1.36/sqft). The budget option. At $880 starting rent (net effective ~$807), a CNA making $32K qualifies at 3x income. The 2008 renovation is aging. It’s 18 years old now, and the C class means you’re getting basic finishes. But it’s one of the only communities near any St. David’s campus where support staff can qualify without a guarantor or a roommate. Rating: 3.7.
The Wyatt (#8) · 7501 Pearson Ranch Rd, Round Rock 78665. Class A, brand new 2024 construction. 1-3 bedrooms, $1,391-$2,788. Ten weeks free plus a $1,000 gift card if you apply within 48 hours of touring (look and lease). Fully effective: $1,604/mo ($1.53/sqft). Same look-and-lease pressure deal I covered in our Dell campus article. The 48-hour window is real. Don’t tour casually. Do your research first and show up ready to apply if you like it. If the pressure feels uncomfortable, ask about the standard concession without the gift card. It’s usually still available. No published rating yet.
Travel Nurses: Your Apartment Search Is Different
If you’re on a 13-week travel contract at any St. David’s campus, the math above still matters, but your priorities are different from permanent staff.
Your goal is maximizing the gap between your housing stipend and your actual rent. Travel nurse housing stipends in Austin typically run $1,800 to $2,500 per week depending on the agency and specialty. That’s $7,800 to $10,833 a month, and it’s tax-free. Every dollar you don’t spend on housing, you keep. A permanent RN optimizes for the best apartment within their budget. You optimize for the cheapest acceptable apartment. Period.
That changes which communities to target. The value tier picks on each campus list (The Garrison at $1,071 effective, Madison Northridge at $1,008, Derby Park at $956, Lakeside at La Frontera at $1,174) aren’t just “budget options.” For a travel nurse, they’re how you keep more of your stipend. That difference between a $1,000/month apartment and a $1,600/month apartment is $7,200 over a 13-week contract that you keep tax-free.
The lease problem. Standard apartment leases run 12 months. Your contract is 13 weeks. That’s a mismatch. Some communities offer short-term leases (3-6 months), but they typically charge a $100-$300 monthly premium over the 12-month rate. Others won’t go below 7 or 8 months. I know which communities on each of these lists offer flexible terms and what the premium looks like. Call me before you start calling leasing offices. I can narrow 64 options to 5 in one conversation.
Furnished vs. unfurnished: for a single 13-week contract, furnished usually wins. The hassle and cost of furnishing and unfurnishing an apartment in 3 months rarely makes sense. But if you’re chaining multiple Austin contracts back to back, locking in an unfurnished 12-month lease at a deep concession rate and buying basic furniture could save you thousands over the year compared to paying the short-term premium every quarter.
Cross-campus flexibility matters even more for you. Your next contract might be at a different St. David’s campus. Signing a lease near Round Rock only to get offered your next 13-week assignment at the Medical Center on E. 32nd leaves you with a 35-minute commute or a lease break. Communities in North Austin along the MoPac or I-35 corridor give you reasonable access to three of the four campuses without moving.
Travel nurses on tight timelines: call me at 512-320-4599. I work with healthcare staffing agencies and know which communities process applications fastest. I can have options matched to your campus assignment within 24 hours. Learn more about our relocation services.
Night Shift Workers: What to Look For
If you’re on 7 PM to 7 AM shifts, your apartment needs to do one thing well during the day: let you sleep. Everything else is secondary.
Building construction matters more than amenities. Newer builds (2016 and later) have better soundproofing between units. Solid-core doors, double-pane windows, concrete between floors instead of wood framing. On the campus ranking tables, you can sort by build year to find these. Anything built 2016 or later is worth prioritizing if daytime quiet is your top concern.
Unit position within the building matters too. Top-floor units eliminate overhead foot traffic. Interior-facing units avoid street noise from Lamar, MoPac, or Ben White. Ask the leasing office which units face away from the parking lot. You don’t want car doors and engines at 8 AM outside your bedroom window.
Watch out for community location details that don’t show up on apartment websites. A unit backing up to an elementary school means playground noise from 10 AM to 2 PM. A community adjacent to an active construction site (and there are plenty in North Austin right now) means jackhammering at 7 AM. West-facing bedrooms get hammered with afternoon sun, making the room hotter and brighter during your sleep hours. East-facing or north-facing units stay cooler and darker.
The community pool that’s 30 feet from your building sounds great until you’re trying to sleep at 1 PM on a Saturday in July with kids splashing and music playing. Ask the leasing office, or better yet ask me, which buildings in a community are farthest from the pool and common areas.
What St. David’s Workers Need to Know Before Applying
Here’s something working in your favor that most healthcare workers don’t realize: you’re the ideal apartment applicant. Stable W-2 income from a major hospital system. Recession-proof employment. Consistent pay history. Property managers love healthcare workers because you represent low turnover risk. You’re not going to get laid off in a tech downturn and break your lease at month 4.
That means the screening process should be smooth for most St. David’s employees. Here’s what each property class typically requires. For a deeper breakdown of how credit scores affect your apartment options in Austin, I wrote a full guide on that:
| Property Class | Typical Credit Minimum | Income Requirement | Deposit Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A (2016-2024) | 600-650+ | 3x monthly rent | $0-500 (often waived with 700+ credit) |
| Class B+ / B | 550-600 | 2.5-3x monthly rent | $200-800 |
| Class C+ / C | 500-550 | 2.5x monthly rent | $300-1,000 |
A few specifics worth knowing:
St. David’s employees are on our employer discounts page. That page lists communities offering discounts, waived fees, or reduced deposits for employees at specific Austin employers. Not every community participates, and the deals change. But it’s worth checking before you apply. A waived admin fee ($150-$300) or reduced deposit saves real money on move-in day. I keep that page updated, so what you see is current.
New hires who haven’t started yet: most communities accept an offer letter from St. David’s as income verification. You don’t need to wait for your first paystub. Some Class A communities with strong credit (700+) skip income documentation entirely.
Travel nurse income documentation: your staffing agency contract letter works as income verification at most communities. Some properties want to see the full contract showing weekly pay and assignment length. Others just want a letter on agency letterhead confirming the assignment. I know which communities handle travel nurse paperwork smoothly and which ones make it a headache.
If you DO have a screening issue: a broken lease on your record, credit below 550, or a background item, that changes which communities to target. Healthcare workers with screening issues are in a better position than most because that steady W-2 from St. David’s counts for a lot with property managers. But you need to know which management companies on these lists will actually do an individual review versus which ones auto-decline. That’s a conversation worth having before you spend $50-$75 on an application fee at the wrong property.
Screening criteria shown here are typical ranges. Actual approval requirements vary by property and are determined solely by each community’s management. All housing must comply with Fair Housing laws.
Frequently Asked Questions: Apartments Near St. David’s Hospitals
What ZIP codes are near each St. David’s campus? St. David’s Medical Center (E. 32nd St) is in 78705. Nearby apartment ZIP codes include 78751, 78722, 78702, and 78701. St. David’s South Austin is in 78704, with apartments in 78704, 78745, and 78741. St. David’s North Austin is in 78758, near 78759, 78727, 78729, and 78753. St. David’s Round Rock is in 78681, with options in 78664, 78665, and 78613 (Cedar Park). Heart Hospital of Austin is in 78756.
Which St. David’s campus has the cheapest apartments nearby? Round Rock and South Austin have the lowest overall net effective rents. Round Rock’s cheapest option (Lakeside at La Frontera) nets to $1.11/sqft. South Austin’s cheapest (The Garrison) nets to $1.23/sqft. The E. 32nd St campus has the widest range. Texan 26 nets to $0.44/sqft due to large shared units with aggressive concessions, but the next cheapest is Miller Square at $1.04/sqft. North Austin has the most inventory and the most aggressive concessions, with 10 communities under $1.37/sqft.
Can I walk or bike to any St. David’s campus? The E. 32nd St Medical Center has the best walkability. Sabina, Aura Thirty2, and Camino Flats are all within a mile. The other three campuses are designed for drivers. Walk scores across North Austin, South Austin along Ben White, and Round Rock are low. If going without a car matters to you, focus on the E. 32nd St campus list.
Do any apartments near St. David’s offer healthcare worker discounts? Yes. St. David’s employees are listed on our employer discounts page, which tracks communities offering discounts, waived fees, or reduced deposits for employees at specific Austin employers. Beyond employer-specific deals, the concessions on these lists (1 to 2.5 months free, gift cards, waived deposits) are available to everyone. And working through me, I can often secure additional fee waivers that aren’t posted publicly.
Are there furnished apartments for travel nurses near St. David’s? Some communities offer furnished corporate housing units at a premium. Others partner with furniture rental companies. For 13-week contracts, furnished corporate housing or extended-stay options are usually more practical than signing a standard lease and buying furniture. I work with travel nurse staffing agencies and can match you with communities that handle short-term leases near your specific campus assignment. See our relocation services page for more details.
Which apartments near St. David’s accept short-term leases? Most communities prefer 12-month leases and charge a premium ($100-$300/month) for shorter terms. Some won’t go below 7 or 8 months. A handful offer 3-month and 6-month options, especially newer communities still leasing up. The short-term availability changes constantly. A community offering 3-month leases in June may not offer them in September once they’ve filled enough units. Call me at 512-320-4599 for what’s available right now near your campus.
Can I get an apartment near St. David’s with bad credit? Yes. Several B+ and C class communities on each campus list work with credit scores in the 500-599 range, especially with strong income and no other screening issues. If you have a broken lease or eviction on top of credit issues, I can match you with the specific communities that accept your profile. See our full guide to bad credit apartments in Austin for how screening works at different credit levels. That W-2 from St. David’s counts for a lot and gives you more options than most applicants in the same credit range.
What are the best move-in specials near St. David’s right now? As of June 2026: Broadstone Frontera Ridge (Round Rock) is running 2.5 months free plus a $1,500 gift card. Stone Oak at Parmer and The Kelsey at Scofield Farm (North Austin) are both offering 2.5 months free. The Waller (near E. 32nd campus) has up to 12 weeks free. Texan 26 has 1 month free plus a $600 gift card. Specials change frequently. Timing matters more than most renters realize. Check our current Austin move-in specials or contact me for what’s live today.
How much cash do I need on move-in day? More than most people budget for. Beyond your first month’s rent (or prorated amount), plan for a security deposit ($0-$1,000 depending on property class and credit), an admin fee ($150-$300 at most communities), and application fees ($50-$75 per person, which I rebate upon approval). You’ll also need renter’s insurance ($15-$30/month, required at most communities) and utility connection deposits for Austin Energy and water. Pet owners add $200-$500 for a pet deposit. For a community at $1,400/month, expect $2,200 to $3,200 out of pocket before you buy a single piece of furniture.
Is it better to live near St. David’s North or South campus? Depends on what you value. South Austin has lower overall rents and more budget-friendly inventory. Eight of 12 communities net under $1.65/sqft. North Austin has 24 communities with more variety, deeper concessions, and proximity to the Domain for dining and retail. If there’s any chance you’ll float between campuses, North Austin along the MoPac corridor gives you the best commute flexibility. You can reach the E. 32nd Medical Center, Heart Hospital, and the North campus all within 10-20 minutes off-peak.
Do I need a car to work at St. David’s? For the North, South, and Round Rock campuses: practically, yes. Walk scores are low and CapMetro bus service to those locations is limited for shift-change times (6:30 AM and 7:00 PM don’t align well with standard bus schedules). The E. 32nd Medical Center has the best transit access. Several CapMetro routes serve the 32nd and Lamar area. But even there, getting home reliably after a 12-hour shift at 7:15 PM depends on which route and which direction.
What happens to my rent when the concession expires at renewal? Your net effective rent is a Year 1 number. At renewal, you’re negotiating from the full advertised rate, not the concession rate. In this oversupplied market, many communities are offering renewal concessions too, but it’s not guaranteed. I can tell you which communities have historically kept renewal rates reasonable and which ones push significant increases. That’s a conversation worth having before you sign, not 11 months later when you’re scrambling.
How far is Heart Hospital of Austin from the other campuses? Heart Hospital (3801 N. Lamar) sits between the Medical Center (E. 32nd) and the North Austin campus (MoPac at Braker). It’s about 5-8 minutes from the Medical Center and 10-12 minutes from the North campus at shift change times. If you work at Heart Hospital, check both the E. 32nd and North Austin ranking tables. Communities in the Central and North submarkets work for either commute.
Is a locator worth it if I don’t have screening issues? My service is free regardless of your situation. The apartment pays me from the same marketing budget they’d spend on listing site ads. Your rent is identical. Beyond that: I know which concessions are actually live right now (not stale website copy from three months ago), which communities negotiate beyond posted specials, and which fee waivers I can get on your behalf. I rebate your application fees when you’re approved. Healthcare workers don’t typically get relocation packages like tech employees do, so saving $50-$75 on application fees and $150-$300 on waived admin fees adds up fast on a nurse’s budget.
The Bottom Line
The “best” apartment near St. David’s isn’t the closest pin on the map, and it isn’t the one with the lowest number on the website. It’s the one where the net effective rent makes sense for your actual income at the campus where you actually work, with a commute calculated at 6:30 AM, not 8:30 AM.
Run the concession math before you sign anything. A community advertising $1,328 with 2 months free nets to $1,107. A community listing $1,205 with no concessions costs exactly $1,205. Without that math, you’d pick the $1,205 apartment thinking you got the better deal. You’d be wrong by $1,176 over the lease. And you’d be in an older building.
Sixty-four communities across four campuses. Over 75% running concessions. The market is in your favor. And if you want someone who tracks this data daily, knows which specials are real, and won’t charge you a dime, you know where to find me.
Ready to find your apartment near St. David’s? Get a personalized list of the best communities matching your budget, campus, and priorities. I’ll include current specials, fee waivers, and communities with immediate availability. St. David’s employees: check our employer discounts page for additional savings at participating communities. The service is free. Always. Call 512-320-4599 or text 512-865-4672.
