Northwest Austin · TX
Living in Oak Forest & Barrington Oaks
Two neighboring 1970s neighborhoods off Jollyville Road and Spicewood Springs Road, flat at the front and hillier toward Great Hills.
Living in Oak Forest & Barrington Oaks
Oak Forest and Barrington Oaks sit side by side in Northwest Austin. Oak Forest runs mostly along Oak Knoll Drive and is entered off Jollyville Road. Barrington Oaks is the smaller corner of the area, entered off Barrington Way just south of Spicewood Springs Road.
My wife and I bought our first house in Oak Forest.
Ask me about Oak Forest & Barrington Oaks
How I serve Oak Forest & Barrington Oaks
Many owners here have been in their homes since the 1970s and 80s. I've helped longtime owners here plan a later-life move, alongside their adult children. I also help buyers who want mature trees and a 1970s home without hillside prices.
See downsizing in Oak Forest & Barrington Oaks, selling here and first homes here.
How the two neighborhoods differ
- Oak Forest is flat at the front, then drops into hills toward the back, where it borders Great Hills. The homes are more substantial, with more interesting floor plans and more variety, mostly around 1,700 to 2,500 square feet and some larger.
- Barrington Oaks was built out between 1973 and 1983 and is mostly flat. Milburn Homes built much of it as starter homes, so many floor plans repeat and the build quality is a step below Oak Forest's.
Homes and schools
These are established neighborhoods from the same era, so condition varies with how each home has been kept up and updated. Roofs, AC systems and plumbing are the usual inspection topics on homes of this age.
Schools are split by address. Many homes on the south side of Oak Knoll Drive are Austin ISD. Farther back, the area is Round Rock ISD, and most of it feeds Caraway Elementary, formerly North Oaks Elementary, then Canyon Vista Middle and Westwood High. Few homes here feed Laurel Mountain.
Getting around and everyday life
Jollyville Road and Spicewood Springs Road put 183 close by, with the Arboretum and the Domain a short drive away. The Northwest Balcones and Oak View neighborhood park trails are nearby, along with a City of Austin pool off Spicewood Springs Road. Neither neighborhood has a pool of its own.
The trade-off: no golf course, preserve or club. This is a practical neighborhood rather than a scenic one, and Barrington Oaks is flatter and more uniform than the back of Oak Forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What elementary school serves Oak Forest?
Most of the Round Rock ISD side feeds Caraway Elementary, formerly North Oaks Elementary. Many homes on the south side of Oak Knoll Drive are Austin ISD. Check the address.
What's the difference between Oak Forest and Barrington Oaks?
Oak Forest has more substantial, more varied homes and hillier streets toward Great Hills. Barrington Oaks is flatter and smaller, largely built by Milburn as starter homes.
Buying in Oak Forest & Barrington Oaks
The method
How we do it in Oak Forest & Barrington Oaks
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