78748 is an established, family-friendly ZIP code in South Austin, Travis County, about 10 to 12 miles south of downtown. It's known for mature, tree-lined neighborhoods, easy green space like Bauerle Ranch Park, and the local restaurants and shops along Menchaca Road, with more home for your money than you'll find closer in. If you want settled South Austin character without a central-Austin price tag, 78748 is one of the most sought-after areas to look.
Here's a quick drive through 78748 so you can get a feel for the area:
78748 sits in the southern part of Austin, inside Travis County, bounded roughly by Slaughter Lane and William Cannon to the north and the far south Austin edge toward Shady Hollow and Hays County to the south. It's framed by Menchaca Road and Brodie Lane running north to south, with MoPac (Loop 1) and I-35 the two ways most people reach downtown. Neighboring ZIPs include 78745 to the north and 78749 to the west, each with its own feel, which is exactly why picking the right South Austin ZIP matters.
78748 is one of the more settled corners of South Austin. Many of the neighborhoods went in years ago, so you get established streets, mature trees, and a mix of longtime owners and new families moving in for the schools and the space. It leans quieter and more residential than the nightlife-heavy parts of South Austin closer to downtown, but you're still a short drive from the food, music, and greenbelt that make this side of town what it is. It's a car-friendly area, and most day-to-day errands happen along Menchaca Road and Brodie Lane.
The ZIP covers a range of established neighborhoods and pockets, including Bauerle Ranch, Tanglewood Forest, Cherry Creek, and Bridges at Bear Creek, with Shady Hollow just to the south. Housing is mostly single-family brick homes from the 1980s and 1990s, plus newer construction from national builders on the area's growing edges. The median sale price in 78748 recently ran around $422,000, below central Austin but carrying a real South Austin premium over towns further out like Buda or Kyle. If you're weighing an established 78748 home against a newer build further south, that trade of location versus new construction is one of the first things we'd talk through.
78748 is unusually green for its price point. The standout is Bauerle Ranch Park, a 306-acre nature preserve and greenbelt with trails on the west side of Menchaca Road. On the east side, Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park covers another 344 acres with trails, disc golf, tennis, and equestrian facilities. For a lot of buyers, that much green space without leaving the ZIP is a real part of the appeal here.
The food and drink here has grown up fast, and most of it runs along South Menchaca. My family's tradition is Armadillo Den for the UT versus Oklahoma game every year: great atmosphere, the game on, sometimes live music, drinks at a fair price, and a row of food trucks to choose from, Los Danzantes for outstanding birria tacos, Biggie's Yardbird for smashburgers and chicken sandwiches, and Via 313 for pizza. The Far Out Lounge is the other reliable hang, always a different kind of live music and an atmosphere that's weird in the best way. South Menchaca turns over constantly, so the names shift (Lucky Duck took over from Drifters Social, Clara's from the old South Austin Beer Garden), but the strip stays the center of it.
For food, Bricks Pub does a mac and cheese so loaded with melted cheese it's almost a soup, which is exactly what makes it great, plus beer on tap and a serious bacon-jam burger. And the Tacos Ricos truck at South 1st and Dittmar is a genuine local secret: everything on the menu is a win, and the sauces are on point. For coffee, Golden Hour is the neighborhood go-to, quiet enough to get real work done, with a patio for when you have a meeting.
78748 is served primarily by Austin ISD, though the exact elementary, middle, and high school depend on your specific address, and a few areas near the southern edge can fall into neighboring districts. Depending on where you are, high schoolers often attend Akins or Bowie High. Schools are one of the top reasons families choose this ZIP, so when we look at homes together I'll match the neighborhood to the schools you want, and confirm the exact assignment for any address before you rely on it.
Getting downtown from 78748 usually means Menchaca Road or Brodie Lane up to MoPac (Loop 1), or heading east to I-35. Off-peak, downtown is roughly a 20 to 25 minute drive; at rush hour, budget more. The airport is an easy run east across South Austin. If your commute matters to your budget and your day, it's one of the first things we'll weigh together.
The median sale price in 78748 is running around $422,000, with homes typically taking somewhere between about six weeks and two months to sell. It has been a fairly balanced market lately: well-priced homes still move, and buyers may have some room on inspection items and closing costs. Because the market shifts month to month, when you're ready I'll pull live figures for the specific streets you're considering.
Whether you're relocating to South Austin or moving across town, I can give you a straight read on 78748 and how it compares to the ZIPs around it. Start with the free South Austin relocation guide, and if you're ready to talk homes, here's what buying or selling here looks like: the South Austin buyer's guide and the South Austin seller's guide. Considering a new build nearby? See new construction in South Austin. And because some South Austin communities have tax districts, the MUD and PID guide is worth a read before you make an offer.
I'm Brandon Holley, Broker and Owner of Holley Homes Realty, and I live right here in 78748. With 175+ closings since 2016 across South Austin, Buda, Kyle, and Bastrop, and named a FastExpert 2026 Top Agent, I know this ZIP block by block. If you're thinking about buying or selling here, or just want a straight answer about a street, a school, or a specific home, reach out anytime.
Last updated: September 2026.