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Moving to a new city is always challenging. And a large part of that challenge is deciding where in that new city to put down roots. There are so many things to consider when weighing your options—neighborhood safety, quality of schools, house styles, convenience of the location—it all can be quite overwhelming. That’s why we’ve researched the best up and coming neighborhoods in San Antonio, so you don’t have to.
A Little Bit About San Antonio
San Antonio has beautiful, wildflower-speckled scenery, rich history, killer local grub, and long list of free local events that keep bringing in new residents from across the country.
San Antonio ranked third nationally among U.S. cities showing the strongest numeric growth since 2010. In that time frame, the city added 221,092 residents to its borders. Now, with a population of well over 1-million, San Antonio is the 8th largest city in the United States.
The city is geographically large as well, with about 370 square miles. Residents here can reach the Gulf of Mexico in two hours, Austin in one hour, and Houston in three. San Antonio’s colorful culture stems from its history of diversity and provides new and exciting experiences throughout the city.
Out of its 200 unique and dynamic neighborhoods, there are three areas in particular with the greatest year-over-year growth in San Antonio. Below, we’ve provided some helpful details on what each of these three neighborhoods has to offer. Check out our list of the top 3 up and coming neighborhoods in San Antonio.
Pearl District
One of the hottest spots that have caught local attention, the Pearl District is packed full of entertainment, local events, restaurants, bars, breweries, art, and culture. Nestled against the San Antonio River, this neighborhood creates a mash-up of suburb, city, and the outdoors.
The Pearl’s B-Cycle bike rentals encourage locals and visitors to cycle and explore the city. And residents are commonly found enjoying the walkable streets throughout the neighborhood.
Things to do in the Pearl District
One of the top recent developments in the district has been the creation of Hotel Emma. This luxury hotel-brewery serves margaritas upon guests’ arrival. At nighttime guests receive a macaron from the local bakery. The Pearl’s Farmers Market draws guests from across the city for live music, street vendors, restaurants, bars, and shops that open up onto the streets.
For some of the tastiest Mexican street food in the city, visit La Gloria. Besides tacos, tortas, and panuchos, La Gloria offers live music and a pet-friendly patio. Looking to build the perfect charcuterie board? Visit Larder. This fine grocery store sells romantic products like freshly-baked breads and pastries, artisan cheeses, savory sandwiches, local honey, figs, popsicles, paninis, wine, and craft beer.
Schools near The Pearl District
Downtown, including the Pearl District, is served by the San Antonio Independent School District. The area has several schooling options, both public and private, including the highly-rated San Antonio Christian School and Keystone School.
Homes in the Pearl District
Most locals in this area rent their homes. And in this region, including the next door Tobin Hill neighborhood, you can find apartment complexes that rent spaces for anywhere between $500 and $2500 a month.
Purchasing a home in this popular spot requires a good chunk of change in the bank, however. Here and there, newcomers catch a deal at $225K. But the nicest homes in the area in the heart of the district sell at around $850K.
Southtown
This small neighborhood, a few blocks from downtown, doesn’t have as many tourists and visitors as The Pearl. That’s one of the reasons why Southtown has become a top neighborhood. This two-square-mile pocket is full of interesting things to do and see and has its own history and character. While it still feels like a little found gem, this area is starting to gain some big attention among residents.
If you want a sweeping overview of the neighborhood, visit the 750-foot, fine dining restaurant, The Tower of Americas. From the observation deck, you’ll have spectacular panoramic views of the city below. Or, rent a three-speed ride from the San Antonio B-Cycle, and go where your wheels take you.
Things to do in Southtown
Southtown’s drinks flow like water from local breweries and bars, and their cuisine reflects the local culture. We recommend stopping by one of our favorite San Antonio breweries, Künstler Brewing. This clean, rustic taproom serves German-style beers and an ever-changing food menu made from the freshest local ingredients.
But we can’t help but mention one of the leading and largest breweries in the city that sits right in Southtown, Freetail Brewing Company. For a taste of Texas (with a pinch of Paris), check out Maverick Texas Brasserie. If eating flavor-packed Mexican dishes in the Southtown’s Yanaguana Garden sounds appealing, visit Con Safos Cocina y Cantina.
The San Antonio River Walk is another neighborhood attraction, with its network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River. This hot-spot is packed with shops, restaurants, and occasional city events, like the annual Fiesta San Antonio. Since 1891, the city has burst in celebration each April to memorialize the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto.
Schools near Southtown
Like the Pearl District, Southtown is also served by the San Antonio Independent School District. So families in the area can send their children to San Antonio Christian School and Keystone School as well.
Homes in Southtown
Southtown’s recent restoration brought new construction to the area. This beautiful transformation gave a facelift to many homes as well as several architectural gems, like the brilliantly pink Liberty Bar (a worthy stop for food and drinks, by the way). The new and improved homes of Southtown have values from between $220K and $650K. But you can still find a fixer-upper for around $150K.
West Canyon Lake
This “Jewel” of the Hill Country, as it’s known, sits about 45 miles from downtown San Antonio. West Canyon Lake, as you might expect, is situated against the vibrant blue Canyon Lake, and features homes for under $300K. But the area also offers quite a few larger and more expensive homes available if you’re looking to drop a few dollars.
Despite the hike to downtown, West Canyon Lake has one of the hottest real estate markets in the region. The gorgeous outdoors surrounding the neighborhood give residents the feeling that they’re living in a natural oasis, a fair trade for a slightly longer drive into downtown for work or weekend activities.
What’s happening in West Canyon Lake
The big draw of the area is, of course, Canyon Lake. It offers 80 miles of scenic shoreline and covers an 8,230 surface area located on the Guadalupe River. Canyon Lake is one of the deepest lakes in Texas with an average depth of 43 feet, so the area draws a number of fishers. The surrounding campgrounds, day parks, hiking trails, and picnic areas allow for a wealth of outdoor adventures.
Canyon Lake is known as the Water Recreation Capital of Texas. Its beautiful and exceptionally clear water is stocked with hefty striped bass. White-tailed deer, foxes, roadrunners, and other life can be spotted along the Guadalupe River. Occasionally you’ll be able to see them sauntering along the edge of the community.
The surrounding area includes eight parks, as well as a par 72 golf course that offers a beautiful view of the lake and shading oak trees. In warmer months, vanfuls of visitors and their tubes hit the river to enjoy a relaxing float. During the evenings, residents can easily hop over to the local Rough Diamond Brewery or Pontita Vineyard and Winery. Or grab a bit to eat from the local grills and taco shops.
Schools in West Canyon Lake
Families in the area have a number of closeby school options. These include Rebecca Creek Elementary School and Smithson Valley Middle and High Schools.
Homes in West Canyon Lake
Canyon Lake welcomes newcomers from a wide range of financial backgrounds. Home values around Canyon Lake vary drastically. You can find a small home for under $250K or a stunning $2-million dollar mini-mansion.
There you have it: the hottest ‘hoods in San Antonio!
We hope this guide to the best up and coming neighborhoods in San Antonio was helpful, and if you decide to take the plunge, don’t hesitate to reach out to your friends here at Bellhop. As we said, we coordinate long-distance and local moving services in San Antonio and we would love to help.
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