Old West Austin
Historic live-oak streets five minutes from downtown: Old Enfield, Pemberton Heights and Bryker Woods, with Pease Park and the Shoal Creek Trail at your back door.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0), Todd Dwyer (CC BY-SA 3.0), Smokeybear69 (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Where it is & what it feels like
Old West Austin is the historic district on the plateau just west of downtown, running roughly from MoPac east to Lamar and Shoal Creek, and from W. 13th Street north to W. 35th. It is three neighborhoods in one: Old Enfield in the south, Pemberton Heights in the middle and Bryker Woods up north. Tarrytown sits across MoPac; Clarksville borders it to the south.
It was one of Austin’s first commuter suburbs, built out from the 1880s to the early 1940s, and it still feels that way: big live oaks, curving streets, little triangle parks and a mix of cottages, bungalows and grand period-revival homes. Downtown, UT and the Shoal Creek Trail are all minutes away, yet the streets stay quiet.
What you’ll find here
The housing stock
1920s–40s Tudor, Colonial and Spanish revival homes (the biggest lots are in Pemberton Heights), Craftsman bungalows and cottages in Bryker Woods and Old Enfield, and a steady stream of high-end remodels and new builds.
Condos, duplex units and small older homes near Lamar and W. 35th are the entry tier, usually $550K–$1M. Most single-family homes sell for well over $1M.
Typical home
- Price range
- $550K – $4.5M+
- Average size
- ~1,500–3,500 sq ft
- Beds / baths
- 2–5 bd / 2–4 ba
- Built
- 1920s–1950s, plus new builds
- HOA
- None on most homes
Kien’s tip: Old West Austin is a National Register district, and the city reviews demolition and some exterior changes to “contributing” homes. Check a home’s status before you plan a teardown or big addition, and budget for older foundations and plumbing.
Market snapshot
Redfin, 3 months ending August 2026: median down 7.3% from a year earlier, price per sq ft up 6.1%. Only ~18 sales a month, so the median swings with the mix of condos and large homes. Estimates only.
Want the actual sold comps, with photos, for the street you like?
Schools
Austin ISD, 2026–27. Old West Austin is split across three elementary zones, so check the exact address.
| Level | School(s) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Bryker Woods, Casis or Mathews Elementary (by street) | Casis rated 10/10 and Bryker Woods 8/10 on GreatSchools. Bryker Woods stays open in 2026–27; AISD revisits its future in fall 2026. |
| Middle | O. Henry Middle | Mathews students now move up to O. Henry for 6th grade |
| High | Austin High | On Lady Bird Lake, a short drive south |
Ratings from GreatSchools (via Eleven Oaks Realty). Check any address on the AISD 2026–27 school zone map and GreatSchools.
What would I pay each month?
Taxes are filled in for Old West Austin. Change anything.
Estimate only. Rate default reflects the ~7% national 30-yr average (Freddie Mac, Sept 2026). Tax rate is the 2025 combined rate for City of Austin / Austin ISD addresses. Homestead exemptions can lower taxes. Excludes PMI.
Parks, trails & garden cafés
Outdoors
Eat & drink
Everyday
Getting around
Drive-time estimates from the middle of Old West Austin (Pemberton Heights).
Approximate drive times: bright bar = off-peak, faded bar = weekday rush hour.
The honest pros & cons
Why buyers love it
- LocationMinutes to downtown, UT and MoPac
- Walkable & greenWalk Score ~83; Pease Park and Shoal Creek
- Historic characterLive oaks and 1920s–40s architecture
- Strong schoolsCasis 10/10, Bryker Woods 8/10
What to weigh
- PriceMost houses sell for over $1M
- Older homesFoundations, plumbing and remodel costs
- School changesBryker Woods’ future under AISD review
- Remodel rulesHistoric review on many demolitions
Common questions
How much does a home in Old West Austin cost?
The median sale price was about $1.24M over the three months ending August 2026 (Redfin), or about $691 per sq ft. Condos, duplex units and small older homes start around $550K–$1M; renovated and new single-family homes often run $1.5M–$4.5M+.
What neighborhoods make up Old West Austin?
Old Enfield in the south, Pemberton Heights in the middle and Bryker Woods in the north. Together they form the Old West Austin Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. It runs roughly from MoPac to Lamar and Shoal Creek, and from W. 13th to W. 35th Street.
What schools serve Old West Austin?
Austin ISD. Depending on the street, elementary is Bryker Woods, Casis or Mathews, then O. Henry Middle and Austin High. Bryker Woods stays open for 2026–27, and AISD is revisiting its future in fall 2026. Always check the exact address on AISD's school zone lookup.
Is Old West Austin walkable?
Yes, by Austin standards. Redfin lists a Walk Score around 83, and many homes are a walk from Pease Park, the Shoal Creek Trail, Tiny Boxwoods and the restaurants of Clarksville.
Are there HOA fees or MUD taxes in Old West Austin?
Most single-family homes have no HOA, and there is no MUD or PID. The combined City of Austin / Austin ISD rate is about 2.05% before exemptions. Condos carry HOA dues.
Nearby neighborhoods
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Information is gathered from public sources and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Prices, HOA dues, tax rates, school assignments and ratings change; verify independently before making decisions. Listing links open a third-party site (Zillow), whose inventory is not controlled by KienWithKeys.
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