What Old Town
Is Really Like
Every neighborhood in Round Rock has things going for it. Old Town is the only one where you can walk to them. That's the core of why buyers who find this neighborhood never want to live anywhere else in the city. You walk to dinner. You walk to the baseball game. You walk to get coffee on Saturday morning. You walk to the donut shop that's been there since 1926. That kind of daily life simply does not exist in any other Round Rock neighborhood.
Old Town and the surrounding historic district represent the original Round Rock — established in 1854 as a crossing point on Brushy Creek and a stop on the Chisholm Trail. The architecture here tells that history: limestone storefronts from the 1880s, Craftsman bungalows from the 1920s, Victorian cottages, mid-century ranches, and interspersed modern infill townhomes. No two houses on the same block look alike. That architectural variety is something buyers either love immediately or find too unpredictable — there's rarely an in-between reaction.
The tradeoff is honest and worth stating plainly: Old Town homes are smaller and older than what you'll find in Round Rock's master-planned communities. Most homes range from 1,000–2,400 sq ft. Many need updating — cosmetic or structural — that newer neighborhoods don't. The lots are smaller. The floor plans are not open-concept. What you're buying instead is character, location, walkability, and the feeling of living in a real place with real history — and the fact that it's priced at a genuine discount to the newer communities on a square-foot basis.
Main Street is the backbone of the neighborhood. Boutiques, galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, bars, and the Dell Diamond baseball stadium are all within a 10-minute walk of most Old Town homes. Prete Plaza hosts free concerts. The Chalk Walk Arts Festival draws the whole city. Music on Main runs throughout the year. This is not a neighborhood where the "amenities" are a pool and a fitness center managed by a HOA — the amenities are a living, evolving downtown district.
The Story Behind
Old Town Round Rock
Round Rock earned its name from a round limestone rock that jutted from Brushy Creek — a reliable ford used by wagon trains and cattle drives heading north on the Chisholm Trail. The town was officially platted in 1854. By the 1870s the railroad had arrived, transforming it into a regional commerce hub.
Town officially platted. The round limestone crossing on Brushy Creek gives the city its name.
The International-Great Northern Railroad arrives, establishing Round Rock as a regional rail hub.
Outlaw Sam Bass attempts to rob the Williamson County Bank. Killed in a shootout — his grave is a neighborhood landmark today.
Round Rock Donuts opens. Still operating today, still the most famous business in the city.
Downtown revitalization brings new restaurants, breweries, and events. Main Street becomes a genuine destination again.
The most walkable neighborhood in Round Rock — and the only one with 170 years of unbroken history behind it.
What You Can Reach
On Foot from Old Town
This list is the reason people pay a premium for Old Town over comparable homes elsewhere in Round Rock. None of this requires a car.
Round Rock Donuts
Open since 1926. The Texas-sized orange donut is legitimately world-famous — visitors fly in specifically for them. When your neighborhood institution has been there for 100 years, that tells you something about the community.
Dell Diamond
The Round Rock Express Triple-A baseball team plays at Dell Diamond, steps from Main Street. Summer evenings at the ballpark — with fireworks Fridays and a $10 ticket — is a neighborhood staple.
Music on Main & Events
Main Street Plaza and Centennial Plaza host free concerts, movie nights, the Chalk Walk Arts Festival, and holiday events year-round. A calendar of neighborhood events that most master-planned communities can't touch.
Bluebonnet Beer Company
Local craft brewery with food trucks, live music, and a family-friendly patio. The kind of third place that anchors a neighborhood — a spot you walk to on a Friday evening without planning it.
Historic Main Street
Old-fashioned limestone storefronts house boutiques, galleries, coffee shops, and restaurants. ArtSpace and Inspire Pro Art Center keep a genuine local arts scene alive. Hoot & Annie for cocktails, Urban Rooftop for views.
Wild West History
Sam Bass's 1878 shootout, the Chisholm Trail crossing, bronze sculptures and historical markers throughout. The history is real, walkable, and woven into the street grid — not packaged as a tourist attraction.
What Old Town Homes
Actually Look Like
Old Town Round Rock has the widest architectural range of any neighborhood in the city — because it's been building continuously since the 1880s. That means buying here requires more due diligence than buying in a neighborhood where every home was built by Drees in 2007, but it also means the selection is genuinely varied and often extraordinary.
The oldest homes in Round Rock. Limestone construction, high ceilings, decorative woodwork, front porches. Many have been significantly updated inside while preserving original exteriors. The rarest and most characterful inventory in the city.
The sweet spot of Old Town's housing stock for most buyers. Built-ins, hardwood floors, covered porches, distinct architectural details. Many have been tastefully renovated. 1,200–1,800 sq ft is the typical range.
Single-story ranch homes with larger lots relative to their sq footage. Often the most affordable entry point in Old Town. Many are unrenovated and offer buyers the opportunity to update to taste.
New construction built on infill lots throughout Old Town. Open floor plans, energy efficiency, modern kitchens. Higher price per sq ft than older homes but no deferred maintenance. Growing portion of available inventory.
"Old Town buyers aren't shopping for square footage — they're shopping for a life. When that's what a buyer actually wants, nothing else in Round Rock competes with it."
Schools Serving
Old Town Residents
Old Town is served by Round Rock ISD. The elementary assignment — Berkman Arts Integration Academy — is a meaningful differentiator. Berkman has an arts-integrated curriculum throughout all subjects, making it genuinely distinct from standard RRISD elementary schools.
Arts-integrated curriculum woven through all academic subjects — not a separate arts program, but a fundamentally different teaching approach. A unique offering within RRISD.
Serves the Old Town and Downtown Round Rock area. Standard RRISD middle school programs with extracurricular offerings.
The city's original high school — longstanding community ties and strong athletics and academic programs.
Always verify school assignments with RRISD before purchasing. roundrockisd.org
Commute Times
From Old Town
Old Town's location directly on IH-35 is a double-edged sword — Austin is just 25 miles south, but I-35 congestion is the reality. Most Old Town residents build their commute around avoiding peak hours, using CapMetro bus options, or working for the local employers that require minimal drive time.
Old Town Home Prices
& Market Conditions 2026
Old Town's housing market runs roughly $380,000–$465,000 at the median, though the range is wide given the architectural diversity. The neighborhood has held value better than many Round Rock communities during the 2023–2026 correction because its walkability and character appeal to a distinct buyer profile that doesn't have many alternatives in the market.
Old Town requires a different kind of due diligence than newer neighborhoods. Older homes need careful inspection — foundation, plumbing, electrical, and roof are the four to scrutinize. Many older homes have been updated piecemeal over decades, which can mean a beautiful kitchen on top of 1960s plumbing. A thorough pre-offer walkthrough and a comprehensive inspection are non-negotiable here.
The upside: buyers willing to do that due diligence often find extraordinary value. A renovated 1930s Craftsman with original hardwood floors, updated kitchen, and covered front porch — walkable to everything — at $420,000 is a genuinely compelling proposition that no amount of new construction in Round Rock can replicate.
Is Old Town
Right For You?
Old Town Round Rock —
Frequently Asked
How much do homes cost in Old Town Round Rock TX?+
Homes in Old Town and Downtown Round Rock typically range from the low $300,000s to around $700,000. The median price runs approximately $380,000–$465,000 as of 2026. Entry-level homes are older (1940s–1970s) on smaller lots, while larger updated Craftsman and Victorian-style homes on corner lots or with recent renovations push toward $600,000–$700,000. New townhomes and infill construction in the $450,000–$550,000 range have also increased the inventory mix.
Is Old Town Round Rock walkable?+
Yes — Old Town and Downtown Round Rock is the most walkable neighborhood in the city. Main Street is lined with restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops, galleries, and bars all within walking distance. Prete Plaza and Centennial Plaza host live music and community events. Round Rock Donuts, Dell Diamond baseball, Bluebonnet Beer Company, and the city's historic district are all easily walkable from Old Town homes. For a suburban Texas city, the walkability here is genuinely unusual and much of the reason buyers specifically seek out this neighborhood.
What schools serve Old Town Round Rock TX?+
Old Town Round Rock is served by Round Rock Independent School District. Elementary students typically attend Berkman Arts Integration Academy, which has an arts-integrated curriculum that is a differentiator from standard RRISD elementary assignments. Middle school is CD Fulkes Middle School and high school is Round Rock High School. Always verify your specific assignment with RRISD before purchasing — boundaries can change.
What is the history of Old Town Round Rock TX?+
Round Rock was established in 1854, named for the round limestone rock marking a shallow creek crossing used by wagon trains and cattle drives on the Chisholm Trail. The town grew as a railroad and stagecoach hub through the late 1800s. The most famous historical event is the 1878 shootout in which outlaw Sam Bass was killed after attempting to rob the Williamson County Bank — a story commemorated throughout Old Town with historical markers and Bass's grave nearby. The architecture reflects this layered history: limestone storefronts from the 1880s stand alongside Craftsman bungalows from the 1920s–1940s and mid-century ranches.
What restaurants and bars are in Downtown Round Rock TX?+
Downtown Round Rock's Main Street corridor includes a range of dining and entertainment options. Highlights include Round Rock Donuts (open since 1926, famous for its Texas-sized orange donuts), Greenhouse Craft Food, The Alcove Cantina (modern Mexican, live music, margaritas), Louisiana Longhorn Cafe, Hoot & Annie cocktail bar (speakeasy vibe), Bluebonnet Beer Company (craft brewery with food trucks and live events), and Urban Rooftop bar. The district hosts Music on Main concert series and the Chalk Walk Arts Festival annually.
What type of homes are in Old Town Round Rock TX?+
Old Town Round Rock has the most architecturally diverse housing stock in the city. You'll find limestone cottages and Victorian homes from the 1880s–1910s, Craftsman bungalows from the 1920s–1940s, mid-century ranch homes from the 1950s–1970s, and newer infill construction including modern townhomes and custom builds from the 2000s–2020s. Most homes are smaller than what you'd find in newer master-planned communities — typically 1,200–2,400 sq ft — with more character, more variety, and more history per square foot than anywhere else in Round Rock.