Market Overview for Southwest Hills
There are 0 active listings in Southwest Hills and a median sold price of $1.0M.
Homes average 90 days on market.
Over the past 30 days, 0 homes have sold, with 3 sales in the past 12 months.
About Southwest Hills
Southwest Hills is a residential neighborhood in southwest Austin, Texas, situated in the 78735 zip code near the intersection of Southwest Parkway and Convict Hill Road. The area falls within Austin Independent School District boundaries and is part of a section of the city known for its rolling terrain, tree cover, and proximity to the Barton Creek Greenbelt and the Hill Country. Homes in Southwest Hills were largely built from the mid-1980s through the 1990s, and the neighborhood includes a mix of single-story ranch plans and two-story traditional layouts on lots that range from standard suburban dimensions to larger half-acre parcels. The topography of the area follows the limestone hills and shallow valleys characteristic of western Travis County, and many homes sit on elevated positions that provide unobstructed sight lines across the surrounding landscape.
Austin ISD serves Southwest Hills with a sequence of public school campuses. Travis Elementary is the assigned elementary school and provides instruction for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Gorzycki Middle School serves grades 6 through 8 and is located on Convict Hill Road, enrolling over 1,000 students with programming that includes gifted and talented tracks and a range of elective courses. Bowie High School, located at 4103 West Slaughter Lane on a 60-acre campus, is the largest comprehensive high school in Austin ISD and serves grades 9 through 12. Bowie offers Advanced Placement courses across multiple subjects, career and technical education pathways, and a competitive athletics program. The school underwent a renovation and modernization project that updated facilities for science, fine arts, and career-technical instruction.
The Barton Creek Greenbelt is the most significant natural feature near Southwest Hills. The greenbelt stretches approximately 12 miles through southwest Austin, following Barton Creek and its tributaries through limestone canyons and dense cedar and oak woodland. Trail access points at Hill of Life, Gus Fruh, and Sculpture Falls connect hikers, mountain bikers, and trail runners to the greenbelt's network. Swimming holes along Barton Creek, including the pools at Sculpture Falls and Twin Falls, draw visitors during warmer months when water levels permit. The greenbelt corridor is maintained by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department and is free to access year-round. Southwest Parkway connects the neighborhood to MoPac Expressway (Loop 1) heading north and to Highway 290 heading west toward Dripping Springs and the Hill Country.
The southwest Austin economy is supported by a mix of technology companies, healthcare providers, and retail businesses. The Lantana office park and the business corridors along Southwest Parkway and William Cannon Drive house offices for technology firms, financial services companies, and professional service providers. The Shops at Arbor Walk and the Barton Creek Square Mall are within a 15- to 20-minute drive and offer retail and dining. Closer to the neighborhood, the commercial nodes along Convict Hill Road and Highway 290 at Oak Hill provide grocery stores including H-E-B, restaurants, and essential services. The Y at Oak Hill intersection, where Highway 290 and Highway 71 converge, has been the subject of a long-planned TxDOT improvement project intended to reduce congestion at what has historically been one of Austin's most constrained traffic bottlenecks.
Living in Southwest Hills
Life in Southwest Hills is shaped by the neighborhood's position between Austin's urban services and the open spaces of the Hill Country. Residents have direct access to the Barton Creek Greenbelt for hiking, biking, and swimming without needing to drive across the city, and the terrain around the neighborhood supports outdoor activity year-round. H-E-B at Oak Hill, local restaurants along Highway 290, and small retail centers on Convict Hill Road handle everyday shopping and dining within a short drive. The Dick Nichols District Park, located on Beckett Road south of the neighborhood, offers 101 acres with a swimming pool, playgrounds, basketball courts, and a 1.3-mile paved trail.
Commuters heading to downtown Austin or the tech employers along MoPac and US 183 typically face a 20- to 35-minute drive depending on traffic conditions and time of day. Southwest Parkway and MoPac are the primary routes, and morning congestion at the Y at Oak Hill intersection remains a factor for westbound and eastbound travel along Highway 290. Austin ISD's Bowie High School carries a strong reputation for academics and athletics, and the school's 60-acre campus reflects the investment the district has made in the southwest corridor. Property tax rates in this area of Austin reflect Travis County and Austin ISD levies, and the neighborhood's established tree canopy and larger lot sizes distinguish it from newer construction further south along Slaughter Lane and in the Circle C area.
Things to Do in Southwest Hills
- Barton Creek Greenbelt: Approximately 12-mile trail system through limestone canyons and cedar-oak woodland. Access points at Hill of Life, Gus Fruh, and Sculpture Falls. Free and open year-round.
- Dick Nichols District Park: 101-acre park on Beckett Road with a swimming pool, playgrounds, basketball courts, and a 1.3-mile paved trail. Free entry to park; pool has seasonal admission.
- Sculpture Falls: Swimming hole along Barton Creek accessible via the Barton Creek Greenbelt trail system. Water levels depend on rainfall. Free access.
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Botanical garden and research center operated by the University of Texas at Austin. Located on La Crosse Avenue in southwest Austin. Admission fees apply.
- Barton Creek Square Mall: Regional shopping mall at the intersection of MoPac and Loop 360 with over 150 stores, restaurants, and a movie theater. Approximately 15 minutes from Southwest Hills.
Major Employers in Southwest Hills
- Austin ISD (Education): Largest school district in Central Austin, employing thousands of teachers and staff across over 120 campuses.
- St. David's South Austin Medical Center (Healthcare): Full-service hospital in south Austin providing emergency, surgical, cardiac, and maternity care.
- National Instruments (now NI) (Technology): Test and measurement technology company headquartered in Austin. Offices located along MoPac in the southwest Austin corridor.
- Cirrus Logic (Semiconductor): Fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Austin. Designs audio and voice signal processing chips.
Southwest Hills Schools
Southwest Hills is served by Austin Independent School District. The neighborhood feeds into Travis Elementary, Gorzycki Middle School, and Bowie High School, all located in southwest Austin.
School District: Austin ISD
Public Schools
- Travis Elementary School - Austin ISD elementary school serving kindergarten through 5th grade in the Southwest Hills attendance zone.
- Gorzycki Middle School - Located on Convict Hill Road. Enrolls over 1,000 students in grades 6-8 with gifted and talented tracks and elective courses.
- Bowie High School - Located at 4103 W Slaughter Lane on a 60-acre campus. Largest comprehensive high school in Austin ISD. Offers AP courses and career-technical education pathways.
Pre-Schools
- Nature Preschool Center - Montessori-inspired preschool at 6030 Highway US-290 West, Austin, TX 78735. Serves the South Austin community.
- WonderWell - Located at 7717 Southwest Parkway, Building 2, Austin, TX 78735. Early childhood programs for toddlers and preschoolers.
- Bright Horizons at Oak Hill - Daycare and preschool center in the Oak Hill area of Austin. Programs for infants through pre-K.
Frequently Asked Questions
What school district serves Southwest Hills in Austin?
Southwest Hills is served by Austin Independent School District. Students attend Travis Elementary, Gorzycki Middle School, and Bowie High School.
How far is Southwest Hills from downtown Austin?
Southwest Hills is approximately 12 miles from downtown Austin. Commute times range from 20 to 35 minutes via Southwest Parkway and MoPac Expressway.
Is the Barton Creek Greenbelt near Southwest Hills?
Yes. The Barton Creek Greenbelt runs through southwest Austin near the neighborhood. Trail access points at Hill of Life, Gus Fruh, and Sculpture Falls are within a short drive.
What is the Y at Oak Hill?
The Y at Oak Hill is the intersection where Highway 290 and Highway 71 converge in southwest Austin. It has historically been a congested intersection and is the subject of a TxDOT improvement project.
What grocery stores are near Southwest Hills Austin?
H-E-B at Oak Hill is the nearest full-service grocery store. Additional shopping options are available along Highway 290 and Convict Hill Road.
What parks are near Southwest Hills?
Dick Nichols District Park offers 101 acres with a pool and trails. The Barton Creek Greenbelt provides over 12 miles of hiking and biking trails with swimming holes along the creek.