Barton Hills
Garden strolls and disc golf at Zilker Metropolitan Park
Zilker Metropolitan Park – the crown jewel of Austin's parks – flanks the northern end of Barton Hills, offering immediate access to 350 sprawling acres of activities, including a disc golf course, sand volleyball pits, a dog park, a rugby field and rocks to climb. If looking for a more leisurely pastime, a stroll through the botanical gardens or the Umlauf Sculpture Garden might be the cure. Not to mention the park is lined with walking paths and hiking trails, like the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, which connects with pedestrian bridges to reach parks on the north shore of Lady Bird Lake. The Barton Creek Greenway is ideal for quiet nature hikes, totaling 7.5 miles of rugged trail that snakes through a sublime canopy of greenery along Barton Creek, leading to a number of hidden swimming holes popular with locals. But every activity in the park pales in comparison to the Barton Springs Municipal Pool, easily one of Austin's most famous attractions. The 3-acre spring-fed pool pumps out millions of gallons of water daily, usually sitting around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, making it a popular swimming spot year-round. Barton Springs is also the only known place on earth where the Barton Springs Salamander can be found – an endangered species that helped earn the pool's status as a federally protected habitat.A-rated schools within walking distance
Some buyers are enticed by the neighborhood's high-performing and community-oriented schools, beginning with Barton Hills Elementary, rated A-minus by Niche and located right along the Greenway. "It's walkable from quite a bit of the neighborhood," Haines says. Barton Hills Elementary emphasizes a green-minded education with numerous environmental programs, including a composting program and an organic vegetable garden where students grow produce to donate to local food banks. The next step is O. Henry Middle School, which also has an A-minus Niche score and offers a variety of both fine art and STEM courses. O. Henry Middle is also a member of the national STEM program Project Lead The Way. For grades 9 through 12, students attend Austin High School, an A-rated school just across Lady Bird Lake in Downtown. Open since 1881, Austin High School is the oldest continuously operating public high school in Texas. But the school keeps up with the modern age by offering four specialty academies that students enroll in, each offering a variety of unique educational experiences, such as guest speakers and travel opportunities.Meeting neighbors at parades and ACL Festival
There are tons of ways to meet neighbors in Barton Hills, including a number of smaller neighborhood activities, like a Fourth of July Parade. "The elementary school is how a lot of folks come together, like the carnival every fall, so if you've got kids there, you're going to events all the time," Haines says. Zilker Metropolitan Park is also a magnet for events and other activities. The Austin Nature and Science Center plays home to rotating exhibits throughout the year in addition to frequent programs and events, including summer camps for kids. But with Austin being dubbed the "live music capital of the world," no event in Zilker Metropolitan Park compares to the two-weekend jamboree of Austin City Limits Festival. "Believe it or not, when I go to ACL Fest, I see lots of my neighbors there," Haines says.Old haunts and newer businesses spice up Lamar Boulevard
Lamar Boulevard is one of the main commercial strips for South Austin and it has long been known for its community of local institutions that helped establish the area's characteristically weird vibes. But quite a few of the strip's "cool old haunts," as Haines calls them, have closed their doors over the years, replaced by chains and new businesses. Multiple big box stores and supermarkets can now be found in a variety of shopping centers like Lakehills Plaza, including a Target and a Sprouts Market. But several institutions still remain, such as the Broken Spoke – one of the oldest and most famous honky tonk bars in Texas. Up the road, Matt's El Rancho has continued to satisfy customers with its renowned brisket tacos since opening in 1952. Residents can still get their caffeine fix and cafe meals from Kerbey Lane Cafe – a beloved neighborhood meetup point open since 1980. "That area, personally, is my favorite area in Austin," says Realtor Lexi Castles of Compass RE Texas. "It's got a lot of the old Austin vibes and a lot of the old restaurants like Jackson Pub, it's got the music, Peter Pan Mini Golf. But then it's also got all the new, more trendy restaurants. So, it's a really, really cool place."From midcentury modesty to postmodern luxury
As Austin continues its trend of rapid growth, Barton Hills continues to evolve with it. Especially over the last 10 years, midcentury ranchers shrouded in small thickets of ash and live oak trees are filling out the edges of their lots. "Because this neighborhood has big lots and the houses have got some separation, a lot of the 1970s and 60s style houses over here, if they're not in good condition, they're being torn down. And what they're being replaced with is luxury stuff," Haines says. This trend includes a wide variety of newer home designs, including some whacky postmodern homes with luxury fixtures like floor-to-ceiling windows and backyard pools. The trend has widened the price range for single-family homes considerably. Some original midcentury designs still sell for around $550,000, but many are purchased for over $1 million. Meanwhile, those newer luxury homes can fetch prices that typically begin at $1 million and sometimes go over $3 million.Frequent traffic on Lamar Boulevard
Although students walk to school and the Greenway adds some shortcuts, Barton Hills' topography makes it less walkable for some residents. Most rely on a car to get around but traffic in South Austin, especially along Lamar Boulevard, is constant. For an alternative option, some residents use CapMetro bus routes on Lamar Boulevard for trips into and around the city.Flooding and erosion on Barton Creek
With a rushing creek forming its northern edges, flood zones abut half the neighborhood. In fact, the neighborhood sits on the precipice of Hill Country – a region highly prone to flash flooding due to its long dry spells followed by sudden downpours. But the canyon that Barton Creek follows is several feet lower than the elevation of most homes, protecting most properties from even the worst of floods. However, rushing flood waters can still present a risk of mudslides and erosion.


Agents Specializing in this Area
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Desiree Gutierrez
Responds QuicklyCompass RE Texas, LLC
(855) 929-5710
80 Total Sales
2 in Barton Hills
$1.3M - $7M Price Range
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Ross Melby
Compass RE Texas, LLC
(888) 612-4229
30 Total Sales
1 in Barton Hills
$1,100,000 Price
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Peter Dennison
Keller Williams Realty
(877) 689-3002
40 Total Sales
1 in Barton Hills
$1,230,000 Price
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Adam Baker
Compass RE Texas, LLC
(512) 831-7404
88 Total Sales
2 in Barton Hills
$468K - $2.7M Price Range
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Matt Richard
Kuper Sotheby's Int'l Realty
(512) 357-7986
57 Total Sales
1 in Barton Hills
$1,570,000 Price
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Jonny Wells
Responds QuicklyeXp Realty, LLC
(888) 364-3379
33 Total Sales
1 in Barton Hills
$550,000 Price
Schools
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, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Parks in this Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Barton Hills | US |
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Homicide | 2 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
Robbery | 4 | 4 |
Burglary | 4 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
Larceny | 5 | 4 |
Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Barton Hills Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Barton Hills, Austin sell after 100 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Barton Hills, Austin over the last 12 months is $369,000, up 12% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Open Houses
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Saturday, Aug 211am - 1pm
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Sunday, Aug 31 - 3pm
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Saturday, Aug 22 - 4pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
Some Transit
Transit Score®
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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