Hill Country Austin Enclave
Welcome to West Lake Hills, a small Travis County city on the western edge of Austin, rising into the hills of the Texas Hill Country.
West Lake Hills—locally known simply as Westlake—is a small city in Travis County, Texas, on the western edge of Austin where the city meets the Texas Hill Country. With a population of about 3,440, it covers roughly four square miles of hills, oak woodlands, and winding residential streets. The city was founded and incorporated as a village on September 9, 1953, to serve as a residential community for Austin's workforce. From the beginning, West Lake Hills was shaped by its hilly terrain and its position just outside the Austin city limits, and it has remained a primarily residential enclave rather than a commercial center. Its residents receive mail through the city of Austin, reflecting the close relationship between the two municipalities. West Lake Hills is the only city located entirely within the Eanes Independent School District, and the district is a central part of the community's identity. Students are zoned to Eanes elementary and middle schools and attend Westlake High School, one of the region's most recognized public high schools. The city's character is defined by its Hill Country setting. Steep limestone hills, oak and juniper woodlands, and deep lots give West Lake Hills a distinctly different feel from the flatter neighborhoods to the east, and the city has long maintained its large-lot, low-density residential character. Its western edge approaches the Barton Creek watershed and the open edge of the Hill Country. For residents, West Lake Hills offers a combination that is unusual in the Austin area: a small incorporated city with its own government, a top-tier school district, and a Hill Country landscape, all within minutes of downtown Austin and the city's major employers. Shopping, dining, and services are found nearby in the surrounding Westlake area and in central Austin, keeping the city itself quiet and residential.
West Lake Hills is in Travis County, Texas, on the western edge of Austin. It is a small incorporated city of roughly four square miles that sits where central Austin meets the Texas Hill Country.
West Lake Hills is locally referred to as 'Westlake.' The name reflects the city's position west of Austin and its setting among the hills at the edge of the Texas Hill Country.
West Lake Hills is the only city located entirely within the Eanes Independent School District. Students are zoned to Eanes elementary and middle schools and attend Westlake High School, one of the region's most recognized public high schools.
West Lake Hills was founded and incorporated as a village on September 9, 1953, to serve as a residential community for people working in Austin. The city today covers about 2,560 acres with roughly 40 miles of public streets.
City Guide
West Lake Hills' housing reflects its hillside, low-density character. The stock is predominantly single-family, with large, heavily wooded lots and custom and semi-custom homes set into the city's rolling limestone terrain. Some homes date to the 1970s and earlier and carry a historical character, while newer construction ranges from substantial estates to renovated mid-century houses. The city's steep topography and limited land area constrain large-scale development, preserving a large-lot, low-density feel. Buyers are drawn by the combination of Hill Country acreage, architectural variety, and the Eanes school district rather than by conventional suburban density.
Life in West Lake Hills is quiet, private, and decidedly Hill Country. Residents live on wooded, hillside lots with a sense of separation from the city, while remaining minutes from downtown Austin's employment, dining, and entertainment. The lifestyle is low-key and residential, oriented toward families drawn by the Eanes school district and professionals seeking a peaceful, large-lot setting. Shopping, restaurants, and services are found in the surrounding Westlake area and central Austin, keeping the city itself calm and uncluttered. It is an enclave lifestyle—spacious, scenic, and convenient—within one of Texas's fastest-growing metros.
West Lake Hills is served by the Eanes Independent School District, and it is the only city located entirely within the district's boundaries. Students are zoned to Eanes elementary schools—including Eanes, Bridge Point, Barton Creek, Cedar Creek, Forest Trail, and Valley View—and to Hill Country or West Ridge middle schools, before attending Westlake High School. The district's reputation is a primary draw for families, and the schools are woven into the community's identity. The city's small size means school attendance zones are local and closely tied to neighborhood geography.
West Lake Hills sits immediately west of downtown Austin, putting the central business district, the University of Texas, and the city's major employers within a short drive. The city's hillside streets connect to the major thoroughfares that link central Austin to the Hill Country, including the Capital of Texas Highway corridor along its eastern edge. Austin–Bergstrom International Airport is reachable across the metro area. Residents trade a short commute for the quiet, large-lot, low-density setting the city has maintained since its 1953 incorporation.
Recreation in West Lake Hills is quiet and low-key, fitting the city's residential character. Residents walk and hike the hillside streets and wooded lots, and the city's position at the edge of the Hill Country puts trails and green space within easy reach, including the Barton Creek greenbelt along its western edge. Nearby, central Austin's Zilker Park and Lady Bird Lake provide larger outdoor recreation, while the restaurants and shopping of the broader Westlake and downtown Austin areas are minutes away. For residents, recreation is more about an outdoor-oriented daily setting than organized attractions.
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11782 Jollyville Rd Austin, TX 78759
