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Neighborhoods / South & Southwest Austin / Zilker

Central Austin · ZIP 78704

Zilker

Barton Springs, Zilker Park and the hike-and-bike trail in your backyard, a 9/10-rated elementary, and some of Austin's best restaurants, minutes from downtown.

What would I pay monthly?

~$1.44MMedian sale price

~$664Price per sq ft

Austin ISDZilker · O. Henry · Austin High

NoneHOA on most homes

~2.05%Property tax rate

~2 miTo downtown

Zilker Park's lawns with the skyline beyond

Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Todd Dwyer from Austin, Texas, USA (CC BY-SA 2.0), Mwyzykowski0821 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Spawnzilla (CC BY-SA 4.0).

01 · Overview

Where it is & what it feels like

Zilker sits just south of Lady Bird Lake in 78704, bounded roughly by the railroad and South Lamar to the east, Barton Skyway and Lightsey Road to the south and Rabb Road and Rae Dell Avenue to the west. Its namesake, 351-acre Zilker Metropolitan Park, hosts ACL Music Festival every fall.

It's one of Austin's most in-demand neighborhoods: mid-century bungalows next to sleek modern builds on tree-lined streets, with Barton Springs Pool, the hike-and-bike trail and South Lamar's restaurants all walkable or bikeable.

Zilker ParkBarton SpringsSouth LamarBarton Hills (next door)Lady Bird Lake

02 · Homes

What you'll find here

The housing stock

Mid-century bungalows, updated traditional homes and modern new builds, from smaller cottages to large estates. Many older homes have been replaced or expanded, so prices depend heavily on lot and condition.

Condos and townhomes offer a lower-cost way into the neighborhood.

Typical home

Price range: $650K – $3.2M
Median size: ~2,300 sq ft
Beds / baths: 2–6 bd / 1–7 ba
Built: 1940s – today
HOA: None on most single-family homes

Kien's tip: In Zilker, the lot is often worth as much as the house. I'll help you compare lot size, zoning and what could be built before you offer.

03 · Market

Market snapshot

~$1.44MMedian sale price

~$664Price per sq ft

~31Median days on market

~95%Sale-to-list price

12 months ending August 2026, 69 homes sold (Eleven Oaks Realty, from MLS data). Estimates; figures change monthly.

Want the actual sold comps, with photos, for the street you like?

04 · Schools

Schools

Austin ISD, 2026–27 feeder pattern.

Level	School(s)	Note
Elementary	Zilker Elementary	Rated 9/10 on GreatSchools
Middle	O. Henry Middle	Rated 6/10
High	Austin High	Rated 7/10

Ratings from GreatSchools (Sept 2026, via Eleven Oaks Realty). Check any address on the AISD 2026–27 school zone map and GreatSchools.

05 · Cost of living here

What would I pay each month?

Taxes are filled in for Zilker. Change anything.

Home price Down payment % Rate % Tax rate % HOA $/mo Insurance $/yr

Estimated monthly payment

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.

06 · Local favorites

Springs, trails & dining

Outdoors

Barton Springs PoolSpring-fed and about 68° year-round

Zilker Metropolitan Park351 acres, home of ACL Music Festival

Butler Hike-and-Bike TrailLoops Lady Bird Lake into downtown

Eat & drink

UchiAcclaimed Japanese on South Lamar

Odd DuckFarm-to-table favorite on South Lamar

LoroAsian smokehouse and patio

Culture

Zilker Botanical GardenGardens next to the park

Umlauf Sculpture GardenOutdoor sculpture museum

ZACH TheatreProfessional theater by the lake

07 · Commute

Getting around

One of the most bikeable areas in Austin. MoPac and South Lamar are the main car routes.

Approximate drive times: bright bar = off-peak, faded bar = weekday rush hour.

08 · Kien's take

The honest pros & cons

Why buyers love it

Unbeatable locationBarton Springs, Zilker Park and downtown minutes away
Top elementaryZilker Elementary rated 9/10
Walk and bikeTrails, restaurants and coffee close by
Strong demandOne of Austin’s most sought-after areas

What to weigh

High pricesMedian around $1.44M
Event crowdsACL Fest and park events bring traffic
Older homesBungalows often need big updates
Taxes around 2%On a high assessed value

09 · FAQ

Common questions

How much does a home in Zilker cost?

The median was about $1.44M for the 12 months ending August 2026, with sales from about $650K to $3.2M.

What schools serve Zilker?

Austin ISD: Zilker Elementary (9/10), O. Henry Middle and Austin High. Verify the exact address.

Can you walk to Barton Springs from Zilker?

Yes. Barton Springs Pool and Zilker Park are within walking or biking distance of most of the neighborhood.

How far is Zilker from downtown Austin?

About 2 miles: 5 minutes off-peak, or an easy bike ride on the hike-and-bike trail.

Zilker or Travis Heights?

Both are close-in 78704 favorites. Zilker has Barton Springs and a 9/10 elementary; Travis Heights has South Congress and slightly lower prices. I’m happy to tour both.

10 · Also consider

Nearby neighborhoods

Travis Heights$700K–$2M · South Congress Tarrytown$750K–$5M+ · Casis Elementary Downtown & Rainey$350K–$2M+ · high-rise living

Buying or selling in Zilker?

Let's find the right Zilker street.

I'll compare lots, updates and what homes actually sold for, and tell you which blocks are closest to the park, in English or Vietnamese.

Call/Text 737-202-7766

New to Austin? Read the Moving to Austin relocation guide: commutes to Tesla, Samsung and Downtown, budgets, school districts and Texas property taxes.

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.