The GI Bill of Rights, Ike's interstate system, suburban development, and the growing affordability of cars allowed the suburbs to flourish throughout the mid-20th century. During this era, a new American Dream was established: one with single-family homes, white picket fences, and lush green lawns.
Today, however, the traditional suburb may no longer cater to what 79% of Americans want: walkability. Younger people are especially attracted to neighborhoods where stores, restaurants, and other amenities are a short walk away, according to a National Association of Realtors survey released in 2023. But a good location comes with a cost.
A Redfin analysis showed homes in 2019 in walkable areas sold for almost 25% more than homes without the same walkability, equivalent to nearly $78,000 more in the national average. Some suburbs offer the amenities of city life, whether through easy transit to big cities (such as Wilmette, Illinois, with easy proximity to Chicago), or college-town amenities such as those found in Claremont, California.
What individual families and people look for in a suburb will vary, of course, with some prioritizing quiet and extra space, even if that means driving more often.
Stacker used data from Niche to examine the best suburbs in San Antonio. Niche ranked suburbs across the U.S. based on several factors, including diversity, the cost of living, the share of the population with college degrees, and the quality of schools and housing.
Read on to see the highest-ranked suburbs in San Antonio.
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1 / 17#17. Selma, Texas
- Population: 11,067
- Median home value: $262,000
- Median rental price: $1,739
- Top schools nearby: BASIS San Antonio- Northeast Campus (grade A+), BASIS San Antonio Primary - North Central Campus (grade A), Judson Early College Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Keystone School (grade A+), Saint Mary's Hall (grade A+), San Antonio Christian School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: C+
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2 / 17#16. Windcrest, Texas
- Population: 5,825
- Median home value: $249,400
- Median rental price: $1,334
- Top schools nearby: International School of the Americas (grade A+), BASIS San Antonio- Northeast Campus (grade A+), BASIS San Antonio Primary - North Central Campus (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Keystone School (grade A+), Saint Mary's Hall (grade A+), San Antonio Christian School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B+
--- Outdoor activities grade: C+
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3 / 17#15. Bulverde, Texas
- Population: 5,827
- Median home value: $362,400
- Median rental price: $1,374
- Top schools nearby: Voss Middle School (grade A), Herff Elementary School (grade A), Rahe Bulverde Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: San Antonio Christian School (grade A+), St. John Paul II Catholic High School (grade A), Living Rock Academy (grade A)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: C+
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4 / 17#14. Castle Hills, Texas
- Population: 3,982
- Median home value: $400,800
- Median rental price: $1,469
- Top schools nearby: BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus (grade A+), International School of the Americas (grade A+), BASIS San Antonio- Northeast Campus (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Keystone School (grade A+), Saint Mary's Hall (grade A+), TMI Episcopal (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: C+
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5 / 17#13. Helotes, Texas
- Population: 9,140
- Median home value: $358,100
- Median rental price: $2,462
- Top schools nearby: BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus (grade A+), Health Careers High School (grade A+), BASIS San Antonio Primary - Medical Center Campus (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: TMI Episcopal (grade A+), San Antonio Christian School (grade A+), Lutheran High School of San Antonio (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: A−
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: C+
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6 / 17#12. Scenic Oaks, Texas
- Population: 10,059
- Median home value: $489,400
- Median rental price: $1,495
- Top schools nearby: BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus (grade A+), Health Careers High School (grade A+), BASIS San Antonio Primary - Medical Center Campus (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: TMI Episcopal (grade A+), San Antonio Christian School (grade A+), Geneva School of Boerne (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: C+
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7 / 17#11. Schertz, Texas
- Population: 42,545
- Median home value: $272,600
- Median rental price: $1,513
- Top schools nearby: BASIS San Antonio- Northeast Campus (grade A+), BASIS San Antonio Primary - North Central Campus (grade A), Randolph High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Keystone School (grade A+), Saint Mary's Hall (grade A+), San Antonio Christian School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: B−
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8 / 17#10. Cibolo, Texas
- Population: 32,640
- Median home value: $291,500
- Median rental price: $1,872
- Top schools nearby: BASIS San Antonio- Northeast Campus (grade A+), Byron P. Steele II High School (grade A), School of Science & Technology San Antonio (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Saint Mary's Hall (grade A+), San Antonio Christian School (grade A+), St. John Paul II Catholic High School (grade A)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: C+
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9 / 17#9. Cross Mountain, Texas
- Population: 4,523
- Median home value: $432,800
- Median rental price: $1,474
- Top schools nearby: BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus (grade A+), Health Careers High School (grade A+), BASIS San Antonio Primary - Medical Center Campus (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: TMI Episcopal (grade A+), San Antonio Christian School (grade A+), Geneva School of Boerne (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: C+
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10 / 17#8. Garden Ridge, Texas
- Population: 4,155
- Median home value: $534,300
- Median rental price: $2,696
- Top schools nearby: BASIS San Antonio- Northeast Campus (grade A+), Borgfeld Area Middle School (grade A), Memorial Early College High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: San Antonio Christian School (grade A+), St. John Paul II Catholic High School (grade A), River City Believers Academy (grade A)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B+
--- Outdoor activities grade: C
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11 / 17#7. Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas
- Population: 9,917
- Median home value: $579,300
- Median rental price: $2,316
- Top schools nearby: BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus (grade A+), BASIS San Antonio Primary - Medical Center Campus (grade A+), Voss Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: TMI Episcopal (grade A+), Geneva School of Boerne (grade A+), Lutheran High School of San Antonio (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: C
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12 / 17#6. Shavano Park, Texas
- Population: 3,544
- Median home value: $760,400
- Median rental price: $2,267
- Top schools nearby: BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus (grade A+), Health Careers High School (grade A+), BASIS San Antonio- Northeast Campus (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Keystone School (grade A+), Saint Mary's Hall (grade A+), TMI Episcopal (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: C+
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13 / 17#5. Hollywood Park, Texas
- Population: 3,123
- Median home value: $404,000
- Median rental price: $2,683
- Top schools nearby: BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus (grade A+), International School of the Americas (grade A+), BASIS San Antonio- Northeast Campus (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Keystone School (grade A+), Saint Mary's Hall (grade A+), TMI Episcopal (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: C+
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14 / 17#4. Timberwood Park, Texas
- Population: 34,253
- Median home value: $434,600
- Median rental price: $1,732
- Top schools nearby: BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus (grade A+), International School of the Americas (grade A+), Reagan High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Keystone School (grade A+), San Antonio Christian School (grade A+), The Christian School at Castle Hills (grade A)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: C+
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15 / 17#3. Olmos Park, Texas
- Population: 2,286
- Median home value: $845,400
- Median rental price: $1,071
- Top schools nearby: BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus (grade A+), BASIS San Antonio- Northeast Campus (grade A+), Alamo Heights High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Keystone School (grade A+), Saint Mary's Hall (grade A+), San Antonio Christian School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: B−
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16 / 17#2. Terrell Hills, Texas
- Population: 5,045
- Median home value: $720,400
- Median rental price: $1,100
- Top schools nearby: International School of the Americas (grade A+), BASIS San Antonio- Northeast Campus (grade A+), Alamo Heights High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Keystone School (grade A+), Saint Mary's Hall (grade A+), San Antonio Christian School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B+
--- Outdoor activities grade: B−
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17 / 17#1. Alamo Heights, Texas
- Population: 7,417
- Median home value: $704,500
- Median rental price: $1,390
- Top schools nearby: BASIS San Antonio - Shavano Campus (grade A+), BASIS San Antonio- Northeast Campus (grade A+), Alamo Heights High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Keystone School (grade A+), Saint Mary's Hall (grade A+), San Antonio Christian School (grade A+)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: B−
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 67 metros.
