Market Overview for Northwest Austin
There are 757 active listings in Northwest Austin with a median list price of $473K and a median sold price of $600K.
Homes average 40 days on market.
Over the past 30 days, 173 homes have sold, with 2270 sales in the past 12 months.
The average price per square foot is $296.
About Northwest Austin
Northwest Austin is one of the largest and most established residential areas in the city, stretching roughly from MoPac and the 183/360 interchange northward to the 183/45 corridor, with I-35 forming the eastern boundary. The area encompasses well-known sub-neighborhoods including Great Hills, Balcones Woods, Jester, Mesa Park, and Barrington Oaks, spanning multiple zip codes including 78759, 78750, and portions of 78729.
The real estate market in Northwest Austin covers a wide range. Housing costs vary by sub-neighborhood, with Northwest Hills at the upper end and areas near the Research Boulevard corridor holding more of the area's entry-level stock. Current median price and active inventory are shown on the Market Overview tab. The housing stock mixes 1970s-1980s original construction with newer infill and remodeled homes, and lot sizes are generally larger than what's available in central Austin.
Three school districts serve Northwest Austin, and assignment depends on the specific address. Austin ISD covers much of the area through the Anderson High School feeder pattern, with Doss Elementary serving the Northwest Hills section. Round Rock ISD serves northern sections, including the Canyon Vista and Noel Grisham middle school zones that feed Westwood High School. Leander ISD serves the western Four Points area, where River Place Elementary and Four Points Middle feed Vandegrift High School. Anderson High School has been an authorized International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme school since 1991.
Northwest Austin sits between two major employment corridors. To the north is the Parmer Lane tech corridor, where Apple announced a 133-acre, three-million-square-foot campus in 2018 with capacity to grow to 15,000 employees. To the east is The Domain, which its master developer describes as more than eight million square feet of retail, office, residential, and hotel space. Residents generally reach downtown in 20-25 minutes via MoPac, and the Lakeline Mall and Cedar Park retail areas are 10-15 minutes north.
Living in Northwest Austin
Living in Northwest Austin centers on established neighborhood character and access to the region's tech employment corridors. Day-to-day life revolves around the trail systems along the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and Shoal Creek, the shopping and dining along Research Boulevard and Great Hills Trail, and the restaurants and entertainment at The Domain.
Terrain is a defining feature. Northwest Austin sits on the eastern edge of the Balcones Escarpment, where the Blackland Prairie gives way to limestone hills, so streets wind with the topography and mature live oak and juniper canopy covers much of the area. The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve — a Travis County and City of Austin system of more than 140 tracts totaling over 33,000 acres, created in 1996 to protect the golden-cheeked warbler, the black-capped vireo, and six karst invertebrate species — forms a permanent open-space boundary along the western edge.
Commutes to the Parmer Lane tech campuses run 10-15 minutes, and downtown is 20-25 minutes via MoPac. Balcones District Park on Amherst Drive anchors neighborhood recreation with a free public pool, playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts, and paved trails that connect into the Walnut Creek trail system. Because most of the housing stock dates to the 1970s and 1980s, lots are generally larger and tree cover more mature than in newer development farther north.
Things to Do in Northwest Austin
- Balcones District Park: A community park on Amherst Drive with playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts, a free public swimming pool, and picnic areas in the heart of Northwest Austin.
- Balcones Canyonlands Preserve: A Travis County and City of Austin preserve system of more than 33,000 acres bordering Northwest Austin, with permitted hiking trails through native Hill Country terrain and protected golden-cheeked warbler habitat.
- The Domain: An open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment district about 10 minutes east, with roughly 1.3 million square feet of retail, anchoring north Austin's social scene.
- Great Hills Trail Dining: A concentration of restaurants along Great Hills Trail including Asian, Mediterranean, and American options.
- Lakeline Mall Area: A regional shopping center 10-15 minutes north with major retailers, restaurants, and entertainment options.
- Northern Walnut Creek Trail: A multi-use trail system running through Northwest Austin, popular for jogging, cycling, and dog walking under a mature tree canopy.
Major Employers in Northwest Austin
- Apple (Technology): Apple's North Austin campus on West Parmer Lane, announced in 2018 as a $1 billion, 133-acre, three-million-square-foot site with capacity to grow to 15,000 employees, is about 15 minutes north.
- The Domain (Mixed-Use): The Domain's office towers about 10 minutes east house Meta, Indeed, and Vrbo among other tech employers, within a district of more than eight million square feet of mixed-use space.
- Samsung Austin Semiconductor (Manufacturing): Samsung's Austin and Taylor campuses together supported 4,492 direct jobs in 2025; the Austin fab is accessible via MoPac or US 183.
- IBM (Technology): IBM has operated in north Austin since 1967 at 11400 and 11501 Burnet Road, and plans to consolidate its Austin workforce into a new north Austin campus by 2027.
Northwest Austin Schools
Northwest Austin is served by three school districts, and assignment depends on the specific address. Austin ISD campuses in the area include Hill, Doss, and Highland Park elementaries, Murchison and Lamar middle schools, and Anderson and McCallum high schools. Round Rock ISD serves parts of the area through Spicewood Elementary, Canyon Vista and Noel Grisham middle schools, and Westwood High School. Leander ISD serves the western Four Points area through River Place Elementary, Four Points Middle, and Vandegrift High School.
School District: Austin ISD
Public Schools
Austin Independent School District
Leander Independent School District
Round Rock Independent School District
Pflugerville Independent School District
Pre-Schools
- Stepping Stone School at Northwest Austin - Infant, preschool, pre-K, and after-school care
- Little Sunshine's Playhouse of Four Points - Early childhood education near Lake Travis
- The Learning Experience - Anderson Mill - Full-day childcare for ages 6 weeks through 5 years
- Bethany Preschool - Play-based preschool for 18 months through pre-K
Private Schools
- Challenger School - Pond Springs - Private school serving preschool through eighth grade on Pond Springs Road in 78729
- Kirby Hall School - Independent Pre-K4 through eighth grade school on West 29th Street near the University of Texas campus in central Austin
- Hyde Park Schools - Private PK4-12 Christian school; its 9-12 Quarries Campus is on North MoPac in 78759, with the PK4-8 campus in central Austin
Frequently Asked Questions
What neighborhoods are in Northwest Austin?
Northwest Austin encompasses several sub-neighborhoods including Great Hills, Balcones Woods, Jester, Mesa Park, Northwest Hills, and Barrington Oaks. The area spans zip codes 78759, 78750, and portions of 78729.
How much do homes cost in Northwest Austin?
Current median price, active listing counts, and days on market are shown on the Market Overview tab. Costs vary widely by sub-neighborhood: Northwest Hills sits at the upper end of the range, while areas near the Research Boulevard corridor hold more of the entry-level stock.
What school district serves Northwest Austin?
Three districts serve Northwest Austin, and assignment depends on the specific address. Austin ISD covers much of the area, feeding into Anderson High School, an authorized International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme school since 1991. Round Rock ISD serves northern sections feeding Westwood High School, and Leander ISD serves the western Four Points area feeding Vandegrift High School.
How far is Northwest Austin from downtown?
Downtown Austin is about 20-25 minutes south via MoPac. The Domain is roughly 10 minutes east, and the Parmer Lane tech corridor (Apple, Samsung) is about 15 minutes north.
What major employers are near Northwest Austin?
Apple's 133-acre Parmer Lane campus, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, IBM's Burnet Road campus, and The Domain's office towers (Meta, Indeed, Vrbo) are all within 10-20 minutes of Northwest Austin.
What parks and outdoor recreation are in Northwest Austin?
Balcones District Park on Amherst Drive has a free public pool, playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts, and paved trails. The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve — a Travis County and City of Austin system of more than 33,000 acres — borders the area's western edge, and the Northern Walnut Creek Trail runs through the area.
