Neighborhood Comparison
Tarrytown vs Clarksville
Two of West Austin's most desirable addresses sit side by side in 78703. They share a ZIP code and a love of mature trees, but they live very differently.
Tarrytown and Clarksville are neighbors west of downtown Austin, both inside ZIP 78703, and they are often shortlisted together. The honest difference is scale and character: Tarrytown is a larger, more suburban-feeling estate neighborhood reaching the Lake Austin shoreline, while Clarksville is a smaller, denser, walkable historic district closer to downtown.
Neither is better in the abstract. The right choice depends on whether you want lot size, lake access, and Casis Elementary, or a compact, historic, ultra-walkable pocket steps from the West Lynn corridor.
Side by side
Tarrytown and Clarksville, compared
| Factor | Tarrytown | Clarksville |
|---|---|---|
| ZIP / area | 78703, West Austin (MLS 1B) | 78703, Old West Austin |
| Feel | Larger, established, estate-scaled | Compact, historic, walkable |
| Typical lot | Larger lots, many over a quarter acre | Smaller historic-district lots |
| Median sale (TTM, mid-2026) | Roughly $1.5M to $1.65M | Commonly above $1M |
| Ceiling | Lake Austin waterfront, $8M to $15M+ | New-construction homes and condos |
| Elementary | Casis Elementary (top 5% in Texas) | Mathews Elementary |
| Lake access | Direct Lake Austin frontage on some streets | No direct lake frontage |
| Walk to dining | Exposition corridor, a short drive for many | West Lynn, steps for most homes |
Figures are mid-2026 estimates from public sources and should be verified against current MLS data. Always confirm school attendance zones for a specific address with Austin ISD.
The honest verdict
Which fits you, Tarrytown or Clarksville?
Choose Tarrytown if you want a larger lot, the chance at Lake Austin frontage, and Casis Elementary, and you are comfortable with a more spread-out, drive-a-little neighborhood.
Choose Clarksville if you want a smaller historic home or new condo, downtown minutes away, and the ability to walk to dinner. Many buyers tour both, and a specialist who works in each can value them honestly against each other.
Good to know
Tarrytown vs Clarksville, answered
- Is Tarrytown more expensive than Clarksville?
- On a neighborhood-wide basis the two are close, both commonly trading above one million dollars in 78703. Tarrytown's median sale ran roughly $1.5M to $1.65M over the trailing year in mid-2026 (Redfin and Homes.com). Tarrytown has a far higher ceiling because of Lake Austin waterfront, where prime estates reach eight figures, while Clarksville's premium is driven by historic homes and new construction rather than the lake.
- Which has better schools, Tarrytown or Clarksville?
- Tarrytown is zoned to Casis Elementary, ranked in the top 5% of Texas schools, which is a major draw for families. Clarksville is zoned to Mathews Elementary. Both feed O. Henry Middle School and Austin High School in Austin ISD. Always verify the current attendance boundary for a specific address with Austin ISD.
- Is Tarrytown or Clarksville more walkable?
- Clarksville is the more walkable of the two, with most homes steps from the West Lynn dining corridor and minutes from downtown. Tarrytown is walkable around the Exposition corridor and the lake but is larger and more spread out, so daily errands more often involve a short drive.
Related
Continue through Tarrytown
Work with Luke
Touring both? Let's compare honestly.
Luke Allen works across Tarrytown and Clarksville and will value real, current homes in each against your budget and priorities, with no pressure.
Luke Allen
Licensed Texas REALTOR, TREC #788149
Austin Marketing + Development Group