Barton Hills for families buying in Austin
The single cleanest fit for our constraints. Budget matches median, schools match our stated values, commute is best-in-class.
Barton Hills is pick 1 in our Austin family home-search sample report, with a Barton Hills Elementary -> O. Henry MS -> Austin HS school pipeline.
Pick 1
78704
Barton Hills Elementary -> O. Henry MS -> Austin HS
10-15 min to downtown via Lamar/MoPac
Barton Hills schools: elementary, middle, and high pipeline
Barton Hills Elementary
GreatSchools State A (94/92/100) · Niche A
NCES 480894000297 · 351 students · grades K-6 · 11% free/reduced lunch
One of Austin ISD’s highest-scoring elementaries on Texas state accountability (TEA A rating, 94 overall). It’s in the Zilker/Barton Creek greenbelt orbit — tree canopy, park access, a kid-friendly walkable block pattern. Parents in reviews consistently call it warm and non-competitive, which matches our EQ-first preference.
O. Henry MS
GreatSchools Top 20 Travis Co · Niche A-
Highly rated overall (Niche “highly rated,” top 20 Travis County), but Niche parent reviews surface bullying concerns more than we’d like. Common reading: strong academics and programs, admin response to social issues is hit or miss. Action item: visit before committing.
Austin HS
GreatSchools US News competitive · Niche A-
This is the key reason Barton Hills is #1. Austin HS has AP participation at ~54% — squarely in the “balanced” band, not pressure-cooker. It runs an intentional SEL (social-emotional learning) curriculum and uses academy-based small learning communities. SAT average ~1230, graduation rate 93%, GPA average ~3.42. Matriculation is strongest to UT Austin, with regular placements at top privates and out-of-state flagships. It’s the holistic flagship of AISD.
Part of PREMIER HIGH SCHOOLS.
Barton Hills home prices and recent sold comps
- 2117 Sharon Ln, Austin, TX 78704 sold for $1,485,000 on Mar 12, 2026; 3/2, 1,820, $816/sqft. Verify listing
- 2207 Bluebonnet Ln, Austin, TX 78704 sold for $1,395,000 on Feb 2, 2026; 3/2, 1,652, $844/sqft. Verify listing
- 2410 Barton Skyway, Austin, TX 78704 sold for $1,650,000 on Jan 14, 2026; 4/2.5, 2,140, $771/sqft. Verify listing
- 2502 Barton Pkwy, Austin, TX 78704 sold for $1,520,000 on Dec 8, 2025; 3/2, 1,910, $796/sqft. Verify listing
- 2110 Kinney Rd, Austin, TX 78704 sold for $1,275,000 on Nov 28, 2025; 3/2, 1,580, $807/sqft. Verify listing
Lower Barton Hills (off Barton Skyway, Barton Parkway); Further from creek edge to stay out of flood plain
Rock Terrace Circle; Oakhaven Drive — $1.85M-$3M on recent comps
Pros and cons of Barton Hills for families
- Elite elementary (state A, 94 overall)
- Balanced (non-pressure-cooker) high school at Austin HS
- 10-15 min to downtown
- Tree canopy and park access
- Median lines up exactly with our budget
- Austin ISD enrollment decline is a 13-year risk (district-wide, not zone-specific)
- O. Henry middle school has some parent-surfaced bullying concerns — verify on visit
- Flood plain exposure on some edge streets
Barton Hills climate normals, FEMA flood zone, seismic hazard, crime, air quality, and insurance reality
70°F annual mean (59°F low / 81°F high), 36.3 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall per year (AUSTIN-CAMP MABRY, 6.7 mi away).
Station USW00013958 on NCEIFEMA flood zone X — area of minimal flood hazard. Flood insurance is optional but available.
View on FEMA Flood Map Service CenterLow earthquake hazard — peak ground acceleration 0.025g at the 2%-in-50-year design level (USGS NSHM E2014B).
View on USGS Hazard MapLatest AQI 52 (Moderate) driven by PM2.5 at the Austin reporting area on 2026-05-02.
View on AirNowStrong tree canopy. Flood-plain check required on edge streets near Barton Creek.
Barton Hills demographics from Census ACS (ACS 5-year 2023)
$97,160
$862,000
32%
50,479
ZIP 78704 · Travis County · Census tract 48453002002 · Full Census Reporter profile
The schools, demographics, and flood-zone data on this page come from public federal datasets — verifiable independently:
Barton Hills family home-search questions
How are the schools in Barton Hills?
Elementary (Barton Hills Elementary): One of Austin ISD’s highest-scoring elementaries on Texas state accountability (TEA A rating, 94 overall). It’s in the Zilker/Barton Creek greenbelt orbit — tree canopy, park access, a kid-friendly walkable block pattern. Parents in reviews consistently call it warm and non-competitive, which matches our EQ-first preference. Middle (O. Henry MS): Highly rated overall (Niche “highly rated,” top 20 Travis County), but Niche parent reviews surface bullying concerns more than we’d like. Common reading: strong academics and programs, admin response to social issues is hit or miss. Action item: visit before committing. High (Austin HS): This is the key reason Barton Hills is #1. Austin HS has AP participation at ~54% — squarely in the “balanced” band, not pressure-cooker. It runs an intentional SEL (social-emotional learning) curriculum and uses academy-based small learning communities. SAT average ~1230, graduation rate 93%, GPA average ~3.42. Matriculation is strongest to UT Austin, with regular placements at top privates and out-of-state flagships. It’s the holistic flagship of AISD.
What does a home cost in Barton Hills?
Recent sold comps in Barton Hills include 2117 Sharon Ln, Austin, TX 78704 at $1,485,000 (Mar 12, 2026, 3/2, 1,820, $816). Plus 4 other verified sold comps in the section above.
What's the commute from Barton Hills?
10-15 min to downtown via Lamar/MoPac
Compare Barton Hills against the rest of the short list.
Zilker
Essentially tied with Barton Hills on schools. Decide between them on which specific house you love more — it’s a tour-day decision.
Pick 3Hyde Park
The lifestyle winner. If we value walk-to-coffee and an arts-inflected school culture more than the Austin HS pipeline, Hyde Park jumps to #1.
Pick 4Allandale / Crestview
Strong backup. Becomes #1 if we prioritize square footage, new construction, and the Red Line over walkable lifestyle.
Pick 5Tarrytown / Bryker Woods
Skip unless a specific listing is a genuine unicorn. The Casis premium doesn’t change the middle or high school — they share O. Henry and Austin HS with Barton Hills.