God's Country

San Antonio neighbor nabs No. 1 ranking among best Texas suburbs

The Medina County suburb of Hondo is the best suburb in Texas, according to SmartAsset.

Courtesy of the City of Hondo

A San Antonio suburb that touts its coveted presence in “God’s Country” lands at No. 1 in a recent ranking of the best suburbs near a large city in Texas. Nationally, the Medina County suburb of Hondo lands at No. 32 in SmartAsset’s study of the best suburbs near large cities, making it the top-rated suburb in Texas.

Hondo, about 40 miles west of San Antonio, earns a score of 90.48 (out of 100) in the affordability category, 72.02 in the jobs category, and 47.84 in the livability category. Brownsburg, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis, tops the national ranking.

The City of Hondo website says the city’s mission “is to assure a sense of community, safety, and neighborhood integrity by providing needed municipal services, fiscal responsibility, and a progressive, quality atmosphere in which to work and play with an emphasis on balanced, equitable growth.”

The website also notes the presence in Hondo of its well-known sign, which declares: "THIS IS GOD’S COUNTRY, PLEASE DON’T DRIVE THROUGH IT LIKE HELL."

Hondo, whose population exceeds 9,300, has used that trademarked phrase for more than 80 years “to preserve the city’s natural beauty” and to promote the city as a convention and tourism destination. Two other San Antonio suburbs earned spots in the SmartAsset ranking: New Braunfels at No. 106 and Boerne at No. 126.

Other Texas suburbs ranked in the SmartAsset study are:

Burnet (Austin), No. 53
Cedar Park (Austin), No. 62
Ennis (Dallas-Fort Worth), No. 102
Georgetown (Austin), No. 116
Taylor (Austin), No. 118
Rockport (Corpus Christi), No. 137
Sealy (Houston), No. 170

For the study, SmartAsset analyzed 13 metrics related to jobs, affordability, and livability for nearly 500 suburbs within a 15-minute to one-hour drive of a city with at least 250,000 residents.

“Large cities can be a great option for anyone looking for a walkable, fast-paced environment with easy access to shops and restaurants. However, the hustle and bustle of a large city isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition for everyone,” SmartAsset says. “Large cities are often expensive … and may have higher crime rates than their surrounding areas. Suburbs, in turn, can offer more affordable housing, lower crime rates, and a variety of entertainment options.”

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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