Moving to San Antonio, TX Guide
Brought to You by Jason Payne, REALTOR®; Coldwell Banker
2020 Housing Forecast is Here!
Welcome to San Antonio, Texas! If you’re moving to or visiting San Antonio, you will enjoy Southern hospitality, great food and fascinating history. This guide will help you with all the information you need to find the best place to put down roots in San Antonio.
Content
- Downtown
- Quick Facts
- Neighborhoods
- Renting in San Antonio
- San Antonio Schools
- Safety In San Antonio
- Getting Around
- Things To Do In San Antonio
- Surrounding Cities
- Cibolo, Texas
- Schertz, Texas
- Moving Resources
- Additional Resources
Downtown San Antonio

How does San Antonio compare?
Curious as to how San Antonio compares to other places?
- With a strong economy, lots of entertainment and affordable living, San Antonio is one of the top “move-to” destinations and the 7th most populated city in the country.
- The median home price is approximately $220,000 and the average rent is about $1,440.
Find out more about San Antonio’s demographics, crime rates and other information at Best Places and more about local neighborhoods at Area Vibes. US News & World Report rates San Antonio the 8th best place to retire and 34th best place to live.
Neighborhoods
Whether you’re a young family, young professional or newly retired, there’s a neighborhood for you. Find out neighborhood demographics here by entering the zip code.
Central
- Downtown
- La Villita
- Midtown
- Southtown
- Alamo Heights
North
- Uptown Central
- Alamo Heights
- Lincoln Heights
- Olmos Park
- Terrell Hills
- North Central
- Far North Central
- Encino Park
- Sonterra
- Scenic Oaks
- Stone Oak
- Northeast
- Northwest – home to the “Medical Center District“, La Cantera, an upscale open air shopping center and Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
West
Inner West Side
Near Northwest Side
Far Northwest Side
The far Northwest side is close to Lackland AFB and attracts many military families who are relocating.
East Side
South Side
Four out of five of San Antonio’s historic missions are located on the South side.
Renting in San Antonio
The average rent for an apartment in San Antonio is about $1,440. Of course, the cost will fluctuate between neighborhoods and depend on the size apartment you need. Living in San Antonio during the summer without air-conditioning isn’t an option, so make sure this is high on your checklist! Outside of Craigslist, here are additional sites to aid in your search:
Renting in San Antonio should be a bit cheaper than other cities in the U.S. with more apartments available. In other words, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a great apartment!
Rental Law in Texas
A few important things to be aware of prior to renting. You can visit each county website for help.
Bexar County
- Alamo Heights
- Castle Hills
- Converse
- Helotes
- Hill Country
- Hollywood Park
- Leon Valley
- Live Oak
- San Antonio
- Selma
- Shavano Park
- Terrell Hills
- Universal City
- Windcrest
More Texas rental law:
- Texas Landlord/Tenant Laws
- Security Deposit Limits and Deadlines
- Filing a Security Deposit Lawsuit in Texas
- Texas Tenant Right to Repair and Deduct
Find the Best Schools
If you’re moving to San Antonio or a surrounding area with children, researching school districts is an important step in relocating. Luckily there are some great sites to help you evaluate and choose the best school for your family.
Safety in San Antonio
While San Antonio’s safety rating is about the same as other large cities, there are suburbs like Schertz and Cibolo, which are super safe and family friendly.
As always, a little common sense goes a long way in preventing crime. Download the Texas Department of Pubic Safety app here for extra info to keep you safe.
Getting Around

Unless you are living downtown, you will need a car. Find San Antonio’s walk score for your area here. If you are living downtown, you will be able to walk as well as bike, however, you will most likely still need a car. Bicycle maps for the city will help you plan your route if you’re riding.
Public transportation is also an option, although it’s probably best as a short term solution. Need to know what commute times are between home and work? You can calculate your travel time here.
Ready to move?
If you’ve found your place and are ready to move, here are a few links to help you plan it.
- Start with decluttering!
- Get several quotes for moving here before choosing your moving company.
- Access a moving cost calculator here to get a general idea of your total expense.
- Moving resources, checklists, information and more to help you relocate!
Local Links and Resources
Once you’ve decided to move or are already in town, you’ll need to get utilities setup, update your driver’s license and a few other things! Use the links below to get started!
San Antonio
- City of San Antonio
- City Public Service (CPS) – utilities in San Antonio
- San Antonio Water System (SAWS) – water
- Garbage and recycling information – find your trash pickup days and recycling information
- Texas Department of Public Safety – information on how to transfer your license after a move
- Vehicle registration information – you have 30 days to register your vehicle after moving to Texas
- Voter registration
Things to Do In San Antonio
Surrounding Cities
Cibolo, Texas
Cibolo is a great suburb about 25 minutes North of San Antonio in Guadalupe County with a population around 27,000 people. Excellent schools make Cibolo a top choice for young families and it’s rated the number one place to live in Guadalupe County.

Real Estate in Cibolo, Texas
Interested in buying a home in Cibolo? The median home price is about $283,000 as of June 2019. Cibolo’s crime rate is so much lower than San Antonio, that it’s worth noting. Check out available properties here.
Schools in Cibolo

Moving to Cibolo
Moving to Cibolo? Our list below will help make your transition seamless!
Setting Up House
- City of Cibolo
- Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC) – utilities in Cibolo
- Water information for Cibolo
Things to Do In Cibolo
Eats
Entertainment
- Animal World and Snake Farm
- Evo Entertainment– for movies, bowling and arcade games
- Ranger Creek Brewing and Distilling
- Meetups in Cibolo
Schertz, Texas
Schertz is another fabulous, family-friendly suburb of San Antonio. The population in Schertz is approximately 38,000 with a strong job economy, and is rated the 2nd best place to live in Guadalupe County.

Schertz is the third-largest city in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area and the largest city of the Randolph Metrocom, which consists of cities surrounding the Randolph Air Force Base. (Source: Wikipedia)
Best Place to Raise a Family
Real Estate in Schertz
If you’re looking to purchase a home in Schertz, Texas, the median home price is approximately $291,000. While this is somewhat higher than San Antonio, if you’re raising a family or looking for a place to retire, a lower crime rate and top-notch schools are worth the difference in cost. Look at homes for sale in Schertz here.
Schools in Schertz

Moving to Schertz
Decided that Schertz is the place for you? Bookmark this page for our handy links below that will help you put down roots in Schertz, Texas!
Setting Up House
- City of Schertz
- Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC) – utilities
- Water information for Schertz
Things to Do In Schertz
Eats
- Abel’s Diner
- Garcia’s Restaurant – Mexican Food
- Siam Cuisine – Asian
Entertainment & Fun
- Blue Bonnet Palace – nightlife
- Bussey’s Flea Market – shopping
- Crescent Bend Nature Park
- Meetup Groups
Additional Resources
- Local news, SA Current magazine
- Meetup – find local groups to hang out with
- U.S. News & Word Report’s San Antonio Guide
5-Star Reviews
