From the Blog
Castroville vs. Bulverde: Two Hill Country Small-Town Markets, Priced Honestly
Castroville's median sale price ran about $475,000 to $494,000 through 2026, while Bulverde's transacted medians spread from about $433,000 to $545,000 depending on the month and the source. Both are Hill Country small-town markets, both are cooling, and both reward buyers who are patient and priced correctly. Here is the honest comparison for families weighing the two.
Castroville's median sale price ran about $475,000 to $494,000 through 2026, while Bulverde's transacted medians spread from about $433,000 to $545,000 depending on the month and the source. Both are Hill Country small-town markets, both are cooling, and both reward buyers who are patient and priced correctly. Here is the honest comparison for families weighing the two.
Castroville by the numbers
Castroville sits about 30 miles west of downtown San Antonio in Medina County, and the 2026 numbers show a flat-to-soft market. Redfin put the median sale price at $494,000 over the last three months, down 5.3% year over year, while Resideline tracked a median closing price of $475,000 across 97 closings over the last 12 months and Houzeo pegged the median near $476,345, essentially flat. Homes are sitting longer, and the market scores low on competitiveness, which is another way of saying buyers have time.
Bulverde by the numbers
Bulverde sits north of San Antonio in Comal County off US 281, and the numbers there have a wider spread. Redfin reported a median sale price of $545,000 last month, down 13.8% year over year, while Orchard put the median at $433,400 over the last 30 days, up 8.6%, with homes going pending in about 26 days. Zillow's average home value is $481,323, up 0.4%. The gap between asking prices and transacted prices is the tell: sellers are reducing prices, and buyers who compare recent solds have leverage.
What the cooling means for buyers
In both towns, the cooling favors the buyer. More days on market, price reductions, and low competitiveness scores mean you can negotiate without the frenzy of 2021 and 2022. The honest play is to compare recent solds in the specific subdivision, not the list price, and to make an offer supported by data. A patient buyer in either town can find a fair deal; an impatient one can overpay on a stale list price.
The character difference
Castroville is known for its Alsatian heritage and small-town main street, with a slower, countryside pace and a distinct sense of history. Bulverde sits closer to the Boerne corridor, mixing Hill Country ranches with newer subdivisions and easier access to north-side shopping and the 281 commute. Neither is a suburb in the San Antonio sense; both are towns with their own identity, and the right one depends on how much town you want around you.
Drive the commute before you decide
Castroville is west of the city, Bulverde is north, and the two directions feel completely different at rush hour. Drive each at the time you would actually commute, check the school district that serves the specific address, and model the property tax bill with the county and district in front of you. The house may be similar; the monthly total will not be.
Written by Phyllis Domingo
REALTOR® · TX License 745926 · 100+ homes sold · Helping families move well in San Antonio and the Hill Country since long before the hard part became normal.
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