(78731) Northwest Hills / Far West / Bull Creek Apartments

West Austin Apartments (78731) Hill Country setting, strong Austin ISD schools, Bull Creek trails, and a MoPac commute to downtown. One bedrooms from $761. 12 communities built from 1974 to 2020.

I’ve toured apartment communities across the 78731 ZIP code. This one surprises people. They hear “West Austin” and think $2,000 studios and new construction. That’s not what’s here.

Almost every apartment community in 78731 went up between 1974 and 1997 with some newer stuff just East of Mopac. Most of the communities are up in the hills with live oaks everywhere. And priced hundreds less than what you’d expect for this side of town.

Every community in this ZIP code has a full review below. Each one covers what listing sites leave out: actual screening criteria, real fee breakdowns, net effective rent math, and honest resident feedback compared to what I saw on my own tours.

A few things worth knowing about 78731 before you dig in.

This is one of the cheapest ways to get into West Austin. One bedrooms start around $760 at Acacia Cliffs. Studios start under $900 at The Ridge. About half the communities land between $1,000 and $1,500. Compare that to Tarrytown or Westlake. Not even close.

The trade-off is building age. You’re renting in 1970s and 1980s garden style complexes. Expect the finishes to match.

You need a car here. That’s just how this part of Austin works. Far West is your daily hub: H-E-B, a few restaurants, some shops. The Domain and the Arboretum are about five minutes north for anything bigger. Downtown’s 15 to 20 minutes on MoPac, longer during rush hour. Not walkable.

But if you work in NW Austin, the commute’s short. And 360 puts you anywhere on the west side fast.

If you want to be near trails and water, 78731 is hard to beat. Bull Creek Park has trails and swimming holes right in the neighborhood. Bright Leaf Preserve is 216 acres of guided hiking. Deer in the parking lot isn’t unusual. You’re in the Hill Country without leaving Austin city limits.

Schools matter here more than in most ZIP codes. Doss Elementary, Murchison Middle, Anderson High. That’s one of the strongest Austin ISD paths in the city. A lot of families in this neighborhood picked their homes specifically for that school lineup. If schools are part of your decision, this is the ZIP.

Pick a community below to read the full review, or get in touch if you want me to narrow it down based on your budget, timeline, and screening situation.