Northeast

New Braunfels

At the edge of Texas Hill Country, New Braunfels offers a family-friendly community with a unique flare. Originally settled by German immigrants, the city has retained its founder’s culture in everything from street names and urban planning to festivals (Wurstfest) and attractions (Schlitterbahn Water Park). This popular tourist destination pulls double duty as a military-friendly community. Two rivers flow through the city, the Comal and the Guadalupe, making tubing and paddle-boating popular summertime activities.

New Braunfels has a great “hometown” feel with a robust downtown. Take your pick from grand historic homes or new construction, gated communities or cozy downtown city streets. Splash pads, parks, lakes, and natural playgrounds are abundant. Highly-rated schools, proximity to both San Antonio (25 miles) and Austin (40 miles), and affordable homes are all trade-offs for the longer commute to JBSA installations.  

Home Prices in New Braunfels

The median home value for single family homes in New Braunfels is $212,500 according to the Zillow Home Value Index. Home Values are forecasted to increase by 4.1% in the coming year. According to Zillow’s Rental Index, the median rental rate for single family homes in New Braunfels is $1,537. Single family homes in New Braunfels range from 1,000 to upwards of 4,000 square feet, with the average home being around 2,100 square feet.

Commuting from New Braunfels

The commute time to JBSA-Randolph is 30 to 55 minutes, while the drive to Brooke Army Medical Center and JBSA-Fort Sam Houston takes 35 to 80 minutes. Easy access to I-35.

Schools in New Braunfels

The public schools in New Braunfels belong to either New Braunfels Independent School District or Comal Independent School District, which both have an overall rating of 7 according to GreatSchools.org. One of the highest rated schools is Bill Brown Elementary School, which is rated 9 according to Greatschools.org.

NBISD offers special programs for Gifted and Talented Students (GT), Dual Language, Foreign Language, Bilingual, and ESL learners.

Comal ISD has a Pre-K program for which military-connected children can attend at a discounted rate. CISD has an interesting summer program to note called The Prefreshman Engineering Program (PREP), a science, technology, engineering and math-focused summer program that spans all four years of high school.

Schertz/Cibolo

The small towns of Schertz and Cibolo are so tightly intermeshed that they are usually spoken of in the same breath. Schertz occupies a swath of land that stretches from Interstate 10 to Interstate 35, with JBSA-Randolph sharing its western border. Cibolo is nestled in the crook formed by the ‘C’-shaped Schertz. These two “country-style” towns are very popular with military families because of the proximity to two of the JBSA bases, affordable homes, and quiet pace. You’ll find everything from mini-mansions to small single-family homes, along with amenities like parks, playgrounds, and well-lit streets. There is a significant retiree population here contributing to the rich diversity of the community.

Home Prices in Schertz and Cibolo

The median price for all homes currently listed in Schertz is $236,500 according to the Zillow. According to Zillow’s Rental Index, the median rental rate for single family in Schertz is $1,510. Single family homes in Schertz range from 1,100 to 3,775 square feet, with the average home measuring 2,500 square feet.

The median home value for single family homes in Cibolo is $194,700 according to the Zillow Home Value Index. Home Values are forecasted to increase by 4.1% in the coming year. According to Zillow’s Rental Index, the median rental rate for single family homes in Cibolo is $1,536. Single family homes in Cibolo range from 1,150 to 3,550 square feet, with the average home measuring 2,500 square feet.

Commuting from Schertz and Cibolo

Schertz borders JBSA-Randolph on its northern and eastern sides, so commuting is a quick 7 to 15 minutes. Interstate 35 runs along the northern border of Schertz, but getting to the 1604 Loop takes some time. From Cibolo, the average commute to JBSA-Randolph is 12 to 20 minutes. Commuting to JBSA-Fort Sam Houston only takes about 30 minutes from either locale.

Schools in Schertz and Cibolo

The public schools in Schertz and Cibolo are part of Schertz-Cibolo-U City Independent School District, which has an overall rating of 7, or East Central Independent School District, which has an overall rating of 4 according to Greatschools.org. One of the highest rated schools is Green Valley Elementary School in Schertz, which is rated a 7, and Wiederstein Elementary School, which is rated an 8.

According to their website, SCUC ISD serves over 3,200 military-connected students and has a full-time Military Student Transition Consultant to assist with resources and counseling needs.

Special Programs in SCUC ISD to note are the Advanced Placement (AP) Programs, JROTC, and the Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Clemens High School and Steele High School. Clemens High School has an International Baccalaureate Program. Wilder Intermediate and Schertz Elementary School offer a Dual Language Program.

Special Programs in ECISD are Future Farmers of America (FFA), full-day Pre-K at three campuses, dual-language programs at every campus, Advanced Placement (AP), and a Culinary Arts program.

Selma

Selma is another little stagecoach-stop-turned suburban town on the outskirts of San Antonio. Its proximity to JBSA-Randolph and affordable homes make it a popular choice for those who are more price sensitive or maybe just starting out. Most of the houses are a little dated (from the 70s and 80s), but there are plenty of new builds in modern subdivisions to choose from as well. Staples like Walmart and retail strip malls make for convenient shopping.  

Home Prices in Selma

The median price for all homes currently listed in Selma is $210,000 according to Zillow. According to Zillow’s Rental Index, the median rental rate for single family homes in Selma is $1,436. Single family homes in Selma range from 1,900 to 3,150 square feet, with an average home measuring 2,400 square feet.

Commuting from Selma

Commuting to JBSA-Randolph only takes around 10 to 25 minutes. Driving to JBSA-Fort Sam Houston and Brooke Army Medical Center can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour depending on traffic, but the city straddles Interstate 35 making it an easy drive south.

Schools in Selma

The public schools in Selma are part of Schertz-Cibolo-U City Independent School District which has an overall rating of 7, according to Greatschools.org. One of the best schools is Ray D Corbett J High School, which has a rating of 7.

According to their website, SCUC ISD serves over 3,200 military-connected students and has a full-time Military Student Transition Consultant to assist with resources and counseling needs.

Special Programs to note at Clemens High School and Steele High School are the Advanced Placement (AP) Programs, JROTC, and the Career and Technical Education (CTE). Clemens High School has an International Baccalaureate Program. Wilder Intermediate and Schertz Elementary School offer a Dual Language Program.

Universal City

This affordable city is adjacent to JBSA-Randolph, Converse, Live Oak, Selma, and Schertz. Universal City began as a stagecoach stop, but today it’s a commercial hub. The town is constantly expanding, and everywhere you look you can see construction projects underway. Hopes are high that this will increase access to housing options and shopping for residents.

Like Converse, this town has a bit of the “right outside the gate” reputation. Proximity to JBSA-Randolph is a big perk, and residents also easily commute to JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. You’ll probably want to also keep in mind that it is right next door to the base, and air traffic is heavy—not to mention loud. Military officials have issued warnings of potential accident zones in Universal City. Developers are inching closer and closer to the base, which could be a concern in the unlikely event of an aircraft crash.

Home Prices in Universal City

The median home value for single family homes in Universal City is $162,800 according to the Zillow Home Value Index. Home Values are forecasted to increase by 3.9% in the coming year. According to Zillow’s Rental Index, the median rental rate for single family homes in Universal City is $1,325. Single family homes in Universal City range from 1,050 to 3,350 square feet, with the average home measuring 2,300 square feet.

Commuting from Universal City

Universal City directly borders JBSA-Randolph to the North, and the commute is only 6 to 10 minutes. Driving to JBSA-Fort Sam Houston or Brooke Army Medical Center takes 20 to 50 minutes, depending on traffic. Living here provides access to Interstate 10, Interstate 35, and Loop 1604.

Schools in Universal City

Public schools in Universal City are in Judson Independent School District, which has an overall rating of 4, according to GreatSchools.org. One of the highest rated schools is Crestview Elementary School, which has a rating of 10.

JISD provides a Military Family and College Readiness Specialist to support military-connected students and their families. There are also JROTC programs at Judson High School (AIR FORCE), Veterans Memorial High School (ARMY), and Wagner High School (ARMY).

JSTEM Academy is a popular science, technology, engineering, and math-focused program located at Judson Middle School.