Neighborhood in San Antonio, Bexar County

Living in Columbia Heights, San Antonio

D

99th of 137areas in San Antonio
Overall score 23 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
San Antonio overall: D

Columbia Heights is a neighborhood in San Antonio, TX, home to about 25,300 people. It gets a D, in the bottom quarter of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 99th of 137 areas we score in San Antonio. It does best on cost of living and worst on education levels.

  • Affordable
  • Lots of parks
  • Jobs and income scores low (12 of 100)
  • Schools scores low (10 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.3 mi
Pharmacy0.4 mi
Park0.5 mi
Cafe0.8 mi
Restaurant0.2 mi
Gym0.6 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.7 mi
Childcare0.5 mi
Library0.9 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
25,350
Median rent
$1,180
Median home value
$116,000
Household income
$52,300
Average commute
22 min
Homes owned
65%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Columbia Heights

Columbia Heights is a neighborhood in San Antonio with about 25,400 residents, older homes (median year built 1958), a mix of owners and renters and 33% of households with children.

Our grade for Columbia Heights is D. That puts it 99th of 137 areas we grade in San Antonio, a city that gets a D overall.

Pros of living in Columbia Heights

  • Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $1,180, 11% lower than the San Antonio median.
  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.3 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.5 miles away.

Cons of living in Columbia Heights

  • Lower-rated schools nearby. Only 0 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes, heat waves and hail as very high in this part of town.

Columbia Heights report card

Each grade compares Columbia Heights with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade B+

    Median rent $1,180, homes cost 2.2x income.

    79 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade D-

    Median household income $52,300, 8.3% unemployed.

    12 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade D-

    Nearby schools average 69 of 100 on the state rating.

    10 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 532 violent crimes per 100k, 3,917 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade B-

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    58 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade B+

    Average commute 22 min, 5.5% work from home.

    75 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade F

    8.0% have a bachelor’s degree.

    5 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D-

    39% of adults uninsured.

    9 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade C-

    65% of homes owner-occupied.

    34 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade D

    83% of homes have broadband.

    18 of 100 vs TX areas

Columbia Heights compared with San Antonio

Better than San Antonio

  • Home value to income: 2.2x39% lower than San Antonio (3.6x)
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 40%14 points lower than San Antonio (54%)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 65%12 points higher than San Antonio (52%)

Worse than San Antonio

  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 8.0%21 points lower than San Antonio (29%)
  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 39%14 points higher than San Antonio (25%)
  • Homes with broadband internet: 83%8 points lower than San Antonio (91%)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • FCharles Graebner ElementaryElementary, San Antonio ISD0.6 mi
  • CA Leal Jr MiddleMiddle, Harlandale ISD1.1 mi
  • CBurbank High SchoolHigh, San Antonio ISD0.8 mi

Cost of living in Columbia Heights

Median rent in Columbia Heights is $1,180 a month, 11% lower than the San Antonio median. A household would need about $47,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $116,000, 51% lower than the San Antonio median, which means a monthly payment of about $776 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereSan AntonioTexas
Median rent11% lower than San Antonio$1,180$1,324$1,403
Median home value51% lower than San Antonio$116,000$235,700$283,800
Home value to income39% lower than San Antonio2.2x3.6x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent14 points lower than San Antonio40%54%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them12 points higher than San Antonio65%52%63%
Vacant homesAbout the same as San Antonio9.1%9.5%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as San Antonio195819851992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$776
Mortgage payment
$635
Property tax
$141
Median rent, for comparison
$1,180

Based on a $116,000 home in Columbia Heights, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereSan AntonioTexas
Median household income20% lower than San Antonio$52,300$65,056$78,476
Unemployment rate2 points higher than San Antonio8.3%6.2%5.3%
People below the poverty line2 points higher than San Antonio19%17%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher21 points lower than San Antonio8.0%29%34%
Average commute10% lower than San Antonio22 min24 min27 min
Workers who work from home8 points lower than San Antonio5.5%14%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit2 points lower than San Antonio2.3%4.2%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet8 points lower than San Antonio83%91%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingModerate
  • HurricanesModerate
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesVery high
  • WildfiresLow
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windVery low

Who lives in Columbia Heights

Under 1824%
18 to 3422%
35 to 6438%
65 and over16%
Race and ethnicity
White4.0%
Hispanic or Latino94%
Black1.4%
Asian0.2%
Other or more than one race0.5%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in San Antonio

  1. 1A+The Enclave of SonterraMedian rent $1,320
  2. 2A+Las LomasMedian rent $2,850
  3. 3A+ArrowheadMedian rent $2,320
  4. 4A+La Cierra at SonterraMedian rent $2,190
  5. 5A+The Overlook in Stone OakMedian rent $1,840
  6. 6A+Hunters CreekMedian rent $1,470
  7. 7A+The Heights at Stone OakMedian rent $2,150
  8. 8A+CrosstimberMedian rent $1,350

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. D+Northwest TylerTyler
  2. DJoye SubdivisionSeguin
  3. D+Northwest San BenitoSan Benito

Questions about Columbia Heights

Is Columbia Heights a good place to live?

Columbia Heights is a neighborhood in San Antonio, TX, home to about 25,300 people. It gets a D, in the bottom quarter of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 99th of 137 areas we score in San Antonio. It does best on cost of living and worst on education levels.

How much does it cost to live in Columbia Heights?

Renters in Columbia Heights pay a median of $1,180 a month, 11% lower than the San Antonio median. The median home is worth $116,000, 51% lower than the San Antonio median. A median home costs 2.2x the median household income, compared with 3.6x across San Antonio.

What schools serve Columbia Heights?

The closest rated public schools are Charles Graebner Elementary (elementary, rated F), A Leal Jr Middle (middle, rated C) and Burbank High School (high, rated C). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 23 Census block groups closest to the Columbia Heights name on the map, so its edges are approximate. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.