Comparing sober living in Austin, Texas
Oxford House Austin vs. Dutton House
Men looking for sober living in Austin usually run into two models: the peer-run Oxford House network and professionally managed residences like Dutton House. Both are legitimate paths to long term recovery. They differ in who runs the house, how accountability works, and what daily life looks like. This page lays out those differences honestly so you can pick the right fit.
01
What is Oxford House?
The peer-run model.
Oxford House is a national nonprofit network of self-run recovery residences, founded in 1975. Each house operates under a charter from Oxford House, Inc. and is democratically governed: residents elect officers from among themselves, split household expenses equally, and make house decisions by vote. There is no paid staff and no outside house manager.
The model rests on three requirements: stay abstinent from alcohol and drugs, pay your equal share of household expenses, and abide by the decisions of the house. Any resident who returns to use is asked to leave immediately. There is no fixed limit on how long a resident in good standing can stay.
Houses are single-gender, and Austin has a number of Oxford Houses for men and for women across the metro. You can read about the model at oxfordhouse.org or browse Texas houses through Oxford Houses of Texas. Because each house governs itself, specifics like expense share, testing practices, and curfew vary house to house — ask the house directly.
02
What is Dutton House?
The staffed, structured model.
Dutton House is a privately owned men's recovery residence in Hyde Park, Austin, operating at this address since 2017 and under new ownership as of 2026. Where Oxford House is self-run by its members, Dutton House has a live-in house manager who runs day-to-day operations, administers drug testing at least once per week, and records every result in Sobriety Hub.
New residents complete 90 meetings in 90 days, logged in the app, along with daily check-ins. Curfew is 10pm on weeknights and 12am on weekends. The house is a spacious two story home capped at 11 men, never more than two per bedroom, built for men who want real structure while they rebuild their working lives.
Dutton House provides housing and peer recovery support. It is not a treatment program and does not provide clinical services.
See what to expect at Dutton House03
Side by side
The two models at a glance.
| Feature | Oxford House | Dutton House |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Self-run recovery residence chartered within a national nonprofit network | Privately owned men's recovery residence with a live-in house manager |
| Who runs it | Residents, democratically; officers elected from within the house | Live-in house manager, with owner oversight |
| Cost | Residents split household expenses equally; amount set by each house | $1,200/month double, $2,000/month single — utilities, wifi, and furnishings included |
| Deposit & minimum stay | Set by each house | Deposit required at move-in; no minimum stay |
| Drug and alcohol testing | Abstinence required; testing practices set by each house | At least weekly, every result recorded in Sobriety Hub |
| If a resident returns to use | Zero tolerance — immediate departure from the house | Zero tolerance — immediate discharge |
| Recovery program | No formal program requirement; expectations set by each house | 12-step based: 90 meetings in 90 days plus daily check-ins, logged in Sobriety Hub |
| MAT | Varies by house | Permitted case by case |
| Curfew | Set by each house | 10pm weeknights, 12am weekends |
| Length of stay | No fixed limit while abstinent and in good standing | No fixed limit; most residents stay several months to a year or more |
| Who it serves | Men and women, in separate houses, across Austin | Men 18 and older who want structure while working or returning to work |
| Payment | Private pay | Private pay only; no insurance billing |
Model
- Oxford House
- Self-run recovery residence chartered within a national nonprofit network
- Dutton House
- Privately owned men's recovery residence with a live-in house manager
Who runs it
- Oxford House
- Residents, democratically; officers elected from within the house
- Dutton House
- Live-in house manager, with owner oversight
Cost
- Oxford House
- Residents split household expenses equally; amount set by each house
- Dutton House
- $1,200/month double, $2,000/month single — utilities, wifi, and furnishings included
Deposit & minimum stay
- Oxford House
- Set by each house
- Dutton House
- Deposit required at move-in; no minimum stay
Drug and alcohol testing
- Oxford House
- Abstinence required; testing practices set by each house
- Dutton House
- At least weekly, every result recorded in Sobriety Hub
If a resident returns to use
- Oxford House
- Zero tolerance — immediate departure from the house
- Dutton House
- Zero tolerance — immediate discharge
Recovery program
- Oxford House
- No formal program requirement; expectations set by each house
- Dutton House
- 12-step based: 90 meetings in 90 days plus daily check-ins, logged in Sobriety Hub
MAT
- Oxford House
- Varies by house
- Dutton House
- Permitted case by case
Curfew
- Oxford House
- Set by each house
- Dutton House
- 10pm weeknights, 12am weekends
Length of stay
- Oxford House
- No fixed limit while abstinent and in good standing
- Dutton House
- No fixed limit; most residents stay several months to a year or more
Who it serves
- Oxford House
- Men and women, in separate houses, across Austin
- Dutton House
- Men 18 and older who want structure while working or returning to work
Payment
- Oxford House
- Private pay
- Dutton House
- Private pay only; no insurance billing
Oxford House details reflect the network's published model. Individual houses govern themselves and specifics vary.
04
Which is right for you?
Oxford House may fit if
- You want a peer-run, democratic household
- Keeping costs as low as possible is the priority
- You are confident directing your own recovery program without built-in oversight
Dutton House may fit if
- You want built-in structure: a house manager on site, scheduled testing, meeting requirements, and a curfew
- You are working, job-searching, or returning to work and want housemates doing the same
- You want a spacious, uncrowded home in central Austin near meetings, work, and campus
- You would rather pay more for accountability than manage it yourself
Both models have helped many men build long term recovery in Austin. The right choice is the one whose structure matches what you need right now. If that is Dutton House, we would be glad to hear from you.
$1,200 per month for a double room and $2,000 per month for a single. The rate includes rent, utilities, wifi, and furnishings.
No. Dutton House is private pay only. We do not bill insurance and do not receive state or grant funding.
Yes, on a case-by-case basis. Talk to us during the application process about your specific medications.
Immediately in most cases. Once your application is approved, move-in can happen right away. Submit an application and we will confirm current bed availability.
No. There is no minimum stay. A deposit is required at move-in, and most residents stay several months to a year or more.
Dutton House is zero tolerance. Any use of alcohol or drugs means immediate discharge from the house. We will help you connect with next-step resources, but you cannot remain in the home.
Yes. The program is 12-step based and new residents complete 90 meetings in 90 days.
No. We are a recovery residence providing housing and peer support. We do not provide clinical or medical services.
Interested in joining The Dutton House?
Oxford House® is a registered trademark of Oxford House, Inc. Dutton House is independently owned and operated and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or chartered by Oxford House, Inc. Information about the Oxford House model on this page is drawn from Oxford House, Inc.'s own published materials as of August 2026; practices vary by individual house, and prospective residents should contact a specific house directly for current details.
Dutton House is a recovery residence, not a licensed treatment facility. We do not provide, coordinate, or supervise clinical or medical care. Residents are responsible for their own treatment, therapy, and medical decisions.