78749 is the higher-end southwest corner of South Austin, a ZIP code in Austin, Travis County, roughly 10 to 12 miles from downtown toward Oak Hill and the edge of the Hill Country. It's established, green, and family-friendly, anchored by the Circle C Ranch area, strong Austin ISD schools that feed Bowie High, and easy access to greenbelt, parks, and the Wildflower Center right next door. If you want a settled, higher-end South Austin neighborhood with top schools and room to breathe, 78749 is the one a lot of families aim for.
Here's a quick drive through 78749 so you can get a feel for the area:
78749 sits in southwest Austin, inside Travis County, running toward Oak Hill and the start of the Hill Country. It's framed by MoPac (Loop 1) to the east and the US-290 corridor toward the Oak Hill "Y" to the northwest, with Slaughter Lane and Escarpment Boulevard threading through it. Neighboring areas include 78745 to the northeast, 78748 to the east, and 78739 just to the south, home to Circle C's southern reaches, the Veloway, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The southwest location gives it a hillier, greener feel than the flatter ZIPs closer to I-35.
78749 is one of the most established and sought-after corners of South Austin. It's family-oriented and settled, with mature neighborhoods, rolling terrain, and a strong sense of community, and it draws a lot of buyers specifically for the schools and the outdoors. It leans a bit higher-end than the ZIPs to the east, and it's more residential and quieter, though you're still an easy drive from everything South Austin has to offer. It's car-friendly, green, and the kind of place people tend to settle into for the long haul.
The marquee community here is Circle C Ranch, a large, well-established master-planned neighborhood that anchors this part of southwest Austin and extends into neighboring 78739. Around it, 78749 is a patchwork of established neighborhoods including Legend Oaks, Maple Run, the Village at Western Oaks, Sendera, and Scenic Brook, most of them built from the 1980s through the 2000s. Housing runs from comfortable single-family homes to larger properties on greener lots, and because the area is essentially built out, you're usually buying an established home rather than new construction. The median sale price recently ran around $575,000, the highest of the South Austin ZIPs, reflecting the schools, the location, and the settled feel.
78749 is genuinely outdoorsy. Dick Nichols District Park is the local hub, with a bike loop, a great public pool, and a playground, everything you want in a neighborhood park. Just outside the ZIP in 78739, the Veloway is a smooth 3-mile loop built just for cycling and skating (a favorite once the kids are steady on two wheels), and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a real gem: beautiful native gardens plus fun seasonal events like Fortlandia and the holiday light displays. Between the park, the greenbelt, and the Wildflower Center, the outdoors is a big part of the appeal out here.
Here's where I actually go in and around 78749.
To eat. Cypress Grill is my hands-down go-to. I get the Crawfish Chile Relleno every single time, no deviating from the system, and they've got a full bar plus a rotating item of the month that's always worth a look.
Coffee and hang. Leona Botanical Cafe and Bar is a must: multiple food trucks, good coffee, and a great place to work, with a playground if you've got kids in tow. Fair warning, the parking can be a nightmare at the busy times, but it's worth it.
On the list. Nomadic Outpost is one I keep hearing about from clients out here and have been meaning to check out myself.
Schools are one of the biggest reasons people target 78749. It's Austin ISD, and much of the ZIP feeds Bowie High School, one of the most sought-after high schools in the Austin area, along with Gorzycki Middle and elementary campuses like Kiker serving the Circle C side. The exact elementary, middle, and high school depend on your specific address, so I always confirm the current assignment before you make an offer. For a lot of families, the school zone is the whole reason they buy here, and it's one I can map street by street.
78749 leans on MoPac (Loop 1) and the US-290 corridor to get around. Downtown is generally a 20 to 25 minute drive off-peak, with the Oak Hill "Y" (the US-290 and SH-71 junction) the main pinch point to know about at rush hour. The upside of the southwest location is quick access to the Hill Country and the greenbelt. If you commute, the Oak Hill area is worth test-driving at your real hour.
The median sale price in 78749 is running around $575,000, the highest of the South Austin ZIPs, driven by the schools, the established neighborhoods, and the location. Because the area is largely built out, inventory is mostly resale rather than new construction, and well-priced homes in the strongest school zones, especially Circle C, still move quickly. When you're ready I'll pull live figures for the specific neighborhoods and school zones you're considering.
Whether you're relocating to South Austin or moving across town for the schools, I can give you a straight read on 78749, Circle C and the surrounding neighborhoods, the Bowie feeder pattern, and what your money buys here. 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. Weighing a newer build elsewhere? See new construction in South Austin, and on the tax side, 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 know this southwest corner well. Every year my family heads to Papa Noel in Oak Hill to get our Christmas tree, a tradition since my wife and I got together, so I genuinely love this area and community. With 175+ closings since 2016 across South Austin, Buda, Kyle, and Bastrop, and named a FastExpert 2026 Top Agent, I can give you a straight read on any street, school zone, or specific home in 78749.
Last updated: September 2026.