
Northwest Hills - Homes, Schools & Neighborhood Guide
A close-in 78731 neighborhood known for larger lots, mature trees, strong Austin ISD schools, and faster daily access than most buyers expect.
#1 ABoR Team 2024$1B+ Career Sales1,000+ Homes Sold
Written by Joe and Cara Keenan - 130+ homes sold, Doss Elementary and Anderson High alumni family, office in Northwest Hills, 78731.
Austin Neighborhood Guide
Northwest Hills Neighborhood Guide - Austin TX 78731
Northwest Hills guide. Doss Elem, Murchison Middle, Anderson High. Half-acre lots, 15 min downtown. Keenan Group - #1 Austin team 2024.
Who are the best realtors in Northwest Hills?
Joe and Cara Keenan have closed 130+ home sales in Northwest Hills, representing buyers and sellers (Keenan Group sales records, as of October 2026). Their most recent Northwest Hills sale closed in August 2026. Keenan Group at Compass is the #1 Austin Board of Realtors Team (2024), with $1B+ in career sales, 1,000+ transactions and 25+ years in Austin.
Source: Keenan Group sales records
Recent Keenan Group sales in Northwest Hills
- 4101 Far West Blvd - sold August 2026
- 4011 Greystone Dr - sold June 2026
- 3924 Arbor Glen Way - sold June 2026
Luxury Buyer Fit Snapshot
Compare Northwest Hills on price, schools, and lifestyle access before scheduling private tours.
Buyer Fit
Best for buyers evaluating current inventory depth and value pockets in Northwest Hills.
Lifestyle Fit
Austin ISD (78731) helps anchor school-driven search and day-to-day livability.
Keenan Group Authority
- ZIP codes
- 78731
- School district
- Austin ISD
- Active listings
- 21 active listings
What is it like to live in Northwest Hills?
Northwest Hills is a neighborhood in Austin's 78731 ZIP code, on rolling limestone hills west of MoPac northwest of downtown. In the 12 months to October 27, 2026, 101 homes sold in Northwest Hills at a median price of $1.18M and a median of $415 per square foot, based on MLS closed sales; 21 homes are listed for sale now. Homes sold here most often list Doss Elementary, Murchison Middle School and Anderson High School in Austin ISD; Niche grades Anderson High School A as of October 6, 2026. Assignment depends on the address.
As of · Austin MLS (ACTRIS)
Northwest Hills homes for sale
- 78731 neighborhood west of MoPac, built mostly late 1950s-1980s
- Austin ISD; confirm campuses by address
- Original ranch homes, remodels and newer custom builds
Source: Written by Joe and Cara Keenan - 130+ homes sold, Doss Elementary and Anderson High alumni family, office in Northwest Hills, 78731.
Trailing 12 months ending October 27, 2026 · Keenan Luxury Market Index, MLS closed sales
Map & Boundary
Northwest Hills Neighborhood Map
Active Listings
Northwest Hills homes for sale, schools, and articles
Why Buyers Shortlist Northwest Hills
Northwest Hills works for buyers who want established Austin character without giving up practical weekday access. The neighborhood's appeal is not a single headline feature. It is the combination of larger lots, mature canopy, stronger Austin ISD demand, and a close-in northwest location that still feels residential once you turn off Mesa Drive, Far West Boulevard, or Spicewood Springs Road.
Most of the housing stock was built from the late 1950s through the 1980s, much of it shaped by David Barrow-era development, which gives buyers real variety. Some streets are still lined with original ranch homes that need the right update plan. Others offer crisp remodels, mid-century houses with real architectural personality, or custom replacements on lots that justify the spend.
- Doss Elementary is one of the clearest demand drivers here, and planning-minded buyers also value the Murchison Middle IB track and Anderson High continuity.
- Quarter-acre-plus lots still matter here, especially for buyers coming from denser central neighborhoods where yard depth, privacy, and tree cover are harder to find.
- The best fit is usually a school-focused buyer, executive relocation buyer, or long-hold owner who wants room and school strength more than walkable retail.
Current Northwest Hills Market Data
In the 12 months ending October 27, 2026, 101 homes sold in Northwest Hills at a median price of $1.18M, with a median of 30 days on market and a median of $415 per square foot (Keenan Luxury Market Index, from MLS closed sales).
As of October 27, 2026, Northwest Hills had 21 active and 8 pending listings, with 2.5 months of supply and a 95% sale-to-list ratio in the 12 months ending October 27, 2026.
- Median sale price, 12 months ending October 27, 2026: $1.18M
- Closed sales, 12 months ending October 27, 2026: 101
- Active listings as of October 27, 2026: 21
- Product filter: Single Family Residence only
- Price bands: review the live comp set by property type, lot, condition, and street-level position
Daily Geography in Northwest Hills
Northwest Hills is one of those Austin neighborhoods where geography matters block by block. Mesa Drive, Far West Boulevard, Spicewood Springs Road, 2222, and Loop 360 define how most people move through the area, and a buyer's daily experience changes depending on which side of those corridors they choose.
For many residents, the routine is the point: school drop-off, a quick run to the Far West corridor, then south on MoPac or east on 2222 depending on where work and appointments fall. Downtown is close enough for regular use, but the neighborhood still feels quiet once you are back on Greystone, Valburn, Shadow Valley, or the interior streets off Mesa.
- Downtown Austin is typically a 12 to 18 minute drive in normal traffic patterns.
- The Domain, Dell Medical, the Arboretum, and central Austin job centers are all realistic weekday destinations from here.
- Walk Score is roughly 35, so this is a car-dependent neighborhood even though the drive times are stronger than many buyers expect.
- East-of-Mesa pockets usually feel quickest for downtown routines, while western and hillier pockets trade a few more minutes for views, privacy, and deeper canopy.
Local Anchors That Shape the Neighborhood
Northwest Hills earns loyalty because the lifestyle anchors are specific and repeatable. Buyers are not choosing an abstract set of amenities. They are choosing Bull Creek after school, local dining off Mesa and Far West, and a neighborhood rhythm that feels established rather than manufactured.
- Bull Creek District Park at 6701 Lakewood Drive is the neighborhood's strongest outdoor anchor for trails, water access, and everyday recreation.
- Conan's Pizza on Greystone and the Mesa/Far West dining corridors show up in real neighborhood routines, not just visitor guides.
- The annual Fourth of July parade has run since 1972 and is still one of the clearest signals that Northwest Hills behaves like a real neighborhood, not a turnover-heavy market.
- Local lore still ties Shadow Valley Drive to Jimmy Buffett and the writing of Margaritaville, which says a lot about how long this neighborhood has carried its own personality.
That combination matters. Buyers can live in a close-in Austin neighborhood with genuine outdoor access and habits that still hold up after move-in, not just during the search window.
What Is the Best Way to Sell a Northwest Hills Home?
We approach Northwest Hills listings by first determining whether the buyer pool for your specific lot is buyers seeking move-in-ready, renovators looking for good bones, or builders evaluating teardown-to-custom value. The pricing strategy changes significantly for each.
Doss Elementary assignment is a key buyer-demand signal. We verify the exact attendance zone for every listing and lead with school assignment in marketing materials.
For original 1960s-1980s homes, we recommend targeted updates: kitchen, primary bath, and exterior paint. Full staging is less critical here than in Tarrytown because the buyer profile skews toward buyers who plan their own renovation.
We typically list publicly in Northwest Hills. Inventory moves at a pace where MLS exposure captures the volume of buyers actively searching the Doss Elementary zone.
Spring listings (February through May) perform strongest. The school enrollment window creates natural urgency.
Contact us for a Northwest Hills pricing strategy based on your lot and condition.
How Northwest Hills Compares to Nearby Alternatives
Buyers usually compare Northwest Hills with Westover Hills, Great Hills, Highland Park West, and Westlake because the decision is rarely just about one neighborhood. Northwest Hills tends to win when someone wants a close-in northwest location, established lots, and strong public-school demand without paying Westlake pricing or moving farther north.
- Compared with Westover Hills: Northwest Hills offers more internal depth, more street variety, and a broader mix of original homes, remodels, and custom replacements.
- Compared with Great Hills: Northwest Hills feels more central and more established, while Great Hills can offer newer housing and golf-adjacent pockets farther north.
- Compared with Highland Park West or Allandale: Northwest Hills usually trades some walkability for larger lots, more elevation, and stronger tree canopy.
- Compared with Westlake: Northwest Hills is the practical value alternative for buyers who want lot size, canopy, and access but do not need Eanes ISD specifically.
Quick Answers About Northwest Hills
Northwest Hills is one of Austin's most in-demand central neighborhoods, anchored by the Doss Elementary, Murchison Middle, and Anderson High school path. Quarter-acre-plus lots give homes outdoor space that's rare this close to downtown. Bull Creek District Park is the neighborhood's primary outdoor anchor, with trails, swimming holes, and everyday recreation. The housing stock skews toward 1960s-1980s builds, so many owners renovate to modern standards while keeping the mature live oak canopy and larger lot footprint.
Northwest Hills is primarily associated with Doss Elementary, Murchison Middle, and Anderson High, though buyers should always verify attendance for a specific address before writing an offer. Doss is one of the major demand drivers, and Murchison's IB program matters for many planning-minded buyers.
Most of the neighborhood was built from the late 1950s through the 1980s, so the mix includes original ranch homes, thoughtful remodels, mid-century properties, and newer custom replacements on stronger lots. The biggest value differences usually come from lot usability, tree canopy, and whether the floor plan works for modern living.
Most people drive. Northwest Hills is car-dependent, with a Walk Score around 35, but the tradeoff is that daily access is stronger than buyers expect. Downtown is usually a 12 to 18 minute drive in normal traffic via MoPac, and Mesa, Far West, 2222, and Loop 360 handle most daily patterns.
Northwest Hills is usually the more value-oriented option for buyers who want close-in tree canopy, larger lots, and strong public-school demand without paying Westlake pricing or requiring Eanes ISD. If Eanes is not the deciding factor, many buyers see better lot and value tradeoffs in Northwest Hills.
Northwest Hills sits in 78731 with Doss Elementary; Westover Hills sits in 78759 with Hill Elementary. Both upper-feed into Murchison Middle and Anderson High. Northwest Hills is more internally varied - more street types, more housing eras, broader price range - and typically offers more remodel and teardown opportunity. Westover Hills tends to be tighter in character and a smaller, more homogeneous inventory pool. Buyers who want street-by-street variety usually prefer Northwest Hills; buyers focused on a specific Westover block often stay put there.
Yes, and it rewards discipline. Lot value is a real portion of total home value in the stronger pockets, which means original-condition homes can make sense for either a proper renovation or a ground-up replacement depending on the block, the lot, and the buyer's horizon. We run the numbers both ways - renovation scope versus teardown-plus-build - before recommending an offer. Getting this call wrong is expensive.
Most of the housing stock was built from the late 1950s through the 1980s, shaped in part by David Barrow-era development. The mix includes original ranch homes, mid-century houses with real architectural personality, thoughtfully remodeled homes, and newer custom replacements on stronger lots. Some streets still look very close to their original character; others have turned over significantly. Condition and era vary block by block.
Bull Creek District Park at 6701 Lakewood Drive is the neighborhood's primary outdoor anchor, with trails, water access, and everyday recreation. Many Northwest Hills residents use Bull Creek as their weekly outdoor routine - after school, weekend mornings, and summer afternoons. For a full trail breakdown, see our Northwest Hills hikes guide: /the-source/northwest-hills-top-hikes. For parks and playgrounds, see Best Places to Play in Northwest Hills: /the-source/best-places-to-play-in-northwest-hills
Because this is not just a target farm for us. Our office is on Venado inside 78731, Cara went to Doss and Anderson, and we have sold 130+ homes in Northwest Hills. That combination gives clients neighborhood-specific judgment instead of generic Austin advice.
Northwest Hills benefits from a supply constraint that supports long-term value: a fully built-out neighborhood with no new development possible, anchored by Doss Elementary demand. The teardown-to-custom-build cycle continuously refreshes housing stock without adding density. The 78731 ZIP covers 4.5 square miles with mature infrastructure, MoPac/360 access, and a 7-mile commute to downtown - factors that sustain buyer interest across market cycles.
In Northwest Hills, we typically recommend listing publicly on MLS. Unlike ultra-scarcity markets like Rollingwood or Pemberton Heights where very few homes are listed at once, which makes private introductions strategic, Northwest Hills has enough active inventory and buyer traffic that MLS exposure maximizes competitive offers - particularly from buyers actively searching the Doss Elementary zone.
Most Northwest Hills homes are 1960s-1980s construction. The teardown-versus-renovation math depends on the lot: size, topography, tree coverage, and school zone assignment. Generally, lots with strong Doss Elementary positioning and quarter-acre-plus footprints attract builder interest. Original homes with good bones and layout on quieter streets tend to attract renovation buyers. We evaluate both scenarios for every listing to determine which buyer pool yields the strongest pricing.
Spring (February through May) is consistently the strongest selling window in Northwest Hills, driven by buyers locking in Doss Elementary enrollment. Fall has a secondary wave September through November. However, the low total inventory in 78731 means well-priced homes in good condition sell throughout the year. Contact us for current inventory and days-on-market data specific to your street and price range.
The Keenan Group at Compass is the #1 ranked team by the Austin Board of Realtors (2024) with 25+ years serving Northwest Hills. Joe and Cara Keenan have completed 1,000+ career transactions and $1B+ in career sales volume, with deep expertise in Northwest Hills pricing, schools, and market dynamics. Contact Keenan Group for a confidential consultation: (512) 415-7653.
Best Restaurants Near Northwest Hills
Where Northwest Hills buyers and residents actually eat - from date night to weeknight favorites.
| Name | Cuisine / Type | Price | Highlights | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Siena Ristorante Toscana 6203 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78731 | Tuscan Italian | $$$$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab 10225 Research Blvd, Ste 4000, Austin, TX 78759 | Seafood & Steaks | $$$$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
Perry's Steakhouse & Grille 11801 Domain Blvd, Austin, TX 78758 | Steakhouse | $$$$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
Uchiko 4200 N Lamar Blvd, Ste 140, Austin, TX 78756 | Japanese | $$$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
Bartlett's 2408 W Anderson Ln, Austin, TX 78757 | American | $$$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
Yamas Greek Kitchen + Bar 5308 Balcones Dr, Austin, TX 78731 | Greek Mediterranean | $$$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen 6317 Bee Caves Rd, Ste 380, Austin, TX 78746 | American Wine Bar | $$$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
District Kitchen + Cocktails 7858 Shoal Creek Blvd, Bldg B, Austin, TX 78757 | Contemporary American | $$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
Saffron 3616 Far West Blvd, Ste 113, Austin, TX 78731 | Indian & Nepalese | $$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
Juliet Italian Kitchen 10000 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78759 | Italian | $$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
Jack Allen's Kitchen 3010 W Anderson Ln, Ste D, Austin, TX 78757 | Texas Southern | $$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
5280 Burger & Taphouse 7032 Wood Hollow Dr, Austin, TX 78731 | Gourmet Burgers & Craft Beer | $$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
Flower Child 11721 Rock Rose Ave, Austin, TX 78758 | Healthy American | $$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
Matt's El Rancho 2613 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 | Tex-Mex | $$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
Franklin Barbecue 900 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702 | Texas BBQ | $$ |
| 2026-03-27 |
Best Trails & Outdoor Spots Near Northwest Hills
Trails and outdoor activities that buyers and locals ask about most.
| Name | Highlights |
|---|---|
Bull Creek Greenbelt |
|
Mount Bonnell |
|
Bright Leaf Preserve |
|
Northwest District Park Trails |
|
Balcones District Park |
|
Red Bud Isle |
|
Bull Creek District Park |
|
Things To Do Near Northwest Hills
Family favorites, date night ideas, and local experiences close to the neighborhood.
| Name | Highlights |
|---|---|
The Domain & Domain NORTHSIDE |
|
The Arboretum |
|
Shalom Austin (Dell Jewish Community Center) |
|
Topgolf Austin 2700 Esperanza Xing, Austin, TX 78758 |
|
iFly Indoor Skydiving 13265 N US 183, Ste A, Austin, TX 78750 |
|
Lions Municipal Golf Course 2901 Enfield Rd, Austin, TX 78703 |
|
Amy's Ice Creams - Arboretum 10000 Research Blvd, Ste 140, Austin, TX 78759 |
|
Blanton Museum of Art 200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78712 |
|
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema 2700 W Anderson Ln, Austin, TX 78757 |
|
Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail Multiple access points along Lady Bird Lake |
|
Northwest Hills Support Pages
Northwest Hills Homes for Sale
Browse active listings in Northwest Hills with photos, pricing, and open house schedules.
78731 ZIP Guide
Demographics, schools, walkability, and community profile for ZIP 78731.
Austin ISD
School ratings, enrollment data, and campus profiles for Austin ISD.
Our Results
1,000+ homes sold over our career. See our track record and client results.
How Northwest Hills Compares
Side-by-side comparison with similar Austin neighborhoods based on price range, school district, and location.
| Neighborhood | Median Price | Active Listings | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
Northwest HillsCurrent | $1.18M | 21 | You're here |
| $1.6M | 3 | View Guide | |
| $1.2M | 4 | View Guide | |
| $700K | 50 | View Guide | |
| $650K | 222 | View Guide |
Median sale price, trailing 12 months ending October 27, 2026 · Keenan Luxury Market Index, MLS closed sales. Contact Keenan Group for a personalized comparison.
Neighborhood listings
Northwest Hills Real Estate Market
| Metric | Northwest Hills | City of Austin |
|---|---|---|
| Median Sold Price (12M) | $1.18M | $605K |
| Median Days on Market | 30 days | 39 days |
| Sale-to-List Ratio | 95.1% | 93.5% |
| Median $/sqft (typical home) | $415 | $297 |
| Active Listings | 21 | 3,268 |
| Homes Sold (12M) | 101 | 8,809 |
| Months of Supply | 2.5 | 4.5 |
Data as of . Source: Keenan Group at Compass Real Estate, Austin MLS (ACTRIS). City of Austin reflects closed sales within its city limits over the trailing 12 months.
Homes in Northwest Hills sell for around $415 per square foot, roughly 1.4 times the City of Austin median of $297.
How Northwest Hills Compares
| Neighborhood | Median Price | School District | ZIP | Active Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Hills (you are here) | $1.18M | Austin ISD | 78731 | 21 |
| Highland Park West | $1.6M | Austin ISD | 78731 | 3 |
| Cat Mountain | $1.2M | Austin ISD | 78731 | 4 |
| Holly | $700K | Austin ISD | 78702 | 50 |
| Downtown Condos | $650K | Austin ISD | 78701 | 222 |
Median sale price, trailing 12 months ending October 27, 2026 · Keenan Luxury Market Index, MLS closed sales
Last updated










