$519,606Average Value$222Average Price per Sq Ft29Homes For Sale
A residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Austin
Located about 10 miles outside of Austin, Manchaca is an area whose name is pronounced as if the letter “A” at the end of its moniker didn’t exist. Debate persists about the actual origin of the name. Some attribute it to a misspelling of Antonio Menchaca, who served in the Texian Army during the Texas Revolution, while others chalk it up to the Bayou Manchac in Louisiana; Menchaca’s last name is also used for a local road and elementary school. Still others argue it is a case of simple misunderstanding, as the area’s springs were recorded as “Manjack’s Springs” by a 19th-century explorer, a name that was misread as “Manshack Springs.” Regardless of the origin of its pronunciation, Manchaca has transformed into a modern-day residential area between the fringes of Austin and an increasingly rural landscape farther out from the city. “It’s a really laid-back area,” says Heidi Trevithick, a Realtor with JBGoodwin Realtors. “You’re still close to shopping centers, if that’s what you want, but if you get close enough to Manchaca itself, it’s a lot more small-business-oriented and kind of beats to its own drum. Manchaca is kind of like a bridgeway to South Austin and to the Hill Country.”
A gorgeous two story traditional home located in the green and scenic Manchaca.
A birds-eye view of the lovely Arroyo Doble area in Manchaca.
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Single-family homes situated throughout Manchaca
Much of Manchaca is residential, and most of the properties in the neighborhood are single-family homes. The southwestern corner of Manchaca is occupied by the Hills of Bear Creek community, which offers homes close together on flat lots, typically fronted by wide driveways and sidewalks. "Manchaca is an unincorporated township,” Trevithick says. “It doesn’t have a mayor or city council. A lot of the neighborhoods are on community wells, but some of the newer neighborhoods are connected to city water depending on where you fall in Manchaca.”
The rest of the neighborhood takes on more of a suburban form, with homes on larger, grassy lots separated by trees, and residences often have stone exteriors and take the form of ranch-style homes, split-levels or Craftsmans. Priceshere typically range from $500,000 to $700,000. “Manchaca is a mix of older neighborhoods from the 1980s, which are in Manchaca proper, and newer neighborhoods built in the early 2000s,” Trevithick says. “Some are split-levels on half-acre-to-acre-sized lots, and there are more estate-sized homes. You have a mix that have been renovated, or have original owners still living in them.” Manchaca has a CAP crime score of 4 out of 10, on par with the national average.
A couple of picturesque ranch homes overlooking Arroyo Doble in Manchaca.
A row of newly developed traditional homes located in Manchaca.
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Local restaurants serving up classic Tex-Mex
Locals can head to the north side of Manchaca to dine out. Along 1626, the Manchaca Springs Saloon offers food, cocktails and even live music, while Mi Ranchito Restaurant serves up Mexican fare. “It’s very small-business-focused,” Trevithick says. “There are a ton of new restaurants and bars that have opened up along Menchaca Avenue. There’s Armadillo Den, Lustre Pearl, the South Austin Beer Garden and there’s a pickleball bar. It’s exploding when it comes to small businesses.” Along Menchaca Avenue, diners can also find locations like the Texican Café, Macho Taco and Culture Club, the latter of which serves up draft beer and pizza. “There aren’t a lot of chains in the area,” Trevithick says, “but Southpark Meadows is pretty close,” referencing a shopping mall that is less than 5 miles away and home to retailers such as Walmart, Best Buy and Ross.
The Texican Cafe near Manchaca is a friendly spot to stop for a drink.
Locals in Manchaca can grab breakfast or lunch at Mucho Taco.
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Dog-friendly watering holes and abundant natural beauty
In the southwestern part of the neighborhood, the Manchaca Youth Optimist Sports Complex consists of seven baseball and softball fields and accommodates youth leagues. “The baseball and softball fields are a real gem and packed all the time with families,” Trevithick says. Less than two miles east, the Watering Bowl allows dogs to roam around off-leash while pet parents can have a drink at the bar, which features a selection of beers, ciders and non-alcoholic drinks.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park are each less than 10 miles from central Manchaca. The Wildflower Center is a botanical garden spanning almost 300 acres and featuring arboretums and trails. Visitors can see more than 900 species of native Texas plants in different gardens and natural areas, and the Center hosts an annual fall event called Fortlandia, which invites participants to create floral-themed forts. Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park has horseback pathways, disc golf and a playground. Hikers, joggers and cyclists will also find multiple trails within the park, which is also the home of a radio-controlled airplane field patronized by hobby enthusiasts. “Those two parks are a big deal,” Trevithick says. Anglers can cast lines for bass and other fish in Little Bear Creek, which winds through central Manchaca.
A Great Dane enjoying an exciting day at The Watering Bowl in Manchaca.
Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park Observation Deck is a great spot to end a nice long hike.
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Austin’s event calendar has a range of annual offerings
The event calendar in nearby Austin is full of annual happenings that appeal to a broad range of interests. Less than 20 miles east of Manchaca, Circuit of the Americas is a landmark motorsports venue that hosts NASCAR, Formula 1, endurance racing and MotoGP races each year. The track also has concerts on its yearly slate, as well as driving experiences for visitors. The Austin City Limits Music Festival takes place each October for three days across each of two weekends, featuring hundreds of musicians ranging from national to international. Other annual staples include the Austin Marathon, which brings tens of thousands of runners to the city, and the South by Southwest festival spotlighting music, film, technology and media.
Indian Springs Fall Festival is a great event in November for families in Manchaca.
Locals can enjoy the vendors at the Budaful Farmers' Market every Sunday.
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Hopping on MoPac or Interstate 35
Locals are six miles or less from getting on either of two nearby highways. “What’s nice about Manchaca is that you have access to Interstate 35 and the MoPac Expressway,” Trevithick says. “We’re right in between those two freeways. You can also get to downtown through various roads that take you straight there, and you don’t have to touch the freeway.” Drivers can get to the MoPac Expressway via State Highway 45, a toll road, to the west of Manchaca. In the opposite direction, Interstate 35 is about 3 miles east. Downtown Austin sits less than 20 miles northwest. I-35 spans much of the country north-to-south, but within Texas the highway links the Austin area with cities like Laredo, San Antonio and Dallas.
Journalistic recognition at Akins High School
Students can attend schools within the expansive Austin Independent School District, which earns an overall grade of A-minus from Niche. They can begin at the B-rated Menchaca Elementary School on the north side of the neighborhood Paredes Middle School receives a C-plus, while Akins High School also gets a B. Akins High’s student newspaper goes under the masthead of “The Eagle’s Eye” and has won numerous awards from national organizations. In 2024, the school won 18 Interscholastic League Press Conference awards in recognition of work in the newspaper’s print and online editions.
Akins High School is a public school in the Austin I.S.D. and serves locals in Manchaca.
Menchaca Elementary School provides a strong foundation in early education.
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Written By
Adam Cheek
Photography Contributed By
Austin Rowdy Winters
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Adelina Rotar,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Manchaca, TX sell after 60 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Manchaca, TX over the last 12 months is $477,500, down 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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