At the heart of San Antonio — and some might say Texas — is the Alamo. Known for its role in the Texas Revolution against Mexico in 1836, the Alamo is one of five Spanish missions that shaped the early city. Founded in 1718, San Antonio is the oldest city in Texas, gradually growing around the San Antonio River. The River Walk attracts millions of visitors annually, connecting them to downtown restaurants, shopping plazas and historic landmarks.
"San Antonio is where you want to raise a family. We are the biggest small town in Texas and just one or two connections away from someone you know," says Dayton Schrader, broker associate with The Schrader Group. "I've lived here all my life. The population has doubled in the last 30 years and will continue to grow. We have some great companies and industries headquartered here and over 130,000 college and university students."
Today, San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the country, with nearly 1.5 million residents. From 2022 to 2023, around 50,000 people moved here. Texas' third-largest city also supports three major universities and is home to Joint Base San Antonio, which provides more than 80,000 jobs. Aerospace, healthcare, energy and tech industries continue to expand, bringing Fortune 500 headquarters and major employers like H-E-B, USAA and Methodist Healthcare. In 2024, the $240 million Westover Hills Baptist Hospital opened on the city's West Side. Many locals from surrounding small, historic towns like New Braunfels and Boerne commute to San Antonio for work, both about 40 miles away.
Despite its growth, the city hasn't lost touch with its history. San Antonio's culture is reflected in its food, festivals and historic sites, including Downtown San Antonio 's San Fernando Cathedral — the oldest church in Texas and a center for the state's largest Catholic population.
Remember the Alamo! The historic site located in the heart of Downtown San Antonio.
A family being greeted by a dolphin at SeaWorld San Antonio near Valley High North.
Take in the sights at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens.
Take the kids and enjoy the expansive Witte Museum in Mahncke Park.
With monthly food markets, food and beverage vendors, and Hotel Emma.
La Cantera shopping outlets are a quick 15 minute drive from Northwood Hills.
The River Center Mall offers locals a wide range of shops and entertainment.
The Pearl District is one of San Antonio's top attractions.
Mission Espada National Historic Park is among several sites in San Antonio.
Historic Spanish architecture of Mission Espada located in South San Antonio.
Mission San Jose, one of my major sites of the San Antonio Missions National Park.
Dedicated in 1755, this Spanish Colonial landmark is America’s oldest unrestored stone church.
NIOSA is the top fundraiser for historic preservation in the nation.
A crowd dances and celebrates NIOSA in Downtown San Antonio.
Visitors dancing to the incredible music from the musicians of NIOSA.
Boat rides flow past a music stage on the San Antonio River Walk at the NIOSA Festival.
A quant craftsman just south of Downtown San Antonio in Lavaca.
Jefferson runs along the Deco District, named for its numerous Art Deco buildings.
Have a stroll through the historic homes of King William.
A row of colonial national homes commonly found in King William.
The University of Texas San Antonio is located in East Campus.
Trinity University's beautiful campus standing in the middle of Monte Vista.
Discover the joy of learning at Thomas Edison High School.
Students have the space to grow and learn at Brackenridge High School.
The VIA Metro offers transportation throughout Lavaca and San Antonio.
The San Antonio International Airport makes traveling a breeze.
Bring the bike out for a smooth ride through the Salado Creek Greenway.
Buy a new bike, or grab a rental and explore King William at the Blue Art Bicycle Company.
Beat the heat at Six-Flags Fiesta Texas, only 15 minutes from Northwood Hills.
Relax in the tranquil setting of Roosevelt Park in Lone Star.
SeaWorld San Antonio offers kids and families to get inspired and educated on marine wildlife.
Many murals can be found in Lavaca, including honoring the Spurs.
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Shopping plazas along the San Antonio River Walk
The San Antonio River Walk stretches 15 miles through the heart of downtown, passing through diverse and eclectic shopping centers. "The River Walk is our crown jewel. There are barges you can rent for dinner on the river," Schrader says. "We even have our canal with locks that raise boats to continue along the route. It was a WPA project during the Great Depression." The city is also one of two cities in the country that holds the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy designation and is dubbed the Culinary Capital of Texas. The Pearl Farmers Market, held year-round on Saturdays in Tobin Hill , is one of the city's most popular markets, drawing local farmers and vendors from around the county. The Shops at Rivercenter is a four-story shopping mall along the river featuring more than 100 stores, restaurants and movie theaters. La Villita Historic Village is home to Historic Market Square, "El Mercado," which offers over 100 locally owned shops selling artisan items from Mexico.
Southton is an artsy and trendy district that extends from downtown and is home to some of the city's oldest neighborhoods, such as Lavaca and King William . The Blue Star Arts Complex is a gathering place for artisan markets, galleries and First Friday Artwalk, the city's longest continuously running art market. Twenty miles north of downtown, The Rim and The Shops at La Cantera are high-end shopping centers near Six Flags Fiesta, Texas.
Locals and visitors of San Antonio can shop and dine along many shopping areas in Downtown.
La Cantera shopping outlets are a quick 15 minute drive from Downtown San Antonio.
The River Center Mall offers locals a wide range of shops and entertainment in San Antonio.
The Pearl District is one of San Antonio's top attractions, famous for Hotel Emma.
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The Alamo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
San Antonio has more than 260 parks and 140 miles of multi-use trails. The Howard W. Peak Greenway Trail System, known locally as the "emerald necklace," loops around the city, connecting parks and neighborhoods. Pearsall Park, in the Hidden Cove-Indian Creek community, is the city's largest green space. Originally a landfill, the area now features San Antonio's largest skate park and playground. Other family-friendly spots include Brackenridge Park, a gateway to the San Antonio Zoo and San Antonio Botanical Garden, which hosts events throughout the year in the Monte Vista neighborhood.
The Alamo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is San Antonio's best-known attraction. Built in 1718, it's where the 1836 Battle of the Alamo took place. The San Antonio Mission Trail, also called El Camino de San Antonio Missions, connects the city's other world heritage sites, including Mission San Jose, the largest of the five missions.
Mission Espada National Historic Park is among several sites in San Antonio.
Historic Spanish architecture of Mission Espada located in South San Antonio.
Mission San Jose, one of my major sites of the San Antonio Missions National Park.
Dedicated in 1755, this Spanish Colonial landmark is America’s oldest stone church.
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Fiesta San Antonio is an 11-day tradition
Fiesta San Antonio is one of the city's biggest events, drawing about 2.5 million visitors annually. Since 1891, this 11-day festival has celebrated the city's independence from Mexico with parades like the Battle of Flowers and La Semana Alegre, a two-day music festival.
Many of Fiesta's events occur in Hemisfair, a downtown entertainment district developing a mixed-use retail and residential corridor slated for completion by 2026. "Fiesta is a very special celebration for us. We also do The Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner, an incredible event that feeds 27,000 people a year," Schrader says. Other highlights include Cinco de Mayo and the Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival at the Briscoe Western Art Museum in November. Not far from there, the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts along the San Antonio River hosts concerts, comedy shows and Cirque du Soleil.
The San Antonio Spurs is the city's most popular professional sports team, with five NBA championship wins. They play at the Frost Bank Center, inside the Coliseum Willow Park neighborhood. The center also hosts the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo each February, which attracts over 1 million visitors.
NIOSA is the top fundraiser for historic preservation in the nation, located in San Antonio.
A crowd dances and celebrates NIOSA in Downtown San Antonio.
Visitors dancing to the incredible music from the musicians of NIOSA in San Antonio.
Boat rides flow past a music stage on the San Antonio River Walk at the NIOSA Festival.
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San Antonio's growing Northwest Side and historic South Side
San Antonio spans nearly 500 square miles, with a mix of master-planned communities, condos, townhouses and historic homes. "People want to live in Stone Oak , Sonterra and Olmos Park – probably some of the priciest neighborhoods," Schrader says. The city's Northwest Side is experiencing rapid growth with multiuse developments, while South Side communities maintain a more secluded feel, home to some of the city's oldest houses and long-standing residents.
The Eastside, known as the "Soul of San Antonio," is rich in Black history and includes neighborhoods like Dignowity Hill . The Westside, the birthplace of Tex-Mex, is marked by Mexican American heritage and features 1920s Spanish Eclectic and Tudor Revival homes. Urban professionals are drawn to central San Antonio for its walkability, public transportation and easy access to the River Walk, which connects to the city's most popular cultural spots.
Downtown's glassy high-rise condos, apartments and newly built townhouses range from $500,000 to over $2 million. Just south of downtown, artsy neighborhoods like Lavaca and King William , listed on the National Register of Historic Places, feature new townhouses, Craftsman bungalows and Victorian Revival styles. Prices range from $495,000 to over $1 million. On the city's outskirts, master-planned communities like Cibolo Canyon offer luxury amenities, including a lazy river, with properties starting at $600,000 and reaching up to $2 million. The median home price in San Antonio is around $300,000, which is lower than the national median of $420,000.
A quant craftsman just south of Downtown San Antonio in Lavaca.
San Antonio and the Deco District, named for its numerous Art Deco buildings.
Have a stroll through the historic homes of King William in San Antonio.
A row of colonial national homes commonly found throughout San Antonio.
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Home to University of Texas at San Antonio and 18 school districts
San Antonio is home to more than 30 higher education institutions, including the University of Texas at San Antonio, which had nearly 35,000 students in fall 2023. Texas A&M University-San Antonio is the second largest, followed by the Alamo Colleges District, comprising five community colleges.
The city has 18 school districts, with Northside Independent School District being the largest, serving over 100,000 students and earning a B-plus grade on Niche. BASIS Texas Charter Schools is the highest-rated district, with an A-plus grade.
The University of Texas San Antonio is located in San Antonio.
Trinity University's beautiful campus standing in the middle of San Antonio.
Discover the joy of learning at Thomas Edison High School in San Antonio.
Students have the space to grow and learn at Brackenridge High School in San Antonio.
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San Antonio traffic, VIA transit and biking routes
San Antonio often experiences heavy traffic, especially with commuters from surrounding suburbs heading into the city for work. Major roads include I-10, I-35, I-410 and Loop 1604. Loop 1604 has a project underway to ease congestion, expanding the current four-lane expressway to 10 lanes. "We are working on our highways, so traffic is heavy. Many flyovers are under construction. In about two years, it will be phenomenal with these big projects," Schrader says. VIA Metropolitan Transit is the primary option for those without a car, offering 90 bus routes across the city. The new VIVA routes provide direct access to popular cultural attractions. Along with bus routes, San Antonio-Bexar County has a 210-mile bike network and 45 miles of striped bike lanes. San Antonio International Airport, located about 10 miles from downtown, is expanding, with a new terminal set to open by 2028.
The VIA Metro offers transportation throughout San Antonio.
The San Antonio International Airport makes traveling a breeze.
Bring the bike out for a smooth ride through the Salado Creek Greenway and San Antonio.
Buy a new bike, or grab a rental and explore King William at the Blue Art Bicycle Company.
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San Antonio's triple-digit summers and local crime trends
San Antonio has mild winters and hot summers. The city sits along the Balcones Escarpment, a geological fault that brings significant rainfall during the spring. It is also located in Flash Flood Alley, a region known for its higher risk of flooding, making it one of the most flood-prone areas in the country.
According to FBI data, the San Antonio Police Department reports higher overall crime rates than state and national averages. However, from 2023 to 2024, the SAPD reported a 2% decrease in violent crime rates and a nearly 7% drop in property crime rates. SAPD operates seven substations with a San Antonio Fear-Free Environment Unit. These units consist of patrol officers assigned to monitor and manage crime in designated areas.
Beat the heat at Six-Flags Fiesta Texas, only 15 minutes from Downtown San Antonio.
Relax in the tranquil setting of Roosevelt Park in San Antonio.
SeaWorld San Antonio offers kids and families to get inspired and educated on marine wildlife.
Many murals can be found in San Antonio, including honoring the Spurs.
Cathy Brown grew up in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida and taught 4th & 5th grades in Atlanta, Georgia. She obtained her Florida Real Estate license in 1988, and sold residential real estate for over 23 years along the Florida Panhandle. Cathy has always enjoyed helping first- time buyers, experienced buyers, and investors looking for that ideal property that best fits their particular needs. As a former teacher, Cathy believes in the power of education, and has diligently stayed on top of her real estate profession by obtaining her Florida Broker’s License, her GRI designation and even a Certified Distressed Property Expert Designation so that she could stay focused on the newest trends that could help her Buyers and Sellers.
Cathy followed her husband to the great state of Texas in December of 2010, and received her Texas Real Estate License in July of 2012. She has served on the New Braunfels Housing Authority Board and was a graduate of “City University”. In addition, Cathy has taken advantage of the many educational opportunities through the local Board of Realtors, and continues to focus on not just selling but educating her clients so they can truly make the best real estate decisions. Cathy Brown is excited to be a part of the Anders Pierce Realty, and looks forward to serving the New Braunfels and surrounding Hill Country communities.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
