small town life

San Antonio neighbor is the No. 1 best Texas suburb for house renters

Bulverde is known as "The Front Porch of the Texas Hill Country."

For single-family home renters, finding the right suburb to live in around San Antonio can be a complicated process. But one Alamo City neighbor has come out on top as the No. 1 best best suburb for house renters in Texas: Bulverde, a small town about 22 miles north of the city.

This crowning achievement was awarded in online real estate marketplace Point2Homes' new study, "Top Texas Suburbs for House Renters." The report compared suburbs within a 20-mile radius (or 30-mile driving distance) from Texas' five largest cities — San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth — based on 12 metrics, including a suburb's cost of living, share of single-family rental listings, five-year renter income growth, and more.

Joining Bulverde in the top five are two Houston suburbs — Iowa Colony (No. 2) and West University Place (No. 4) — and the Austin-area suburbs of Hutto (No. 3) and Lakeway (No. 5).

Lovingly known as "The Front Porch of the Texas Hill Country," Bulverde has an estimated population of nearly 7,000 residents as of 2023. The suburb has the second-lowest population density out of all 126 Texas cities mentioned in the report.

Out of Bulverde's entire renter population, Point2Homes found 76.4 percent of renters are residing in single-family homes, and there are 184 single-family home listings available to rent per 1,000 renter households.

The median household income for single-family home renters is $83,737, the report said, which has declined 38.3 percent over the last five years, while the population grew 15.6 percent within the same period. The cost of living in the city is nearly 10 percent higher than the statewide median cost of living.

Other factors that contributed to Bulverde's No. 1 ranking were its residents' average commute time (38.7 minutes) and the share of the population aged 25 and older that have "higher education" degrees (38.1 percent). But the study points out that the "secret ingredient" that helped boost Bulverde to the top as the best market for single-family renters is the city's extremely low (0.5 percent) unemployment rate.

"That’s especially important because financial stability is crucial in meeting rent obligations and affording better and more desirable rental properties," the report said.

Residents also benefit from living in a quiet, close-knit community that has many outdoor recreational activities for families.

"[T]he true allure of renting a house in Bulverde is its picturesque rolling hills and vast green spaces," the report said. "Boasting a mild climate and an average of 300 sunny days a year, it’s perfect for outdoor enthusiasts — so much so that the place is a Certified Scenic City, making the community an officially great choice for those who appreciate outdoor beauty, tranquility, and convenience."

In 2022, Bulverde also passed a Dark Sky Outdoor Lighting Ordinance, which ensures that light pollution is kept at bay. This is good for nature as well as stargazing.

Other top San Antonio Suburbs for house renters in 2024
Cibolo also appeared in the top 10 best Texas suburbs for single-family home renters, ranking No. 7. The city is located 23 miles northeast of San Antonio, and boasts an estimated population of more than 37,000 residents as of 2023, which has ballooned 22.7 percent over the last five years.

The median household income of single-family renters in Cibolo is $93,759, and the city's income level has grown 19.6 percent in the last five years. Like Bulverde, a vast majority of renters in Cibolo (87.9 percent) are single-family home renters.

Cibolo is the No. 7 best suburb in Texas for single-family home renters.City of Cibolo - Facebook

Here's how Point2Homes broke down Cibolo's ranking in the remaining eight metrics in the study:

53.9 – Single-family rental listings per 1,000 renter households
+49.6 percent – Cost of living compared to state median
6.1 – Median number of all rooms in a renter household
15.6 percent – Share of renters out of the entire population
1,555 – Population density
31.3 minutes – Average commute time
38.8 percent – Share of the population 25 years and older with higher education degrees
5.7 percent – Unemployment rate

According to the City of Cibolo website, the community is "awakening to the challenges of the future" as a result of recent business relocations to the area, and the city's close proximity to Randolph Air Force Base.

"In fact, the housing industry has been booming in Cibolo for several years and has become a charming city that, despite those points of growth, still provides a 'country-style' way of life," the website says.

Other San Antonio-area suburbs that earned spots among the top 100 best Texas suburbs for single-family home renters include:

No. 16 – Selma
No. 23 – Boerne
No. 32 – Converse
No. 42 – New Braunfels
No. 49 – Kirby
No. 57 – Live Oak
No. 60 – Timberwood Park
No. 69 – Fair Oaks Ranch
No. 76 – Schertz

The full report and its methodology can be found on point2homes.com.

suburbs quality of life nature renting

Take A Walk

New multifamily community opens near Stone Oak restaurants and shopping

Rendering courtesy of Greyson Luxury Living

The new community offers 291 units.

A new multifamily community is now open to prospective residents in San Antonio. Greyson Luxury Living comprises 291 units at 1734 N. Loop 1604 West, with a focus on lifestyle amenities. But the location will be the main draw for many.

Apartment floor plans range from one to three bedrooms, starting at $1,317 for one bedroom and one bathroom, and working up to a base price of $2,611 for three bedrooms and two baths. The community's pet policy according to the website is: "We welcome all your furry friends at Greyson."

Residents will get reserved parking and a garage with EV charging stations, but it might not always be necessary to hop in the car. The apartments are directly adjacent to restaurants like Cover 3, Eddie V's Prime Seafood, and Blü Prime Steakhouse — not exactly everyday eats, but there's tons more at the Vineyard Shopping Center and the Stone Oak neighborhood's Blanco Market Shopping Center across the highway.

In addition to restaurants, the community is less than a five-minute drive from H-E-B Plus, Whole Foods Market, Target, fashion and furniture stores, and multiple fitness studios like StretchLab and LA Fitness.

A press release promises wood-style flooring, quartz and granite countertops, and ceramic tile backsplash. On the more utilitarian side, it offers single-basin sinks, kitchen islands, "spacious" pantries, a stainless-steel Energy Star appliance package, and washer and dryer connections. (Images shared by the complex so far appear to be more illustrative of the desired vibe than the actual space.)

Every floor plan also shows a private patio or balcony. The most expensive floor plan — the three-by-two — has a wraparound outdoor space.

For shared spaces, a resort-style pool with a tanning shelf (a very shallow area for placing lounge chairs) and bike storage encourage residents to get outside, and a dog wash station makes it easy to leave dirt and hair outside of apartments. There's also a fitness center, a clubhouse with wi-fi, elevators, and concierge services.

“We developed Greyson as a luxury multifamily community aimed to fit any type of lifestyle, and we are grateful for all of our partners that helped bring this project to life,” says Ed Garahan, partner and CEO at Carbon Companies, the development firm heading the project.

Carbon Companies also sold the Addison Medical Center Apartments, Ventura Ridge, Triomphe Apartments, and Pecan Springs Luxury Apartment Homes, with more in the works in San Antonio.

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