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Austis: what to know before buying a home

A municipality in the province of Nuoro, Sardegna. Official data on earthquakes, population, services and transport.

Liveability index free for any address

Search for an address in Austis

The report looks at the exact point: landslide and flood risk, seismic zone, price per square metre for the area, services and nearby stops.

For example: Corso Vittorio Emanuele 1, Austis.

Austis, a mountain village in central Sardinia

The landscape around Austis is one of hills, woods and pasture, in the centre of Sardinia, far from the coast and the cities. The village stands at around 700 metres and is compact, with streets in the centre that follow the lie of the land and countryside just beyond the houses. For hospital care, secondary schools and public offices you have to drive, on mountain roads that lengthen journey times.

As in much of the island's interior, the population has fallen. Istat, the national statistics office, counted 876 residents in 2011 and 741 in 2023: 135 fewer, a drop of 15.4%. The average age, 49.8, is close to the 48.3 of the province of Nuoro, and over-65s make up 28.6% against 27.6%. Households have 1.92 members on average and declared income is slightly below the provincial average.

Homes for sale are mostly village houses, many of stone, some renovated and others in need of work. Factor in the climate: this is climate zone D, but at this altitude winter is harsher than on the coast, with wind and some snow, so insulation and heating carry real weight. In a house that has been closed for a while, check the roof, damp and systems before making an offer.

Earthquakes, on the other hand, are not an issue. All 53 municipalities in the province of Nuoro are in seismic zone 4, the lowest, and the expected ground acceleration in Austis is about 0.050 g.

The Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) publishes the cadastral maps for the municipality, and from the address the report reaches the land parcel. Slopes and landslides on hillsides are read from the official maps for the exact spot.

Key points

  • Mountain village at about 700 metres in central Sardinia.
  • 741 residents, down 15.4% since 2011.
  • Average age 49.8, against 48.3 in the province.
  • All 53 municipalities in the province in seismic zone 4.

Overview

Austis is a municipality in the province of Nuoro, in Sardegna. At the end of 2023 it had 741 residents, ranked 40 of 53 municipalities in the province.

Earthquakes

For Italy's Civil Protection Department, Austis is in seismic zone 4, the lowest-risk zone, where strong earthquakes are very rare. All 53 municipalities in the province are in the same zone.

In the built-up area, the expected ground shaking (peak ground acceleration, PGA) is about 0.050 g, a moderate value: the level with a 10% probability of being exceeded in 50 years, on rock.

In zone 4 the risk is low, but for an older building it is still worth asking about the state of the structure.

Population

Compared with the 2011 census, the resident population has fallen by 15.4%. The estimated average age is 50 years, in line with the province. 29% of residents are over 65 (the regional figure is 27%). Foreign residents make up 2.8% of the population. On average, a household has 1.9 members.

Income and climate

In tax year 2024, taxpayers in Austis declared an average taxable income of 18,958 euros, in line with the province (19,512 euros). The Italian average is 24,895 euros.

Austis is in climate zone D, with 1,923 heating degree days: heating may be switched on from 1 November to 15 April, for up to 12 hours a day. The same table puts the town hall at 737 metres above sea level.

Services

In the official Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health lists, Austis has 1 school.

The data shows no pharmacies within the municipality, against a provincial average of 0.5 per 1,000 residents.

Public transport

We do not yet have open public transport timetables for this municipality: the report says so explicitly, without inventing distances.

How built-up it is

Buildings, roads, car parks and other sealed surfaces cover 1.2% of the land in Austis, compared with 3.4% in the region. In 2024 built-up land stayed almost the same.

Radon and contaminated sites

Austis is one of the municipalities designated as a radon priority area by the Regione Sardegna in 2022. According to the ISPRA map, the estimated radon emission in the municipality is very high. Radon varies from building to building and can only be known by measuring it, especially on ground floors and in basements.

Landslides and flooding

Landslide and flood hazard changes from one street to the next even within Austis: the report checks the address against the ISPRA maps.

House prices

The Revenue Agency's price ranges per square metre (OMI) apply to zones, not to whole municipalities: the report gives the range for the address's zone.

Land registry

The cadastral maps for Austis are public: from the address the report finds the sheet and parcel number.

Liveability area by area

The Vicinalia liveability index runs from 0 to 100 and looks at the place, not the people who live there: services within walking distance, transport, green space, natural hazards, air, quiet, buildings and connection. Here it is worked out at the centre of each of the 10 inhabited census areas in Austis. Half of the residents live in areas scoring 68 or more.

Residents by band

  • good 100.0%

Vicinalia index by census area, licence CC BY-SA 4.0. Data: IdroGEO ISPRA (2026), Istat, INGV, EEA, AGCOM, Overture Maps and OpenStreetMap.

The colour is the value at the centre of the area. For an exact address, search for it above: the free check looks at that exact point. How the index is worked out

Data sources

ISTAT code 114003. The text on this page is generated automatically from the data.