Austin is growing, and many people searching for more affordable housing are looking to the outskirts when purchasing their homes. We all know that South Austin, East Central Austin, and West Austin are hot spots when it comes to selling time, but where did we actually sell the most homes in last year? You might be surprised.

We pulled sales stats from our 60+ real estate agent’s home sales to find out where they were selling the most homes. North of Austin housed the hottest spots by far, with Cedar Park, Leander, Pflugerville and Round Rock zip codes topping the list. Some of these areas offer lower housing prices, while others are higher price points, but offer more “bang for your buck”. Highly rated school districts, proximity to shopping and dining, and various other amenities make these areas of town attractive to those with families, young professionals, and established households alike. Here are the fastest-growing spots in descending order.

5. 78664 and 78665. Sitting about 15 miles north of Downtown Austin, the community of Round Rock is attracting people thanks to major employers, which include Hospira, TECO-Westinghouse, Dell, and Dresser. On top of that, they boast an excellent school district with some of the best schools in the nation. The Round Rock Independent School District has multiple campuses that are named Blue Ribbon Schools regularly, where test scores and student-teacher ratios are consistently exemplary. Within Round Rock, the Forest Creek neighborhood seems to be a favorite, with a young family demographic, and large spacious homes. Over 78 percent of the demographic in Forest Creek are married-couple families, and data shows these households are educated and active in their community.

4. 78681. School rankings make this Round Rock zip code a bit more desirable than the previously mentioned two, as homes in this area feed mainly into Round Rock High School from Cactus Ranch Elementary and Walsh Middle School (all highly rated schools). Also a short commute from Round Rock’s many large companies, the Behrens Ranch and Walsh Ranch neighborhoods are among the most popular. They offer newer homes (building began in 2006) complete with elegant designs and pristine landscaping. At a bit of a higher price point, with a median price of $365,900, homes in this area are still in high demand and sell quickly. The area has access to parks (complete with picnic tables, BBQ pits, and more), a clubhouse, pool, and plenty of other amenities.

3. 78613. Cedar Park, a once quiet town, is joining the rest of Williamson County as one of the hottest areas in the Austin metro. Located 17 miles North of Downtown Austin, Cedar Park now has all it’s own amenities including an Alamo Drafthouse, Lakeline Mall, 1890 Ranch (a new shopping center with over 80 stores, services, restaurants and entertainment options), and it’s own Medical Center. Students in Cedar Park attend either Leander ISD or Round Rock ISD, with the exemplary Cedar Park High being the primary high school. A popular neighborhood within this zip code is Twin Creeks, with homes priced from the $400,000’s to the $700’s and plans for later phases to feature luxury homes as high as $1 million. This neighborhood features an 18-hole golf course, and easy access to all Cedar Park has to offer.

2. 78660 – If you head east from Round Rock, also about 15 miles from Downtown Austin, lies the city of Pflugerville. This area is also growing quickly because of Round Rock’s major employers, but Pflugerville has its own unique appeal. Falcon Pointe in Pflugerville is the most sought after neighborhood, offering outstanding quality of life with amenities like pools, a clubhouse, fitness center, basketball court, and a 26-acre green space that incorporates an 18-hole disc golf course. With a median home price of around $300,000, this area offers a lot for a reasonable price!

1. 78641. This Leander zip code tops the list for numerous reasons. Leander is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, with one of the fastest growing school districts as well. Leander boasts being the eighth safest city in Texas, with lots of new construction (much of which comes with land), and many new master planned communities popping up. The neighborhood of Block House Creek is a favorite amongst families with children, as they offer three parks, hike-and-bike trails, ball fields, disc golf courses, and pools. It’s also close to shopping and amenities, but keeps its rural vibe with large lots and bountiful trees. Still extremely affordable with a median home price of $175,000, it’s easy to see why people are flocking here. Crystal Falls is also a popular neighborhood (at a higher price point), where residents can build custom estate homes or choose to purchase one that ‘s already been built. Close to the lake, and full of amenities, Crystal Falls also features an 18-hole golf course, and proximity to malls, dining, and more. If neither of these strikes your fancy, there are new communities popping up in Leander every day, all with varying price points and amenities to offer!