What it's like to live in San Antonio
San Antonio is a major city in Texas with home prices that remain within reach, a growing population, several well-rated hospitals, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. San Antonio deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Growing population
- Several well-rated hospitals
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
How San Antonio compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to San Antonio
Based on San Antonio's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,648
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $52,960 a year
- 51% of San Antonio renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$47,140
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $23,570
- Homes cost 3.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,324/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,324 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $235,700. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $235,700 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
3.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.9%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 62% above US
532 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 3917/100k · San Antonio Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
25 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.5 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 94°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 42°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
20 hospitals
There are 20 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.9 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 19% below US
29% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 29%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
455 public schools inside the boundary
There are 455 public schools inside the boundary and 61 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (12 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
San Antonio's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and a growing population; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,324/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. Whether it fits comes down to the specifics: the neighborhood, the job, and what matters most in the move.
Other places near San Antonio
All Texas guides →Moving to Leon Valley →
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Rent $1,187/mo · Income $59,481
Compare with San Antonio →Moving to Live Oak →
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Rent $1,634/mo · Income $79,696
Compare with San Antonio →Moving to Converse →
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