San Antonio, Texas is a beautiful metropolis with plenty of available housing, but as with any city, potential new residents can get overwhelmed trying to find the right neighborhood for their lifestyle. If you’re one of those potential new residents, we’re here to help!
We know a thing or two about moving here at SpareFoot, and one of our most important tips is research areas you plan on relocating to before you commit to a move. In this article, we’ll give you a quick snapshot of ten neighborhoods in San Antonio worth looking into if it sounds like the right place for you. Some are well-known and popular areas on the north and west sides of the city; others are affordable and underrated gems in quieter areas.
Alamo Heights
If you dream of living in an idyllic mid-century home on a tree-lined street in an affluent area, Alamo Heights may be calling your name. It’s its own incorporated city within a city and is situated just five minutes from downtown San Antonio, and you’ll find Olmos Park, Brackenridge Park, and Fort Sam Houston on its borders.
If you’re moving with a family, you’ll find top-rated public and private schools in the area, and if you’re moving on your own, there are plenty of singles’ apartments near the historic Pearl Brewery. You can save a little bit on housing costs if you opt for the adjacent, slightly-more-affordable community of Terrell Hills.
Stone Oak
Officially an upscale, gated, master-planned community wedged into the Northwest quadrant of the Hwy 281 and Loop 1604 exchange, the name “Stone Oak” typically also refers to the larger, more diverse Timberwood Park area. Many residents cite traffic as a major concern, but the Stone Oak highway system has gone through major renovations to help with congestion and make travel that much easier.
Stone Oak residents enjoy easy access to excellent hospitals and an outstanding public library. You’ll also find classy, trendy restaurants if you’re looking for delicious local food, and if you prefer to cook yourself, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods are among the many big-box retailers offering the ingredients you need.
Leon Springs
Right on the edge of IH-10 just outside of Loop 1604, the unincorporated community of Leon Springs offers residents a tasteful blend of suburban quietude and country-western charm. Living here will give you equal access to San Antonio’s downtown core and its bordering country hills, as well as abundant shopping options at La Cantera and The Rim. The quaint small town of Boerne is just 11 miles away, and you can take in nature on the nearby Friedrich Park and Crownridge Canyon Park walking trails.
If educating your children is a major concern for you, the four local elementary schools are among the highest rated in the region. Education and income levels are similar to more affluent neighborhoods like Alamo Heights and Stone Oak, but thanks to a couple of modest developments, Leon Springs is more affordable than many nearby neighborhoods. If money truly is no object, take a look at The Dominion nearby, one of the most expensive communities in Texas and home to several legendary country musicians.
Helotes
If living the country life in a small town is your dream, Helotes is exactly the place for you. This little town is close to major employers like Valero, UTSA, USAA, and local medical centers if you’re looking to start a new career, sitting just outside of 1604 and offering everything from dance halls to small-town fairs. Helotes’s core is made up of older, established neighborhoods surrounded by newer tract homes, so you’re sure to find a home that meets your needs.
Helotes is perfect for outdoorsy types, sitting very close to the over 40 miles of hike and bike trails of Government Canyon State Natural Area. If you’d rather live in a tiny house in the hills, check out the nearby community of Grey Forest, just minutes away from Helotes’s core.
Downtown
Downtown San Antonio is where you move if you truly want to live in the heart of a city. Housing prices are high and availability is low, but if you can find a residence at the right price, you’ll be treated to fast-paced downtown life with a multicultural vibe.
The Southtown arts district and the downtown border with Alamo Heights have both seen many recent developments in housing, leading retirees and young professionals alike to flock to the area. For leisure, you’ll find plenty of quirky eateries and museums for history and art buffs alike.
Alamo Ranch
A master-planned community in Northwest Bexar County located near SeaWorld, Lackland Air Force Base, and UTSA, the Alamo Ranch area is popular with young, growing families who want a classic suburban experience. There are plenty of single-family homes in the area, with new ones going up every day.
Alamo Ranch also boasts plenty of new schools to give your children the best education possible. Convenient to San Antonio Loop 1604, recent construction developments have helped to ease traffic congestion and make it that much easier for residents to visit other neighborhoods.
Shavano Park
The Shavano Park area offers easy access to major corporate employers while maintaining a quiet suburban atmosphere, made up of older neighborhoods with a few newer developments in between. Like Alamo Heights, Shavano Park is an incorporated community of its own and is populated with upper-income, well-educated residents.
This area offers pricey but abundant apartments and a few townhomes, perfect for individuals and smaller families.Shavano Park is situated on the IH-10 corridor but inside Loop 1604, giving commuters plenty of main highways and side streets to get where they need to go. Smaller families will also be happy with the schools in this area.
Castle Hills
If you’re looking for a modest single-family home or apartment in an older, established neighborhood with good schools and quick, easy access to downtown via Loop 410 or IH-10, Castle Hills is one of a few more affordable, underrated gems in the San Antonio area worth a closer look. Families will be pleased with the area’s safety and many shopping and dining options.
Castle Hills also caters to an active lifestyle if you’re a biker or a hiker. The newly developed Salado Creek Greenway linear park is nearby, giving you places to work up a sweat or simply take in the beautiful San Antonio landscapes.
Government Hill
If you have the funds and skills to handle a historic fixer-upper, Government Hill is the place for you. This area dates back to the turn of the 19th century and boasts a number of architectural styles, with residents referring to it as a “neighborhood in transition”.
Government Hill is just outside Fort Sam Houston’s gates and is convenient to downtown. It’s an excellent option for people who want the historic vibe of the King William District but without the hefty price tag, and nearby Mahnke Park offers a similar experience.
Cibolo
Northeast of San Antonio proper, over in Guadalupe County, the bedroom community of Cibolo offers suburban amenities and an easy commute to downtown with more affordable housing options. It’s just under 30 minutes away from the city itself and offers plenty of shopping and dining options when you’d rather not make the trip downtown.
Like the bustling nearby communities of Schertz, Universal City, Garden Ridge, and Selma, Cibolo is convenient to Randolph Air Force Base, making it popular with military types, including retirees.
Are you already planning a move to San Antonio? We can help! SpareFoot’s built-in search tool can help you compare prices on storage facilities in the San Antonio area and filter them down by the features you need most of all.
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