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If you want to live in an established, elegant neighborhood that’s close to the action of the city but not in the middle of it all, Pemberton Heights may just be your new home. As one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in central Austin, this residential area has a history of being home to some of the city’s most influential residents.
Just north of downtown, Pemberton Heights is part of the Old West Austin Historic District. The neighborhood is well-known for its beautiful tree canopies and architecturally distinct homes. If you like the look, feel, and comforts of Tarrytown, you will love Pemberton Heights as well.
This neighborhood guide highlights what makes Pemberton Heights so unique and why it’s a place where so many Austinites want to live.
Zip Code
Average Home Price*
Home Styles
Diverse: Historic Homes, Colonial, Craftsman, Bungalow, Tudor Revival
Average Price/SqFt*
Est Off-Market Transactions
*Based on 2022 Sold data for Pemberton
Texas is a non-disclosure state. This means that the sales price of real property is not recorded and made available through the public record. The majority of properties are sold as off-market transactions. These transactions also often include an NDA to protect both the buyer and seller. The financial details of these transactions are not public record and are not reflected in ABoR’s MLS data.
Pemberton Heights is a prestigious neighborhood right at the heart of Austin, offering the peaceful comforts of suburban living with easy access to all the excitement of an urban lifestyle. The neighborhood is also recognized for its tree canopies and beautiful homes with diverse architectural influences.
Thinking about moving to Pemberton Heights? Before you house-hunt, here’s what you need to know about the neighborhood and its real estate.
Over the years, Pemberton Heights has won awards from organizations like the American Planning Association and publications such as Town and Country Magazine. And it’s easy to see why. The neighborhood is quiet and peaceful, offering the best of suburban living with historic homes and heritage trees you’re not likely to find in any suburb.
Those living in Pemberton Heights might describe it as a tight-knit neighborhood. While many people move to the area for its privacy and tranquility, it also offers opportunities to get to know your neighbors and be involved in community events. And when city life is calling, downtown is just a few minutes away.
Due to the popularity of the neighborhood, many of the homes in Pemberton Heights never actually hit the public market. Instead, they are sold through private transactions, which makes it essential to work with an Austin real estate agent who has the network and knowledge of off-market listings if you want to live in a sought-after neighborhood like this.
The homes in Pemberton Heights are architecturally diverse. With a mix of styles, you might find a bungalow right next to a craftsman-style home with a colonial or Tudor revival right across the street. This neighborhood also hosts some of Austin’s most historic and iconic homes, like Pemberton Castle, The Reed Estate, and Bohn House.
Residents are drawn to this elegant residential area for its large, open lots and proximity to downtown. The neighborhood is situated on a limestone shelf that looks over Shoal Creek, offering beautiful views of downtown Austin, the University of Texas campus, and the Capitol building. Residents also enjoy the established oaks, elms, and pecan trees in this historic neighborhood.
Pemberton Heights is one of Austin’s most prestigious and desirable neighborhoods. Many sales never even hit the public market. The average home price in Pemberton from publicly listed homes is $2,873,882 or an average of $854 per square foot. On average, the homes that are sold off-market are priced higher than those that are sold on the public market.
Pemberton Heights has a Walk Score of 31. While it’s easy to go for a stroll or a jog in the neighborhood, most errands will require you to drive. However, many of Austin’s best restaurants, shopping spots, and nightlife destinations are only a short commute away.
Many Pemberton Heights residents move to the area for the exceptional schools. The neighborhood is part of the Austin Independent School District and zoned for highly-rated public schools like Casis Elementary, O Henry Middle School, and Austin High School.
The area also offers notable private school options, including Good Shepperd Episcopal School and The Girls’ School of Austin.
Featured Property in the Neighborhood
Austin, Texas 78703
Pemberton Heights is a residential neighborhood without restaurants within the neighborhood limits. However, there are some Austin gems in the surrounding area that are only a couple minutes’ drive from the neighborhood.
Black’s Barbecue is located just outside the neighborhood on Guadalupe, offering Pemberton residents easy access to Texas BBQ. One of the oldest barbecue joints in Texas, Black’s has been owned and operated by the same family since 1932. Third-generation pitmaster Kent Black still slowly smokes barbecue the way his grandfather did decades ago.
It’s not a Texas BBQ experience without trying the beef brisket, but Black’s also has an excellent housemade sausage that they hand stuff and hand tie before smoking. And the Feel’n Peachy Cobbler is the perfect note to end the meal on.
Musashino Sushi is another restaurant in a neighboring area that Pemberton Heights residents love. Serving traditional Japanese cuisine with Tokyo-style sushi, Musashino is always changing, adding to and innovating their menu. The one thing that stays the same—they use only the freshest ingredients. Any seafood they serve is certified for its environmental sustainability.
The restaurant offers a small indoor space, but it also features an air-conditioned patio, which is ideal for those hot Texas days when you just want to enjoy sushi al fresco.
Just outside of Pemberton Heights, Honey Moon Spirit Lounge is worth a trip for the ambiance alone. In the true Austin tradition of sitting on patios, this restaurant has ample outdoor seating with comfortable and eclectic seating options. But once you see the interior, you may not even want to eat outside. With patterned green wallpaper and red velvet bar chairs and booths, this place takes vintage chic to a whole new level.
Luckily, the food and drinks are just as enjoyable as the decor. The food menu has a global influence, offering everything from Texas market salad to ceviché to Seoul fried chicken. The original cocktail menu is also a treat with drinks like the “West Texas, F@?k You” with a refreshing mix of basil-infused vodka and peach liqueur.
Looking for a casual place to grab a delicious lunch or dinner? 34th Street Café is a cozy spot with a great wine menu and even better weekly specials. It’s also a boutique catering company that offers catering services and delivery for events.
This quaint café and wine bar offers a variety of menu options with everything from bacon-wrapped shrimp and venison pizza to Moroccan spiced lamb chops and crispy chicken piccata. It can get very busy during the lunch rush so expect a wait. If you’re going for dinner, we recommend making a reservation online.
While Pemberton Heights is desirable for its proximity to the best of Austin, there are still things to do and see that don’t require you to head downtown.
As Austin’s first public park, Pease Park is an outdoor oasis in the center of the city with 84 acres of green space. There are 6 main areas of the park that are connected by a trail: Kingsbury Commons, Polecat Hollow, Live Oak Meadow, Wooten Woods, Gaston Green, and Lamar Terrace. Each area offers something unique for everyone.
Kingsbury Commons has a water feature, treehouse observation pod, and playground equipment—a perfect place to bring the kids. Polecat Hollow features 3 sand volleyball courts. Live Oak Meadow offers access to Shoal Creek. Wooten Woods and Gaston Green have off-leash dog areas as well as plenty of shaded space to rest. While Lamar Terrace features the mystic raven and wildflower meadow.
Parking is very limited. So you may want to take a rideshare or maybe even ride your bike to the park. The ACC Rio Grande campus does offer free parking for Pease Park visitors during the weekend.
The Shoal Creek Greenbelt is a 5.5-mile out-and-back trail, rated as an easy hike appropriate for all ages, levels, and abilities. This trail is open year-round and remains beautiful any time of the year. It’s a popular spot for birding, mountain biking, and road biking but also a great place to just enjoy a peaceful hike.
The trail surface is paved concrete, asphalt, or gravel and is at least 5 feet wide, making it a mostly accessible trail. It’s a great place to enjoy beautiful scenery and views of the Austin skyline. If you bring your pup, just make sure they are on a leash.
Hartford Park is a little pocket park in Pemberton that’s dear to many of its residents. It used to be an overgrown traffic triangle in the middle of the neighborhood. After residents raised money to renovate the space, they teamed up with the City of Austin to clean up the park and add new features to make it accessible to everyone.
With picnic tables, benches, swing sets, and two separate playscapes, this is a great park to bring the kids to. One of the playscapes is designed for ages 2-5, and the other is designed for ages 5-12, making it a great place for any family.
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Douglas Elliman
1717 W 6th Street
Suite 190
Austin, TX 78703
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