San Antonio, TX: Surrounding Neighborhoods Guide

Last Updated: Dec 9, 2023
9 min read

San Antonio is one of the biggest cultural hubs in Texas. Unfortunately, that also means it’s one of the most expensive places to live.

Most people get around this by choosing to live outside of the Downtown area. That way, they get the proximity to the action at a fraction of the price!

Our guide will give you a breakdown of all the major neighborhoods in the San Antonio metro area.

We’ll start by breaking down the average commute time from each neighborhood, then we’ll show you each area’s average rent prices and give some details on each neighborhood’s general vibe and style

If you know what neighborhood you’re looking for, use the links in the table below to jump straight there.

Or, if you’re just getting started, scroll on through and see what San Antonio has to offer.

San Antonio Neighborhoods
Downtown	Southtown	King William	Lavaca
Monte Vista	Beacon Hill	Tobin Hill	Alta Vista
Alamo Heights	Gruene	Helotes	Boerne
	Terrell Hills	Stone Oak

San Antonio is a driving city, so be mindful of commute times

There are so many options for calculating commute times, but we figured we’d save you a bit of time and give you a broad idea of what types of commute you’ll be looking at in San Antonio.

To give you an idea of what your general daily drives will be like, we’ve compiled commute times from each neighborhood we’re covering to the San Antonio Riverwalk.

Remember, this is just meant to give you an idea of what to expect, once you know exactly where you be going to and coming from, you can use this great tool from SmartAsset to calculate a more accurate time.

Comparing Average Rent

Obviously, any neighborhood’s location isn’t going to mean much if you can’t afford to live there.

Below we’ve compiled average rent prices in each neighborhood. One of the best parts about San Antonio is it has a fairly low cost of living.

Okay, now that we’ve gotten the broad topics out of the way, let’s dig in a bit deeper into each neighborhood!

Downtown

As the epicenter of San Antonio’s Historical and Business districts, the downtown area has a ton to do! Of course, everything that makes this area appealing to live in also makes it incredibly expensive.

Downtown is home to popular tourist attractions such as the Alamo and the San Antonio Riverwalk as well as a ton of historical architecture.

While the rent and crowds may be a bit of a deterrent, the abundance of public transportation and nightlife make a compelling argument for living Downtown.

Median Household Income

This is it, the central hub of San Antonio where all of the city’s main attractions are a short walk away.

Because of this, the cost of living is a bit higher than what you’ll find in most areas of the city and thus attracts people with a slightly higher income.

Noteworthy Local Hotspots

Southtown

Southtown is known as the “arts district” of San Antonio, and thus is extremely appealing to hip and trendy young professionals.

The thriving art walk, picturesque Riverwalk housing, and excess of great restaurants ranging from gourmet to quirky holes-in-the-wall make this one of the most popular areas in Downtown San Antonio. (The moderately priced rentals don’t hurt either!)

Median Household Income

Southtown is one of the most cost-effective areas in the city.

Being San Antonio’s hub of artistry, it’s pretty obvious why this neighborhood would attract people with a significantly lower income than most. (Starving artists need somewhere to live too, right?)

Noteworthy Local Hotspots

King William

Voted one of the most beautiful historic neighborhoods in the country, King William has some of the best architecture and charm in Downtown San Antonio.

The 25 blocks of King William are most notable for their rows of 19th-century homes all renovated into art galleries, museums, shops, and cafes.

Median Household Income

Located in the same central “arts” cluster as Southtown, King William has a strong personality and tons to do.

You’ll find a similar crowd as in Southside here too. Despite the high housing costs, they’ll still have a household income that’s lower than the city average.

Noteworthy Local Hotspots

Lavaca

Lavaca is and always has been a neighborhood made by and for artisans, offering a more active alternative to the suburbs while still putting a little distance between Downtown.

This area is particularly appealing to active professional types who love the consistency of the suburbs but also appreciate the culture and activity of a more urban area.

Median Household Income

You’ll find a similar story here to the other neighborhoods in Central San Antonio.

Lavaca is a more suburban area attracting mostly professionals. The household income is lower than the city average but still higher than nearby neighborhoods.

Noteworthy Local Hotspots

Monte Vista

In Midtown, between Downtown and Alamo Heights, Monte Vista is one of the most luxurious and affluent areas in the greater San Antonio metro area.

Here, you’ll find a quiet neighborhood that gives you proximity to San Antonio’s attractions as well as some truly high-end restaurants. But, it also features some of the most expensive rent in the city

Median Household Income

While Monte Vista may be the lap of luxury in midtown, it’s residents aren’t particularly wealthy on average.

The median household income is lower than that of the city as a whole, which says more about the diversity of residents than it necessarily does about the cost of living.

Noteworthy Local Hotspots

Beacon Hill

Located on the northwest side of San Antonio, Beacon Hill is one of the most up-and-coming historic neighborhoods in the city.

Offering a more suburban alternative to Downtown, Beacon Hill is full of all the architecture, art, and restaurants without being in the thick of the action.

Median Household Income

Moving into Midtown, Beacon Hill provides a calmer suburban community where residents can still easily access downtown.

Because of this, the area tends to attract young families with incomes slightly lower than the rest of the city.

Noteworthy Local Hotspots

Tobin Hill

Tobin Hill is yet another up-and-comer whose small-town charms are being infused with San Antonio’s more creative, urban flavor.

Having been mostly separate from the rest of the city, the sleepy northern neighborhood has been experiencing a recent revitalization due to the Riverwalk extending further north and the resurgence of the local Pearl Brewery.

Median Household Income

Being a neighborhood in the midst of gentrification, the demographics here are going to be pretty diverse.

The median income is somewhat lower than the city average, but expect an influx of young professionals to change that in the future.

Noteworthy Local Hotspots

Hi-Tones
TBA

Alta Vista

Perhaps the most affordable up-and-coming neighborhood in norther San Antonio, Alta Vista offers one of the best deals in terms of low rent, low crime rate, and Downtown proximity.

Alta Vista was also voted as having the second best shopping district in San Antonio (aside from Downtown) and features many unique restaurants and local businesses.

Median Household Income

You’ll find a similar situation in Alta Vista as in other Midtown neighborhoods including an area currently in development that’s just starting to get attention.

Since the area’s still coming up, the median income is still fairly low, hovering a bit below the city’s average.

Noteworthy Local Hotspots

Alamo Heights

Alamo Heights is technically its own city, but it’s still located just five miles north of Downtown within what is considered the San Antonio metropolitan area.

This area is a somewhat higher-end alternative to living Downtown, offering a wide array of bars and upscale shopping options along with scenery that manages to be both quaint and modern.

Median Household Income

Alamo Heights is where you start getting into the trendier and thus, more expensive, areas of Downtown San Antonio.

This hipper area attracts younger residents with a slightly higher median household income than you’ll see in the greater San Antonio metro area.

Noteworthy Local Hotspots

Gruene

Gruene is actually considered part of the city of New Braunfels, but it’s still within the greater San Antonio metro area.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Gruene attracts a lot of tourists and housing in the area can run kinda expensive.

Median Household Income

Since Gruene is part of a separate city that’s within the San Antonio metro area, the point of reference for its income levels are a bit different.

The median household income here is lower than that of New Braunfels, but it’s still higher than the median in San Antonio.

Noteworthy Local Hotspots

Helotes

Helotes is a great choce for those seeking a more moderately priced high-end neighborhood with a small-town feel but want to stay somewhat near the action.

Located on the northwest side of San Antonio, this charming neighborhood is one of the oldest in the city and boasts a relaxed vibe. The area makes up for its lack of attractions with an abundance of charm.

Median Household Income

The extra charm comes at a price, Helotes is quite a bit pricier than many of the suburban areas you’ll find in San Antonio.

Because of this, the median household income is over twice as high as greater San Antonio.

Noteworthy Local Hotspots

Boerne

Boerne offers a trendier variation on the typical Texas “small-town Americana” feel with a bustling Main Street filled with specialty shops and boutiques.

Located 30 minutes northwest of San Antonio, Boerne offers some pricier upscale homes and apartments for rent.

Median Household Income

Boerne is technically located in a separate city but still considered a part of San Antonio.

It’s also an incredibly expensive area with a median household income greater than both its official county and San Antonio.

Noteworthy Local Hotspots

Terrell Hills

Terrell Hills is another neighborhood located in Midtown San Antonio which is considered by AreaVibes to be the single best city to live in San Antonio.

This suburb is most notable for being extremely livable with an incredibly low crime rate and high proximity to San Antonio’s entertainment and cultural districts. The only downside: Terrell Hills is EXPENSIVE.