The Local Guide to Living in the Hill Country
This is where traditional apartments mostly don’t exist. Hill Country and Lake Travis mean homes, condos, and individual landlords who screen however they want. Properties rent through personal networks and word-of-mouth before they ever hit public listings. If you need apartment inventory with standardized screening, this isn’t your market.
Steiner Ranch (78732) offers Lake Travis lifestyle with community amenities that are fully developed—pools, golf, organized events. Leander ISD schools. Community fees add $50-150/month to rent, but they buy access to amenities standalone rentals can’t match. Mostly homes. Very few apartments.
Bee Cave (78733, 78738) gives you Hill Country character without the lake-access premium. Semiconductor corridor proximity makes it work for AMD, NXP, and Arm employees heading west. And Hill Country Galleria provides the retail options most Hill Country areas lack. Limited apartment inventory here too—you’re mostly dealing with individual owners.
So what if you actually want the lake?
Lakeway (78734) is all about Lake Travis. Water access drives the premium. If you’ll actually use the lake regularly, the pricing makes sense. If “lake lifestyle” sounds nice but you’ll realistically go twice a year, you’re overpaying for proximity. Expect premium pricing, strong screening, and Lake Travis ISD schools.
Dripping Springs (78620) sits in wine country with almost no rental inventory. Properties move by word-of-mouth. Remote workers benefit most—anyone commuting to Austin daily faces 30-45 minutes each way, minimum. If you work from home, verify internet reliability before you commit. Seriously.
Westlake (78746) is executive-level. Eanes ISD schools drive the pricing—top-rated district, $3,500+ rents common. Strong credit and high income are baseline expectations here, and landlords can afford to be selective. If you’re not in that bracket, adjacent areas offer better value. See the luxury West Austin guide for what’s actually available.
Hill Country rewards patience and connections. Standard apartment searches won’t cut it here—but I can help you find what’s available.
Quick Fit Check
Best For:
- Want lake access? → Lakeway (78734), Steiner Ranch (78732)—water activities at your doorstep
- Work remotely and want space? → Dripping Springs (78620)—Hill Country lifestyle, room to breathe
- Prioritize schools above all else? → Westlake (78746) for Eanes ISD, Steiner Ranch for Leander ISD
- Want Hill Country without the lake premium? → Bee Cave (78733, 78738) delivers the feel without water access pricing
Stay Away If:
- You commute to Austin daily. 30-50 minutes each way, every day. That adds up. Northwest or South Austin for Hill Country feel with shorter drives.
- You want traditional apartment living. Apartments barely exist out here. Individual landlords, condos, and homes dominate. Northwest Austin or Cedar Park have actual inventory.
- You’re on a budget. Hill Country runs premium. Suburbs North or South Austin offer better value.
- You need reliable internet. Some areas have spotty coverage. Verify service before you sign—especially Dripping Springs.
Hill Country / Lake Travis Comparison
| ZIP | Neighborhood | Rent Range | Walkability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78732 | Steiner Ranch | $1,800–2,600 | Low | Families, lake access |
| 78733 | Bee Cave | $1,600–2,400 | Low | Hill Country without lake premium |
| 78734 | Lakeway | $2,000–3,200 | Low | Lake lifestyle, executives |
| 78738 | Bee Cave | $1,800–2,600 | Low | Families, Hill Country feel |
| 78746 | Westlake | $2,500–4,000+ | Low | Executives, Eanes ISD |
| 78620 | Dripping Springs | $1,600–2,400 | Low | Wine country, remote workers |
Steiner Ranch – 78732
Lake Travis lifestyle with community infrastructure that’s actually built out—pools, golf, organized events. Mostly homes, not apartments. Leander ISD schools. Community fees ($50-150/month) add to rent, but they buy access to amenities standalone rentals can’t replicate.
Bee Cave West – 78733
Deeper Hill Country, closer to the lake. Rural character. Bigger properties. Individual landlords run this market—apartments barely exist out here. Semiconductor workers heading west (AMD, NXP, Arm) find easy commutes. Everyone else is looking at 30+ minutes to get anywhere. Homes and condos through property managers. Patience required.
Bee Cave East – 78738
Hill Country Galleria anchors this ZIP—actual shopping, restaurants, a movie theater. The retail infrastructure the rest of the corridor lacks. More accessible than 78733. Mix of homes, condos, and limited apartment inventory. Same scenery with better everyday convenience. Watch the school boundaries: Eanes ISD and Lake Travis ISD split depending on your exact address.
Lakeway – 78734
Lake Travis focused with water access driving the premium. If you’ll actually use the lake regularly, the pricing makes sense. If “lake lifestyle” is aspirational rather than actual, you’re overpaying for proximity. Premium pricing, strong screening, Lake Travis ISD schools.
Dripping Springs – 78620
Wine country Hill Country. Very limited rental inventory unless renting a newer luxury community off hwy 290—some properties rent through word-of-mouth. Remote workers benefit most; anyone commuting to Austin daily faces 30-45+ minutes each way. Verify internet reliability before committing if you work from home.
Westlake – 78746
Premium family market with Eanes ISD—top-rated schools driving the pricing. Executive-level rents ($3,500+ common). Strong credit and high income required. Individual landlords dominate and can be selective. If you’re not in this income bracket, adjacent areas offer better value.
Not Sure Which ZIP Fits?
Tell me your employer, budget, and priorities. I’ll match you to neighborhoods where you’ll actually get approved—not waste application fees finding out the hard way.
Hill Country / Lake Travis Living FAQs
What’s it actually like living in the Hill Country? Quiet. Beautiful. Isolated. You’re trading urban convenience for space, views, and nature access. Plan on driving 20-30 minutes for groceries in some areas. Internet can get spotty outside established neighborhoods. It’s a lifestyle choice—not just a location.
Can I afford Lake Travis on a normal budget? Water access costs. Lakeway and waterfront spots start at $2,500+ for apartments—assuming you can even find them. Bee Cave and Dripping Springs give you Hill Country feel without lake pricing. Still not cheap. Just more reachable.
What’s the commute like from Hill Country? Long. Dripping Springs to downtown runs 35-50 minutes. Lakeway to the Domain is 30-40. Bee Cave to the tech corridor is 25-35. And that’s before you factor in Highway 71 and 620 traffic. Remote workers do well out here. Daily commuters tend to burn out.
Are there actually apartments in the Hill Country? Barely. Single-family homes, condos, and individual landlord rentals dominate. Steiner Ranch has some apartment inventory. Lakeway and Dripping Springs are almost entirely houses. If you need a traditional apartment complex, this isn’t your market.
What is there to do in Hill Country / Lake Travis? Lake stuff—boating, swimming, paddleboarding. Wineries in Dripping Springs. Hamilton Pool and other swimming holes. Hill Country hiking. It’s all nature-focused. If you want nightlife, you’re driving 30+ minutes back into Austin.
Every Area Has Trade-offs
What if I want the Hill Country lifestyle but can’t afford it? Oak Hill (78735) and Barton Creek (78736) offer Hill Country feel at lower prices with shorter commutes. Four Points (78726) gives you lake proximity without Lakeway pricing. Cedar Park has newer construction with Hill Country access at suburban rates.
Where can I actually find apartment inventory near Hill Country? Traditional apartments are scarce in this corridor. Arboretum (78759) has apartment inventory with Hill Country access. Cedar Park and Leander offer conventional apartments 15-20 minutes from the Hill Country—no individual landlord hunt required.
Why Use an Apartment Locator in Lakeway, Bee Cave or Dripping Springs?
This market doesn’t work like the rest of Austin.
Traditional apartment listings barely exist. The inventory is condos, townhomes, and single-family rentals controlled by individual landlords and property management companies. Many never hit public listing sites—they rent through local networks and word-of-mouth.
I know which property managers handle the best Hill Country inventory. Which landlords are flexible on terms. Which “lakefront” listings actually have water access versus just a view. In a market this fragmented, connections matter more than search skills.
My service is free. I get paid when you find a place—you just get access to inventory you wouldn’t find on your own.
Going solo? When you tour or apply, tell them “Ross Quade from Austin Apartment Locators” referred you. Text me at 512-865-4672 when you apply so I can make sure everything’s on track.
Ross Quade
Austin Realtor and Apartment Expert
This Lakeway and Hill Country guide was written by Ross Quade, a licensed Texas real estate agent (#679806) that specializes in apartment locating. My services are free—always.