Forest Creek 

Forest Creek is east of Round Rock and is 24 miles from downtown Austin. It's a master-planned community that features a public golf course and boasts over 1,200 homes. This well-established community is lined with mature trees and lush landscaping. You can also enjoy a junior Olympic pool, splash pad, playground, tennis courts, barbecue grills, a rock wall, and trails.

In this community, you will find homes ranging from 1,800 – 5,000 square feet. These homes start at around $317,000 and can cost upwards of $700,000. HOAs are between $105 to $190 quarterly, and the tax rate is 2.2%.

Dell Diamond, home to the Round Rock Express, is 3.6 miles away. If you aren't into sports, Old Settlers Park is down the road, and so is the largest indoor water park in America. And, of course, Downtown Round Rock is only eight miles away.

The accessibility of this community allows you to be close to everything, including HEB, Texan's favorite grocery store. You can also find Walgreens, restaurants, an urgent care, dentist, and animal Hospital within two miles of Forest Creek.

Forest Creek students feed into Round Rock ISD and attend Forest Creek Elementary, Ridgeview middle, Cedar Ridge High or Stony Point High, depending on where you live. There are also early childhood and higher education centers nearby.

Lake Forest 

Lake Forest is a master-planned community next to Forest Creek and shares some of the same amenities. Over 600 homes in this community range from 2,200 – 5,000 square feet and home prices are about $450,000 - $600,000. The annual HOA will cost you between $450 – $600, and the tax rate is 2.2%.

Here are some things you can do within the community:

• Play a game of tennis or go swimming.
• Shoot some hoops at the basketball court.
• Spend time at one of the two playgrounds in the neighborhood.
• Reserve the clubhouse for special events.

Lake Forest students feed into Round Rock ISD and attend Blackland Prairie Elementary, Ridgeview middle school, and Cedar Ridge or Stony Point High. 

Teravista

Teravista is a popular planned golf course community located in the rolling hills between Round Rock and Georgetown. It was started in the early 2000s and is in the final phase of new-home development. Schwarz Custom Homes is currently building in Haven at Teravista, the community's final residential development. This community will have 30 farmhouse-style residences ranging from 1,600 – 6,000 square feet. With the option for more space, home prices range from $235,000 to over 1.5 million dollars. The HOA is $5 - $8 per month, and the tax rate is roughly 2.4%.

This community has several fishing ponds, three community pools, playgrounds, parks, and trails. The amenity center consists of a fitness center, tennis courts, basketball courts, and an on-site dog washing station. There's also Club Wildflower, a park that features a second fitness center, a third pool complex, a gathering room, and a pavilion. If that wasn't enticing enough, you also have access to Rabbit Hill Park, which features three activity knots, Teravista's first splash pad, a 10-mile trail, an explorer park with a climbing net, and a dinosaur dig.

There are many retailers nearby, including the Round Rock Premium Outlets, IKEA, and HEB. Not only are you close to shops and restaurants, but you are also near the medical hub and have quick access to Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital and Baylor Scott and White.

Students living in Teravista are part of either Round Rock or Georgetown ISD. Round Rock ISD includes Teravista Elementary School, Hopewell Middle School, and Stony Point High School, and Georgetown ISD includes Carver Elementary, Tippit Middle School, and East View High School. You have either Texas State University or Texas A&M Health and Science Center at Round Rock for higher education options.

Behrens Ranch

Behrens Ranch is a 500-acre master-planned community located at San Bass Road and Wyoming Springs Drive. This community has just under 700 homes and is 23 miles away from Downtown Austin. These homes range in square footage between 1600 - 5000 square feet and are priced around $395,000 - $520,000. HOAs fees are $125 quarterly, and the tax rate is 2.2%.

Residents enjoy the same amenities as Teravista and include access to my favorite park, Southwest Williamson County Regional Park. Behrens Ranch also has easy access to shops and restaurants. 

Students would attend Round Rock ISD schools: Cactus Ranch Elementary, Walsh Middle School, and Round Rock High School.

Brushy Creek 

This community is made up of several different subdivisions that expand into Round Rock and Austin. It's north of 620, East of Palmer Lane, and west of IH-35. In other words, Brushy Creek is massive. 

Development for Brushy Creek began in the 70s, and it's an all-time favorite neighborhood in North Austin for many reasons. For one, it's close to everything; the new Apple campus, The Domain hosting major companies like VRBO, Facebook, and Amazon. Secondly, Brushy Creek is popular because of its top-rated school district. 

Brushy Creek offers four community parks and quick access to Round Rock's public parks as well. 

There are four pools, two of which are heated and are year-round. Residents can also enjoy tennis courts, greenbelt trails, disc golf, basketball courts, barbecue grills, and pavilions. You'll find homes built by some of the top builders in the area, and these homes range from 1100 - 4000 square feet. Newer homes built in the 2000s and after have an HOA costing up to $300 annually, and the tax rate is between 2.3% - 2.4%.

You have access to Walmart, Sam's Club, H Mart, and Target for your grocery shopping needs and significant retailers like TJ Maxx, Old Navy, and Home Goods. If you are doing some serious shopping, Lakeline Mall is only 8 miles away. Because of Brushy Creek's location, you can take advantage of the entertainment in Austin, Round Rock, and Pflugerville. 

Students who live in Brushy Creek would attend Round Rock ISD schools. Depending on whether you live in the North or South Part of Brushy Creek, they would go to Brushy Creek Elementary or Cactus Ranch Elementary, Cedar Valley Middle School or Walsh Middle, and McNeil or Round Rock High School.

Round Rock West

Round Rock West is a very established community with homes built in the 70s and 80s. These homes sit on a much larger lot, and the neighborhood is tucked away. Many people love living here because it feels secluded even though you are close to everything you need. La Frontera is 2.5 miles away and has significant retailers, including Sam's Club, World Market, Kohl's, Marshalls, and Barnes and Noble. There's also a Target, Walmart, and Party City nearby. On the other side of the neighborhood, you can find local eateries. Downtown Round Rock is two miles away and has plenty of things to do. 

There is Round Rock West Park within the community, which has a sand volleyball court, two tennis courts, a walking trail, and a playground. There's a very active Neighborhood Association, The Greater Round Rock West Neighborhood Association, which hosts many events each year.

Round Rock West students attend Deep Wood Elementary School, Chisholm Trail Middle School, and Round Rock High School, all within the community.