Neighborhood in Austin, Travis County

Living in Northwest Hills, Austin

A+

4th of 206areas in Austin
Overall score 97 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Austin overall: B-

Northwest Hills is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 4,100 people. It gets an A+, in the top 5% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 4th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on health and worst on cost of living.

  • Pricey
  • Short commutes
  • Lots of parks
  • Hail risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.5 mi
Pharmacy0.5 mi
Park0.2 mi
Cafe0.3 mi
Restaurant0.3 mi
Gym0.4 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.7 mi
Childcare0.4 mi
Library0.7 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
4,070
Median rent
$1,900
Median home value
$919,000
Household income
$153,500
Average commute
18 min
Homes owned
76%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Northwest Hills

Northwest Hills is a neighborhood in Austin with about 4,100 residents, homes built around 1975, mostly owner-occupied (76%) and 37% of households with children.

Our grade for Northwest Hills is A+. That puts it 4th of 206 areas we grade in Austin, a city that gets a B- overall.

Pros of living in Northwest Hills

  • Higher incomes. The median household earns $153,500, 64% higher than the Austin median.
  • Well-rated schools nearby. 3 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.5 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.2 miles away.

Cons of living in Northwest Hills

  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hail as very high in this part of town.

Northwest Hills report card

Each grade compares Northwest Hills with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade C-

    Median rent $1,900, homes cost 6.0x income.

    35 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade A-

    Median household income $153,500, 2.5% unemployed.

    85 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade A-

    Nearby schools average 88 of 100 on the state rating.

    82 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 422 violent crimes per 100k, 3,099 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade A-

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    81 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade A-

    Average commute 18 min, 44% work from home.

    82 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade A

    84% have a bachelor’s degree.

    92 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade A

    6.3% of adults uninsured.

    93 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade B-

    76% of homes owner-occupied.

    58 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade C

    93% of homes have broadband.

    48 of 100 vs TX areas

Northwest Hills compared with Austin

Better than Austin

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 76%33 points higher than Austin (43%)
  • Median household income: $153,50064% higher than Austin ($93,658)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 22%25 points lower than Austin (48%)

Worse than Austin

  • Median rent: $1,90010% higher than Austin ($1,729)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 1.6%4 points lower than Austin (5.3%)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • BDoss ElementaryElementary, Austin ISD0.1 mi
  • BMurchison MiddleMiddle, Austin ISD0.2 mi
  • BAnderson High SchoolHigh, Austin ISD1.6 mi

Cost of living in Northwest Hills

Median rent in Northwest Hills is $1,900 a month, 10% higher than the Austin median. A household would need about $76,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $919,000, 65% higher than the Austin median, which means a monthly payment of about $5,864 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereAustinTexas
Median rent10% higher than Austin$1,900$1,729$1,403
Median home value65% higher than Austin$919,000$555,300$283,800
Home value to incomeAbout the same as Austin6.0x5.9x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent25 points lower than Austin22%48%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them33 points higher than Austin76%43%63%
Vacant homesAbout the same as Austin5.7%5.6%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Austin197519941992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$5,864
Mortgage payment
$5,030
Property tax
$833
Median rent, for comparison
$1,900

Based on a $919,000 home in Northwest Hills, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereAustinTexas
Median household income64% higher than Austin$153,500$93,658$78,476
Unemployment rate2 points lower than Austin2.5%4.7%5.3%
People below the poverty line8 points lower than Austin4.2%12%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher25 points higher than Austin84%60%34%
Average commute24% lower than Austin18 min24 min27 min
Workers who work from home13 points higher than Austin44%31%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit4 points lower than Austin1.6%5.3%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet1 points lower than Austin93%94%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingLow
  • HurricanesModerate
  • TornadoesHigh
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesModerate
  • WildfiresModerate
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windLow

Who lives in Northwest Hills

Under 1823%
18 to 3413%
35 to 6444%
65 and over20%
Race and ethnicity
White75%
Hispanic or Latino16%
Black0.5%
Asian4.4%
Other or more than one race4.0%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Austin

  1. 1A+TarrytownMedian rent $3,280
  2. 2A+Glen RidgeMedian rent $1,190
  3. 3A+Appaloosa Run
  4. 4A+Westover HillsMedian rent $1,570
  5. 6A+The GroveMedian rent $1,870
  6. 7A+Violet Crown HeightsMedian rent $1,530
  7. 8A+Old West AustinMedian rent $3,270
  8. 9A+Balcones ParkMedian rent $2,860

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. A+MillportThe Woodlands
  2. A+Mandell PlaceHouston
  3. A+Old West EndHouston

Questions about Northwest Hills

Is Northwest Hills a good place to live?

Northwest Hills is a neighborhood in Austin, TX, home to about 4,100 people. It gets an A+, in the top 5% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 4th of 206 areas we score in Austin. It does best on health and worst on cost of living.

How much does it cost to live in Northwest Hills?

Renters in Northwest Hills pay a median of $1,900 a month, 10% higher than the Austin median. The median home is worth $919,000, 65% higher than the Austin median. A median home costs 6.0x the median household income, compared with 5.9x across Austin.

What schools serve Northwest Hills?

The closest rated public schools are Doss Elementary (elementary, rated B), Murchison Middle (middle, rated B) and Anderson High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 4 Census block groups closest to the Northwest Hills name on the map, so its edges are approximate. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.