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Living in
Universal City.
About
Life in Universal City
Life here revolves around proximity to San Antonio's opportunities without the urban density, making it an appealing middle ground for people who want suburban stability with a 27-minute commute into the city. The median household income sits at $75,439 with a median home value around $269,600, so you're looking at relatively affordable Texas real estate compared to San Antonio proper, though costs have climbed over recent years. The community skews toward families and established households; about 44 percent of homes are married-couple families, and the median age is 37.7 years, creating a fairly stable, settled vibe where people stick around.
Universal City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Foreign-Born
11.1%
Broadband Internet
96.1%
of households
Population Growth
+3.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Universal City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Universal City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (29.2%), and 17.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.5%
of residents
65 and Older
14.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.4%
of households
Married Couples
49.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.47
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 6% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Universal City
In Universal City, rent runs 6% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
36.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
94.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,147
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $259,288 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in Universal City and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Bexar County, which includes Universal City, is close to the TX average.
Unemployment rate
Universal City: Bexar County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Bexar County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Universal City is less than 1% of Bexar County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Universal City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area
Commute26.3 min avg
How Universal City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Universal City, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
Medium hub5.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 59 mi
Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
Major hub10.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Universal City runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
166.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,039.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Universal City Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 33 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Bexar County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Bexar County, which includes Universal City, the most common type is drought, with 33 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33 | Drought | $23.1M |
| 2024 | 19 | Drought | $57,000 |
| 2023 | 33 | Drought | $1.2M |
| 2022 | 28 | Drought | $1.5M |
| 2021 | 31 | Flash Flood | $399,000 |
| 2020 | 20 | Hail | $1.7M |
| 2019 | 23 | Flash Flood | $1.3M |
| 2018 | 14 | Flash Flood | $6,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
50 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Bexar County, county-wide
Universal City is less than 1% of Bexar County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bexar County, which includes Universal City, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
158
per year
Moderate Days
196
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Bexar County, county-wide
Universal City is less than 1% of Bexar County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate94°F summers, 43°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Universal City has hot summers (avg high 94°F) and mild winters (avg low 43°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
80°/59°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
94°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
65°/43°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
32.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.2"
Hot Days/Year
133
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
12
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
84
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°F | 41°F | 1.96" |
| Feb | 68°F | 45°F | 1.74" |
| Mar | 74°F | 52°F | 2.31" |
| Apr | 80°F | 58°F | 2.42" |
| May | 87°F | 66°F | 4.40" |
| Jun | 92°F | 73°F | 3.28" |
| Jul | 95°F | 75°F | 2.41" |
| Aug | 96°F | 75°F | 2.15" |
| Sep | 90°F | 70°F | 3.88" |
| Oct | 82°F | 60°F | 3.75" |
| Nov | 72°F | 50°F | 2.08" |
| Dec | 65°F | 42°F | 2.00" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Universal City
Uninsured
12.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Universal City's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Laurel Ridge Treatment Center
Psychiatric · 8.7 mi away · San Antonio
Brooke Army Medical Center (ft Sam Houston)
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Fort Sam Houston
Baptist Neighborhood Hospital Thousand Oaks
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.3 mi away · San Antonio
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Universal City
Universal City's student/teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 33.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Universal City (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 16,416 students · in-state tuition $3,412 · 20% graduate · median earnings $43,816 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 6,471 students · in-state tuition $3,412 · 20% graduate
University of the Incarnate Word
11.2 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 4,440 students · in-state tuition $38,650 · 53% graduate · median earnings $60,110 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,505 students · in-state tuition $56,496 · 79% graduate · median earnings $79,620 (10 yrs after entry)
College of Biomedical Equipment Technology
1.2 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 311 students · in-state tuition $25,000 · 83% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, 18 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Universal City
Universal City has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (18 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
18 mi awayLyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
National Historical Park
52 mi awayEl Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
69 mi awayPublic Libraries in Universal City
Universal City Public Library
100 Northview Dr, Universal City
Cities Near Universal City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Universal City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Universal City FAQ
Is Universal City, Texas affordable?⌄
Universal City's median rent is $1,315/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $74,811/year. Median home value is $269,600.
Is Universal City, Texas safe?⌄
Universal City's violent crime rate was 167 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2039 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Universal City, Texas?⌄
Bexar County, which includes Universal City, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Universal City, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Universal City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,315/month and median household income is $74,811/year. The median home value is $269,600. About 36% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Universal City, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Universal City is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from