Old Enfield, Tarrytown Or Clarksville? Comparing West Austin Homes

Wondering which West Austin neighborhood gives you the right mix of charm, space, and city access? If you are comparing Old Enfield, Tarrytown, and Clarksville, you are not choosing between good and bad options. You are choosing between three very different lifestyles in the same west-central Austin corridor. This guide will help you sort through the tradeoffs so you can focus on what fits you best. Let’s dive in.

West Austin at a glance

Old Enfield, Tarrytown, and Clarksville are all close to central Austin, but they function differently day to day. Old Enfield is part of the Old West Austin National Register Historic District, where the City of Austin notes a historic, low-density pattern with roughly 1,600 homes and 2,500 buildings. Tarrytown is centered around a street network shaped by Exposition, Windsor, and Enfield, with civic and retail uses near the Tarrytown Shopping Center and Howson Library. Clarksville stands out for its deep local history and close-in location, with the City of Austin describing it as one of the first freedom colonies established west of the Mississippi in Texas.

If you are trying to narrow the field, the most useful question is not which neighborhood is best. It is which tradeoff matters most to you. In this part of Austin, that usually comes down to lot size versus walkability, historic character versus housing variety, and quiet residential feel versus immediate downtown access.

Old Enfield homes and feel

Old Enfield tends to appeal to buyers who want a classic residential setting near downtown without giving up lot size. The neighborhood still reads as historic single-family territory, and the city notes that apartments are relatively uncommon. That creates a more private, low-density feel than many other close-in Austin areas.

Current neighborhood data show a median year built of 1940, an average single-family home size of 3,347 square feet, and a median lot size of 11,761 square feet. Homes.com also reports just 9 homes for sale and 19 sales over the last 12 months. In practical terms, that means limited inventory and a market that can feel tightly held.

Old Enfield also offers a strong balance between residential calm and central access. Homes.com says residents can walk to nearby parks, shops, and restaurants, bike downtown via Shoal Creek, reach UT in under 2 miles by bike lanes, and use CapMetro service along Enfield Road. At the same time, the area is described as more privacy-oriented than walkability-oriented.

Tarrytown homes and feel

Tarrytown sits in the middle of this comparison in a way that many buyers find appealing. It is still very central, but it often feels a little more relaxed and spread out than Clarksville. The street pattern includes both grid and winding streets, which gives different pockets of the neighborhood a different rhythm.

Housing in Tarrytown is more varied by age and type than Old Enfield. Homes.com says homes span nearly every decade since 1915, with an average single-family size of 3,319 square feet, a median year built of 1955, and a median lot size of 8,276 square feet. The same source notes that condos, townhomes, and large single-family homes all coexist here, with lots often at least one-fifth of an acre.

The neighborhood plan area also includes a clear civic and retail center. The City of Austin points to the Tarrytown Shopping Center, Howson Library, and nearby community uses, while Homes.com highlights access to Walsh Boat Landing and Red Bud Isle. If you want a premium west-central Austin address with larger detached homes and nearby recreation, Tarrytown often lands high on the list.

Clarksville homes and feel

Clarksville is the most downtown-adjacent and the most urban of the three. It also has a distinctive history, with the City of Austin noting the Haskell House as the oldest registered structure in the neighborhood. For buyers who want a close-in lifestyle, Clarksville tends to feel the most connected to daily amenities.

The housing mix is broad. Homes.com describes a blend of condominiums, townhouses, traditional single-family homes, new construction, and historic buildings. Current data show a median year built of 1956, an average single-family size of 2,088 square feet, a median lot size of 5,662 square feet, and 30 homes for sale.

That smaller footprint is a big part of Clarksville’s identity. Compared with Old Enfield and Tarrytown, homes and lots tend to be more compact. If you value being able to live with less dependence on a car and want more housing-type variety, that tradeoff can work in your favor.

Price differences to know

Price is one of the clearest ways these neighborhoods separate from each other. Based on the last 12 months of Homes.com neighborhood data, Tarrytown is the highest-priced of the three on a median basis. Old Enfield and Clarksville are both expensive close-in markets as well, but they position differently.

Here is a quick side-by-side snapshot:

Tarrytown leads on both median list and median sale price. Old Enfield shows a lower median sale price than Tarrytown, but it also offers the largest median lot size in this comparison. Clarksville posts the smallest homes on average, yet its price per square foot remains close to the others, reflecting how much buyers value its central location and lifestyle access.

Lot size versus walkability

If you are stuck between these three neighborhoods, this is often the deciding factor. Old Enfield gives you the most lot space based on current median lot size data. Clarksville gives you the most urban convenience, while Tarrytown often lands in the middle with a central location and a more relaxed feel.

Homes.com reports Local Logic walkability, bikeability, and transit scores of 80, 70, and 40 for Old Enfield. For Tarrytown, those scores are 60, 50, and 30. For Clarksville, they are 80, 80, and 50.

That paints a clear picture. Clarksville is the least car-dependent of the three, Old Enfield stays highly accessible but more residential in feel, and Tarrytown tends to favor driving or biking over a walk-everywhere routine. None of those is automatically better. It simply depends on how you want your week to work.

Historic character versus housing mix

These neighborhoods also differ in how consistent their housing stock feels. Old Enfield is the most defined by historic single-family character and larger parcels. If you picture mature streetscapes and a more cohesive residential setting, this is likely the strongest match.

Tarrytown offers broad appeal because it combines classic homes, newer options, and multiple property types. That variety can give you more flexibility if you are balancing style, size, and budget within the same neighborhood search. It also makes Tarrytown feel less uniform than Old Enfield.

Clarksville has the widest mix in the most compact footprint. You will see attached and detached options, historic buildings, and newer construction in close proximity. For some buyers, that diversity is a major advantage because it opens more ways to enter a prime close-in location.

Which neighborhood may fit you best

The right choice depends on how you live, not just what looks best on paper. Each of these neighborhoods serves a different kind of buyer priority. Thinking in terms of tradeoffs usually leads to a better decision than chasing a single headline number.

Old Enfield may fit if you want:

• Historic character
• Larger lots
• A quieter residential base
• Close access to downtown and UT without a highly urban feel

Tarrytown may fit if you want:

• A premium west-central Austin address
• Larger detached homes
• Access to parks, lake-oriented recreation, and neighborhood services
• A mix of classic and newer housing options

Clarksville may fit if you want:

• The most walkable, urban lifestyle of the three
• Smaller footprints and more housing variety
• Immediate access to downtown-oriented amenities
• A neighborhood with strong local history and close-in convenience

How to compare these areas smartly

When buyers tour West Austin, it is easy to focus only on finishes or list price. A better approach is to compare how each neighborhood supports your routine. Think about how much lot space you want, whether you prefer a quieter street or a more active setting, and how often you want to walk, bike, or drive for daily errands.

It also helps to compare inventory realities. Old Enfield had just 9 homes for sale in the current Homes.com neighborhood snapshot, compared with 30 in Clarksville. If your wish list is very specific, available inventory may shape your options as much as neighborhood preference.

A neighborhood match is usually a lifestyle match first. The home matters, but the block, street pattern, lot size, and daily access often shape your satisfaction long after closing.

If you are weighing Old Enfield, Tarrytown, or Clarksville and want a grounded, neighborhood-specific strategy, Johnny Ronca can help you compare the numbers, the feel, and the real-world tradeoffs so you can move with confidence.

FAQs

What is the main difference between Old Enfield, Tarrytown, and Clarksville?

• Old Enfield is more historic and lot-rich, Tarrytown is the highest-priced and offers a broad range of larger homes, and Clarksville is the most walkable and urban of the three.

Which West Austin neighborhood has the largest lots?

• Based on current Homes.com neighborhood data, Old Enfield has the largest median lot size at 11,761 square feet, followed by Tarrytown at 8,276 square feet and Clarksville at 5,662 square feet.

Which West Austin neighborhood is most walkable?

• Clarksville and Old Enfield both have walkability scores of 80 in the current Homes.com data, but Clarksville also has stronger bikeability and transit scores, making it the most urban and least car-dependent overall.

Which West Austin neighborhood has the highest home prices?

• Tarrytown has the highest median list price at $1.7625 million and the highest median sale price at $1.625 million in the latest 12-month neighborhood data cited here.

Is Clarksville closer to downtown Austin than Tarrytown or Old Enfield?

• Yes. Clarksville is described in the research as the most downtown-adjacent of the three neighborhoods.

What type of homes are common in Old Enfield?

• Old Enfield is primarily known for historic single-family homes, with apartments described as relatively uncommon and larger lots playing a major role in the neighborhood’s character.