Living in Universal City, TX

Bexar County

Universal City's identity is the most directly military-installation-adjacent of any city in this file -- it literally borders Randolph Air Force Base (JBSA-Randolph), more so than Schertz, which sits nearby but not directly against the base fence line. That proximity, combined with being the most affordable of the four cities here (median sale price around $274,000 over the three months ending May 2026, down 1.5% year-over-year), makes it a practical, no-frills choice specifically for military families who want to minimize commute distance to Randolph AFB and minimize housing cost at the same time. It is small and unpretentious in character, without New Braunfels' tourism draw or Boerne's Hill Country scenery -- its value proposition is proximity and price, not destination appeal.

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Housing

Median sale price (Universal City city)$274,000

Median sale price of $274K over the three months ending May 2026, down 1.5% year-over-year -- the lowest of the four cities in this file. A separate figure cited the average (not median) house price at $330K last month, up 13.8% year-over-year; average and median diverge here, so the $274K median is used as the primary figure.

Median sale price (Bexar County)Not yet verified

Taxes

Local effective property tax rate2.27%

Not independently sourced at the Bexar County level this session. Texas carries no income tax statewide. See the Texas hub page for the statewide property tax context -- do not treat that figure as Universal City-specific.

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The tradeoffs

Pros

The most affordable housing of the four cities in this file, and the closest possible proximity to Randolph AFB / JBSA-Randolph for military families minimizing commute; straightforward, unpretentious small-city character; no state income tax.

Cons

No distinct scenic, tourism, or cultural draw the way New Braunfels or Boerne have -- it is a practical, function-first choice; sits entirely in Bexar County, which carries one of the higher blended effective property tax rates cited in this dataset (~2.27%), so the low sale price is partly offset by a higher ongoing tax bill than Schertz or New Braunfels; small city size means fewer in-town amenities than the larger satellite cities.

Who this fits

Best for: Military families specifically prioritizing minimal commute distance to Randolph AFB / JBSA-Randolph and the lowest housing cost among the San Antonio-area satellite cities in this file.

Maybe not for you if: Buyers wanting a distinct scenic, tourism, or lifestyle identity -- river access, Hill Country scenery, a walkable historic downtown -- should look at New Braunfels or Boerne instead; anyone prioritizing the lowest property tax burden in the region should note Bexar County's rate runs higher than Guadalupe or Comal County.

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-21. Independent research; see individual metric entries above for source attribution. This is not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.