Area guide

Westlake

Top-rated public schools, hill-country lots, ten minutes to downtown

Price per sqft

$650-$800+ (West Lake Hills median ~$675, Feb 2026)

Population

~3,300 West Lake Hills city | ~2.62M metro

Crime scale

Very low for United States

~700 property crimes per 100,000 (relo estimate), Westlake

Overview

Westlake is where most relocating families with school-age children land first. Eanes ISD is the draw, and the hills give larger lots and views ten minutes from downtown. Inventory is thin and turns over slowly, so the right house is often found through an agent before it lists.

Compare areas

Structured fit signals used in matching, same fields across every area.

School fit
5/5
Eanes ISD: Westlake High School and its feeder elementaries are the reason most families choose the area.
Tax position
4/5
No Texas state income tax; property tax often runs near 2% of appraised value, so carrying cost is the real bill.
Commute
4/5
Loop 1 (MoPac) and Loop 360 to downtown in 10 to 20 minutes; AUS is about 25 to 35 minutes.
Family network density
5/5
Established professional and executive households, with a growing share of relocated tech and finance families from California and the Northeast.
Inventory in price band
3/5
Mostly single-family on large, sloped lots.

Best for

· Families prioritising top public schools
· Executives wanting space close to downtown
· Buyers who want hill-country views without a long commute

Key neighborhoods

· West Lake Hills, small incorporated city with large wooded lots
· Davenport Ranch, newer homes with hill-country views
· Lost Creek, family-friendly with golf and greenbelt access

Commute and access

Loop 1 (MoPac) and Loop 360 to downtown in 10 to 20 minutes; AUS is about 25 to 35 minutes.

Housing profile

Mostly single-family on large, sloped lots. Texas has no income tax but property tax is high, often around 2% of appraised value, and Eanes ISD homes carry it in full.

Key tradeoffs

· Very low turnover; good houses sell before they list
· High property tax bills on high valuations
· Limited walkability; nearly every trip is by car

Demographics

Established professional and executive households, with a growing share of relocated tech and finance families from California and the Northeast.

Schools overview

Eanes ISD: Westlake High School and its feeder elementaries are the reason most families choose the area. Private options nearby include St. Stephen's Episcopal School and St. Andrew's Episcopal School.

Restaurants & bars

Where we would take you in your first month in Westlake. A handful of places locals return to, picked by relo for a family dinner, a celebration or meeting new neighbours, so you can skip the trial and error and feel at home sooner.

Sway
Restaurant · West Lake Hills, Bee Caves Road
Modern Thai served family style, with a rooftop deck.
Baldinucci Pizza Romana
Restaurant · West Lake Hills, Bee Caves Road
Family-run Roman-style pizza by the slice; closed Mondays.
The Grove Wine Bar and Kitchen
Restaurant and bar · Westlake, Bee Caves Road
Wine-led kitchen with a long list by the glass and hill-country views.
Saffron South
Restaurant · Westlake, Bee Caves Road
Indian cooking with a dedicated Nepalese menu, including momos.
The County Line on the Hill
Restaurant · Bee Cave Road, west of Westlake
Texas barbecue on a hilltop, open for 50 years.