Looking for the best place to buy a home in San Antonio? Whether you’re already living in Alamo City or are moving to Texas from out of state, you’ll be glad to hear the San Antonio real estate market is one of the best in the nation. Here are the five best places in the San Antonio metro for buying a house!
Alamo Heights
- Home Price: $513,900 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 44% of Texas cities
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
With its scenic tree-lined streets, fascinating historic sites, and gorgeous properties in styles ranging from Renaissance Revival to Art Deco and more, Alamo Heights is among the best places to buy a home in San Antonio. This older suburb is a great choice for families, as well as singles and young professionals. In addition to abundant green spaces and some of San Antonio’s best restaurants, Alamo Heights boasts practical amenities like the top-notch Alamo Heights Independent School District, so parents can feel confident sending their children to excellent local schools like Cambridge Elementary and Alamo Heights High School. To top it all off, Alamo Heights is centrally-located and just 12 minutes from Downtown San Antonio!
Things to Do in Alamo Heights
Marvel at the impressive McNay collection—which includes more than 22,000 paintings, sculptures, and installations—at Texas’ first museum of modern art, the McNay Art Museum. Picnic, hike the trails, or let your four-legged pals run free in the Bark Park at the scenic Olmos Basin Park. Visit the historic Blue Hole spring and see other natural wonders at the 53-acre nature preserve Headwaters at Incarnate Word. Peruse the shops, see a movie, grab a bite to eat, or pick up fresh produce and homemade products from the farmer’s market at Alamo Quarry Market. Get dressed up and enjoy a fine-dining experience with entrees like the Grilled Beef Tenderloin or Prince Edward Island Mussels at Cappy’s Restaurant. Fulfill your desire for authentic Mexican flavors with a plate of Enchiladas Verdes or Chile Rellenos a la Adelfa paired with a stand-out Mango Chamorita specialty margarita from Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine. Share a Gino’s Special Pizza or get a plate of Spaghetti Carbonara for yourself at Sorrento’s Italiano Ristorante. Or reserve a table to enjoy a shared plate of Crawfish Corn Beignets before setting into Chicken & Waffle or Wood Fired Ribs from Ida Claire.
Helotes
- Home Price: $273,000 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 84% of Texas cities
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
Located on the edge of San Antonio, just on the cusp of Texas’ beautiful Hill Country, the suburb of Helotes offers a balance of nature and activity that’s ideal for everyone—from seasoned city dwellers to former small-town folks. Helotes is one of the best suburbs of San Antonio to raise a family, start a career, or enjoy your retirement, thanks to its exceedingly low crime rate and growing job market. Modern Colonial and Tudor-style homes are some of the most common architectural styles in the suburb, but there are a number of other aesthetics on the market, too. Plus, this attractive San Antonio suburb has great schools like Helotes Elementary School and Sandra Day O’Connor High School, as well as a variety of annual festivals like Cornyval.
Things to Do in Helotes
See 110-million-year-old dinosaur footprints, participate in ranger-led programs, or hike more than 40 miles of trails at Government Canyon State Natural Area. Go ziplining through the stunning Texas landscape at Helotes Hill Country Ziplines. Admire beautiful art in a cozy, low-key setting or take some art classes to learn how to create your own masterpieces at Helotes Gallery. Cut a rug and listen to live music from country to rock at John T. Floore’s Country Store, a classic Texas honky-tonk. Wake up right with a Biscuit + Gravy Plate, Homemade Waffle, or the Keto Scramble from The Cracked Mug. Order a tray of Sweet Tea Glazed Ribs or sandwiches like The Big Daddy and Brisket Grilled Cheese at B-Daddy’s BBQ. Treat your tastebuds to the Mushroom & Swiss Burger, Supreme Nachos, Babe’s Grilled Chicken Salad, and other American classics at Babe’s Old Fashioned Food. Or savor Italian favorites like Stuffed Mushrooms, Stromboli, and Eggplant Parmigiana at Casa Pasta.
Monte Vista
- Home Price: $294,683 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 41% of Texas cities
- Perfect For: Students, singles, young professionals, families, retirees
Even though Monte Vista is the largest historic district in the nation, as well as one of the oldest, this San Antonio neighborhood often attracts new shops and restaurants that keep it modern. Many of the large, historical residences that line the streets—with architectural styles like Tudor, Queen Anne, Spanish, and Craftsman—were built back in the late 1800s to the early 1900s! Not only is Monte Vista affordable compared to many neighborhoods in Alamo City, but it’s also safe, with easy access to lots of gorgeous green spaces like Brackenridge Park. To top it off, young professionals and families wanting plant roots love Monte Vista’s proximity to institutions like Great Hearts Monte Vista North Academy, Monte Vista Montessori School, and Trinity University.
Things to Do in Monte Vista
Take the kids to Story Time or browse the shelves for books, movies, music, and periodicals at the Landa Library. Ponder expressive visual art pieces like oil paintings, sculptures, and more created by local artists at Hindes Fine Art. Stroll over the stone bridges and among the lush pathways, koi ponds, and waterfalls in the serene Japanese Tea Garden. Join the millions of people who come to explore the lives and ecology of over 750 animal species at the San Antonio Zoo. Sample delicious plant-based cuisine like the Sweet Potato Flautas, Enchiladas Verdes, or Karma Curry Bowl at Vegan Avenue. Savor both Tex-Mex and classic Mexican dishes like Diablitos, La Fonda Nachos, and Oak-Grilled Fajitas at San Antonio’s oldest Mexican restaurant, La Fonda On Main. Fill up on some of San Antonio’s best cheesesteaks, like The Malik, The Jawn, or the Phlaming Philly at Malik’s Philly’s Phamous Cheesesteaks. Or split a charcuterie board with friends and dig into house pizzas like the Clams Casino or New York Style at Barbaro.
Stone Oak
- Home Price: $293,240 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 31% of Texas cities
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families
Shopping destinations, parks, beautiful homes, and a bounty of other excellent amenities await you in Stone Oak! As one of the best San Antonio neighborhoods to buy a home, Stone Oak is a fast-growing area popular among singles, young professionals, and families. Stone Oak homes are large and affordable, consisting of both Contemporary and traditional multi-story brick houses. The neighborhood boasts several job opportunities in healthcare and finance, with employers like Methodist Hospital Stone Oak and JPMorgan Chase & Co. For families, there are also great schools in Stone Oak, including Stone Oak Elementary School and Bush Middle School.
Things to Do in Stone Oak
Test your problem-solving skills with one of the games at Extreme Escape Stone Oak, with themed rooms ranging from a cabin in the woods to a starship in outer space. Take your pup to frolic, run, and play at Panther Springs Dog Park. Exercise at the fitness stations, enjoy the views, or have a picnic at Stone Oak Park. Shop for one-of-a-kind, homemade crafts and refurbished furniture, including vintage decor, collectibles, and more at Homestead Handcrafts. Savor a delicious specialty pizza like the Capone, Texan, or the San Antonio Special at Trilogy Pizza Bistro. Dine on comfort foods like the Jalapeno Pepper Jack Burger or Street Tacos while sipping an Embers Escape cocktail at Embers Wood Fire Kitchen & Tap. Get authentic Mexican gorditas like the Rajas Queso, Chicharron, or Deshebrada at Gorditas Doña Tota. Or check out the local nightlife while sipping cocktails like To Hell and Back and the Hemingway Daiquiri, or a Texas Keeper hard cider at The Hoppy Monk.
Tobin Hill
- Home Price: $178,125 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 55% of Texas cities
- Perfect For: Students, singles, young professionals, families, retirees
Tobin Hill is an up-and-coming neighborhood in San Antonio. Its centerpiece, the Pearl district, draws in a vibrant mix of people with shops, eateries, numerous live music and art shows, and one of the top ten farmers markets in the U.S.—all surrounding its namesake brewery. On the northern side of the neighborhood, The Strip area has become a haven for LGBTQ businesses—including Sparky’s Pub and Heat, which are just two beats in the pulsing rhythm of Tobin Hill’s nightlife. If you prefer being outdoors, Tobin Hill residents have access to the oldest park in San Antonio, San Pedro Springs Park—which features trails, a swimming pool, and the Public Theater of San Antonio. And students will appreciate easy access to San Antonio College, which is nestled in the center of the neighborhood. In terms of housing, this safe, affordable San Antonio neighborhood offers townhomes and condos, as well as charming Victorian, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, and Tudor homes for sale.
Things to Do in Tobin Hill
Take the kids to the playground or unwind after a long day with a walk through scenic Crockett Park. Gaze in awe at fantastic visual displays about planets, stars, galaxies, and other heavenly bodies at the Scobee Planetarium. See amazing live bands across all kinds of genres—from indie and punk, to hip-hop and country—at Paper Tiger. Enjoy theatrical performances like “Jazz Meets the Beatles” from community performers and students at The Josephine Theatre, a local non-profit. Grab a New Orleans-style brunch with Classic Beignets, Bananas Foster Pancakes, or the Catfish Po’Boy at NOLA Brunch & Beignets. Try mouthwatering Vietnamese flavors in dishes like the Brisket Bún, Shrimp Banh Mi, or Vegetable Goi at Singhs Vietnamese. Dig into authentic Mexican dishes like the Beef Alambre Tacos and Tamal del Dia at La Gloria, then order Cajeta Flan for dessert. Or try your favorite Mediterranean dishes, from Gyro Wraps and Moussaka to Falafel and Spanakopita, at Demo’s Greek Food.
***
Moving to San Antonio? Extra Space Storage has easily accessible self storage facilities throughout the metro to help with your transition. Find a storage unit near you!
Neighborhood & suburb statistics from AreaVibes
