Living in Tarrytown, Austin
Tarrytown is not just an Austin zip code. It is an identity. Bounded roughly by Lake Austin Boulevard to the south, Exposition Boulevard to the east, Windsor Road to the north, and the Lake Austin shoreline to the west, Tarrytown occupies one of the most desirable pockets of real estate in all of Central Texas. The neighborhood has been drawing Austin's most discerning buyers for over a century, and the reasons have not changed much. Tarrytown offers something increasingly rare: a quiet, connected lifestyle within a major city, where neighbors know each other by name and kids still ride bikes to school.

A Neighborhood with Deep Roots
Tarrytown's history traces back to 1853, when the land was part of a 365-acre estate built for Texas State Comptroller James Shaw. By the 1870s, it had passed to Governor Elisha M. Pease, and by 1915, the land was subdivided and opened to development. The name "Tarrytown" came in the 1930s, borrowed from a village in upstate New York known for its quiet charm. That name has never felt more fitting than it does today.

The early homes of Tarrytown reflect the architectural sensibilities of their eras: Tudor Revival with steeply pitched roofs and arched doorways, Spanish Colonial Revival with warm stucco and red tile, Craftsman bungalows with wide front porches, and Colonial Revival homes with formal symmetry. Many of these homes still stand, beautifully maintained and deeply valued by their owners. In recent decades, Tarrytown has also welcomed thoughtful new construction, transitional homes that honor the scale and character of the neighborhood without trying to replicate it. The result is Austin's most architecturally varied luxury neighborhood, where no two blocks are quite the same.

The Tarrytown Real Estate Market
The Tarrytown real estate market is one of the most nuanced in Austin, and it rewards buyers and sellers who understand it. As of June 2026, Tarrytown shows a median sold price of $1.7M, 31 active listings, and an average of 81 days on market, with 69 closed sales in the trailing 12 months. The sale-to-list ratio holds at 92%, and the market carries roughly 5.4 months of supply. Price per square foot averages $712 for single-family residences.

What makes Tarrytown transactions distinct is the land-versus-improvement equation. On interior lots, land value can represent 60 to 70 percent of the total price. That means the decision between renovating and tearing down is not just aesthetic, it is one of the most important financial decisions in a Tarrytown transaction. We evaluate that question for every client we work with in Tarrytown, because getting it wrong is expensive.

Tarrytown also has a meaningful off-market component. Roughly 20 to 30 percent of luxury transactions in Tarrytown happen before a property ever reaches the public MLS. Premium lots with Lake Austin views, large live oak canopies, or creek frontage are especially likely to trade quietly. Our access to the Compass Private Exclusives network means we see those opportunities before most buyers do.

Why Families Choose Tarrytown
The single strongest demand driver in Tarrytown is Casis Elementary School. Families relocate to Tarrytown specifically for the Casis-O. Henry-Austin High path, which is considered one of the best public school sequences in Austin ISD. Spring listings in Tarrytown, particularly those from February through May, tend to capture peak demand from families locking in school enrollment for the following year. If you are selling a Tarrytown home in a Casis attendance zone, that assignment is one of the most valuable things about your property, and we lead with it.

Beyond Casis, Tarrytown wins on walkability and proximity in a way that no other Austin luxury neighborhood can match. This is one of the only places in Austin where you can walk to a coffee shop, bike to Lady Bird Lake, and drive downtown in under 10 minutes. That combination does not exist in Westlake Hills, Northwest Hills, or Barton Creek. It is the reason Tarrytown commands premium pricing despite being in Austin ISD rather than Eanes ISD.

Tarrytown's Daily Geography
Living in Tarrytown means you are 8 to 12 minutes from downtown Austin, 10 to 15 minutes from UT, 20 to 25 minutes from The Domain, and 20 to 25 minutes from Austin-Bergstrom Airport via MoPac. Casis Village on Exposition Boulevard handles daily errands, groceries at Randalls, dry cleaning, and local dining, within a 5-minute walk or drive for most Tarrytown residents.

Red Bud Isle, a 13-acre peninsula park at the mouth of Lake Austin, is five minutes west and one of the best dog parks in the city. Walsh Boat Landing provides public water access for kayaking, paddleboarding, and boating. Deep Eddy Pool, the oldest swimming pool in Texas, has been a Tarrytown institution since 1915. And the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail is accessible from the eastern edge of the neighborhood, giving runners and cyclists direct trail access without getting in a car.

Culture, Community, and the Tarrytown Feel
Tarrytown has a rhythm that most Austin neighborhoods lost during the city's growth boom. The streets are quiet. The trees are old. People walk. This is not a neighborhood built for nightlife or neon, it is built for a life well lived, with unhurried mornings, strong community ties, and beauty at every turn.

Local institutions like Tarrytown Pharmacy, open since 1941, and cultural landmarks like Laguna Gloria, the stunning lakeside estate that is now home to The Contemporary Austin, give Tarrytown a sense of place that goes beyond real estate. Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve, where peacocks roam freely among lily ponds and palm trees, is the kind of thing that reminds you why people choose to live here and not just buy here.

Mozart's Coffee Roasters on the lake is a neighborhood staple, known for live music, sunset views, and the kind of holiday light show that draws the whole city. Tarrytown United Methodist Church, neighborhood associations, and the Casis Elementary community anchor the social calendar with block parties, seasonal events, and the annual holiday home tour that has been a tradition for decades.

How Tarrytown Compares
Tarrytown buyers almost always compare the neighborhood to Bryker Woods, Old Enfield, Pemberton Heights, and Westlake Hills. Here is how Tarrytown stacks up honestly:

Bryker Woods offers similar Austin ISD walkability, but Tarrytown has deeper lots, more architectural range, and higher price ceilings. Old Enfield sits even closer to downtown with strong walkability, but lots are tighter and price per square foot runs higher. Pemberton Heights is the most prestigious address in 78703, with the largest lots and highest prices. Tarrytown gives you more variety at lower entry points while sharing the same school path. Westlake Hills offers Eanes ISD and Hill Country character, but Tarrytown's 8 to 12 minute downtown commute outperforms Westlake's 15 to 18 every time. Families who must have Eanes choose Westlake. Families who want walkability, character, and proximity choose Tarrytown.

Selling in Tarrytown
If you are thinking about selling a home in Tarrytown, the strategy matters as much as the timing. We approach every Tarrytown listing by first evaluating the land-versus-improvement question, identifying the right buyer pool, and determining whether your property is best positioned for public marketing or a private, off-market approach. Casis Elementary assignment, lot size, canopy coverage, and proximity to Lake Austin all shape the strategy.

I would love to walk you through a Tarrytown pricing analysis specific to your property.