Top Neighborhoods in Northwest Austin

Homebuyers and renters seek out areas in Northwest Austin because of their livability, spectacular scenic vistas, and top-rated schools. This fast-growing Austin neighborhood offers a calm, peaceful, and family-friendly atmosphere. Austin's tech businesses, shopping, restaurants, and event venues are just a few minutes away from most neighborhoods.

Homes in Northwest Austin have open floor layouts, large virgin lots ideal for mansions, and green places for fitness and relaxation.

Great Hills, Canyon Creek, River Place, and Steiner Ranch are some of the top neighborhoods in the Austin area. 

Great Hills:

Great Hills is a quiet, suburban family area set within the lush rolling hills, just minutes away from the best shopping and entertainment at The Arboretum and The Domain. Residents in the neighborhood have access to various facilities, including the ability to hike and cycle throughout the area while taking in the breathtaking vistas of the Hill Country. A nearby park with an 80-acre green space and a 1.7-mile hiking track is also worth seeing. Fitness centers, children's playscapes, and picnic spots are among the community's other features.

Great Hills was first constructed in the 1970s. Single-family homes and condos are available in the region, with styles ranging from mid-century modern to contemporary and even colonial revival. The prices range from $470,000 to $2,500,000. The tax rate is 2.2 percent, with HOA fees ranging from $0 to $25.

Round Rock ISD and Austin ISD serve Great Hills. Round Rock children attend Laurel Mountain Elementary, Canyon Vista Middle, and Westwood High School. Depending on the neighborhood, Hill Elementary, Murchison Middle School, and Anderson High School are zoned for Austin ISD students.

What makes this community so unique is that it's tucked away in the hills, yet major shopping and high-end retailers, grocery stores, and entertainment are right at this neighborhood's doorstep. Great Hills is located between SH 360 and highway 183, and it's also a short distance from Texas loop 1. It's just 13 miles from downtown Austin and four miles from The Domain, aka uptown, as I like to call it. 

Canyon Creek:

Canyon Creek was once a ranch and hunting preserve that the Blanton Company later developed in the late 1980s. This residential area is nestled in far Northwest Austin about five miles from Lake Austin and Lake Travis. Canyon Creek provides benefits to members and residents in good standing with the Canyon Creek HOA. To enter fenced amenities in the region, you'll need an amenity keycard. Pools, tennis courts, pathways, and a pavilion are just a few of the community's popular features.

The exteriors of the houses are made of stone and brick. Single-story and two-story homes with three to five bedrooms and two to three vehicle garages are available. The sizes of homes range from 1,750 square feet to over 4,000 square feet. How much will it set you back? They start at half a million dollars and work their way up. Taxes are 2.3 percent, and annual HOA dues range from $170 to $526. Canyon Creek provides access to north Austin's amenities and those in Cedar Park, which means there are plenty of entertainment and food alternatives.

Canyon Creek children will attend Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD. If kids are zoned to Round Rock ISD, they will attend Canyon Creek Elementary, Christian Middle School, and Westwood High School; if they are zoned to Leander ISD, they will attend Cypress Creek Elementary, Four Points Middle, and Vandergrift High School.

River Place:

River Place is a picturesque country club neighborhood in Northwest Austin, 15 miles from Downtown Austin and to the east of Steiner Ranch. There are approximately 1,100 homes in this golf and waterfront community, with plenty of homes for sale, including luxury living, boathouses, swimming pools, spacious lots, and panoramic views of creeks and canyonlands.

If you want to be close to the city while still being close to nature, River Place is the community for you. River Place is surrounded by the splendor of Lake Austin, Lake Travis, and local parks. Without leaving the neighborhood, you may go for a walk, hike, bike ride, or picnic. Residents also have access to a private marina, ideal for swimming, kayaking, and canoeing. 

There are Spanish and Mediterranean-style homes and Texas-style homes with stucco and stone. Here, residences range in size from 2,500 to over 4,000 square feet. How much will it cost you? The cost of a home can range from $655,000 to more than 2.5 million dollars. Taxes range from 2.5 percent to 2.6 percent, with HOA dues ranging from $240 to $1,200 each year.

The Arboretum, Lakeline Mall, Hill Country Galleria, Four Point Centre, and Quinlan Crossing are all nearby for shopping and entertainment, including grocery stores, cafes, and other retail outlets for your everyday needs.

River Place is served by the Leander Independent School District, with children attending Steiner Elementary, Four Points Middle School, and Vandergrift High School. 

Steiner Ranch:

The Steiner Ranch community in Northwest Austin is flanked by Lake Travis and Lake Austin and has a resort-like air because of its amenities. Steiner Ranch is a 4,600-acre master-planned community located 30-45 minutes from Downtown Austin. It's one of the best locations to live if you want convenience, solitude, and a sense of belonging.

If you enjoy nature, you'll love being here because the neighborhood boasts over 1,500 square feet of green space dedicated to wildlife habitats and greenbelts. The Lake Club on Lake Austin is one of the community features that offers a private membership. With over 12 miles of nature paths, several parks, and ten golf courses, you can easily maintain your active lifestyle while admiring the natural surroundings.

Home prices range from $400,000 to over two million dollars. The tax rate is 2.4 percent, and the HOA dues range from 800 to 2,200 dollars annually.