PCSing to Fort Sam Houston?Where to Live Near Post
The Army's medical training hub inside Joint Base San Antonio, a few miles northeast of downtown, with older neighborhoods close to its gates and newer suburbs up I-35.
Let's Talk About Your Next MoveQuestions about Fort Sam Houston? Call me at (919) 800-9870
JBSA-Fort Sam Houston is the Army post in central San Antonio that houses Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), the Army Medical Center of Excellence and Army Medical Command headquarters. Its gates are within about 5 driving miles of Tobin Hill, Terrell Hills, Mahncke Park, Alamo Heights and King William, and Converse, Live Oak and Universal City are about 8.5 to 11 miles out. 2026 BAH for a Fort Sam assignment runs from $1,728 to $2,490 a month with dependents, depending on pay grade; the full table is below.
Key Takeaways
- BAMC has a staff of about 8,500 and is the only Level I trauma center run by the U.S. military, treating more than 6,000 military and civilian trauma patients a year from 22 counties in southwest Texas.
- The Medical Education and Training Campus on post graduates more than 16,500 students a year from 49 medical programs.
- Walters Gate, the Harry Wurzbach East Gate and the BAMC/I-35 Gate are open around the clock. The New Braunfels Gate keeps limited weekday hours.
- Fort Sam Houston ISD runs the schools on post. Children living on post attend automatically, and students who live off post can apply for a transfer that's renewed each year.
- Fort Sam's ZIP code (78234) is in DoD's San Antonio military housing area, where 2026 BAH with dependents runs from $1,728 for E-1 through E-4 to $2,490 for O-7 and above. DoD resets the rates every January.
- The Army first set up a garrison in San Antonio in 1845. Work on the Quadrangle began in 1876, and the post was named Fort Sam Houston in 1890.
Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: JBSA | U.S. Army | BAMC | Military OneSource | JBSA Gate Hours | DTMO BAH
I've Been Where You Are.
I know the week orders drop: a city to learn from scratch, a report date that won't move, and a long list of questions about where to live. I'm an Army wife, so I know how much of those first weeks goes to sorting out a new place.
I'm Tiffany Reed, a REALTOR® and Military Relocation Professional (MRP) in San Antonio. For a Fort Sam move, I start with the gate you'll use, your budget and your report date. If you're still at your current duty station, I tour homes with you on video so you can see the rooms, the street and the drive before you write an offer.
Send me your report date the day your orders drop. An early start leaves room for tours, inspections and a closing date that fits your move.
Let's Talk About Your Next MoveWhat Is JBSA-Fort Sam Houston and Who Reports There?
Fort Sam Houston sits a few miles northeast of downtown San Antonio and holds some of the oldest buildings on any Army installation. It joined Joint Base San Antonio on October 1, 2010, and today hosts more than 100 mission partners, with medical training as its main mission.
- U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) headquarters
- Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), the military's only Level I trauma center
- U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE), which trains the Army's medical force
- Medical Education and Training Campus, with more than 16,500 graduates a year
- U.S. Army North and U.S. Army South headquarters
- 502d Air Base Wing, the lead support wing for all of Joint Base San Antonio
JBSA lists these hours for four of the post's gates:
| Gate | Hours (per JBSA) | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Walters Gate | 24/7 | North Walters Street, off I-35 |
| Harry Wurzbach East Gate | 24/7 | Harry Wurzbach Road, on the Terrell Hills side |
| BAMC/I-35 Gate | 24/7 | Off I-35, at Brooke Army Medical Center |
| New Braunfels Gate | Limited weekday hours | North New Braunfels Avenue |
For every JBSA installation in one place, see my military relocation to San Antonio page.
How Much Is 2026 BAH at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston?
Fort Sam's ZIP code, 78234, falls in DoD's San Antonio military housing area, so these are the 2026 monthly rates for a Fort Sam assignment. E-1 through E-4 share one rate, and every grade receives more with dependents. DoD sets new rates every January, so if you're shopping in the fall, look again once the new year's numbers post.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,728 | $1,359 |
| E-2 | $1,728 | $1,359 |
| E-3 | $1,728 | $1,359 |
| E-4 | $1,728 | $1,359 |
| E-5 | $1,869 | $1,500 |
| E-6 | $2,094 | $1,596 |
| E-7 | $2,112 | $1,731 |
| E-8 | $2,121 | $1,920 |
| E-9 | $2,157 | $1,977 |
| W-1 | $2,109 | $1,692 |
| W-2 | $2,118 | $1,917 |
| W-3 | $2,130 | $1,986 |
| W-4 | $2,178 | $2,085 |
| W-5 | $2,280 | $2,097 |
| O-1E | $2,115 | $1,866 |
| O-2E | $2,124 | $1,965 |
| O-3E | $2,196 | $2,082 |
| O-1 | $1,905 | $1,584 |
| O-2 | $2,091 | $1,827 |
| O-3 | $2,127 | $2,007 |
| O-4 | $2,307 | $2,088 |
| O-5 | $2,457 | $2,100 |
| O-6 | $2,475 | $2,103 |
| O-7 | $2,490 | $2,112 |
Where Should I Live Near Fort Sam Houston? Neighborhoods by Distance
Alamo Heights & Terrell Hills
2026 avg. homestead taxable value: $885,505 / $1,069,779
Two separate cities on the post's west side, each with its own police and city services. Homes run from early-1900s bungalows to mid-century houses, and nearly all new building is a teardown and rebuild. Terrell Hills sits just across Harry Wurzbach Road from the post, and its east-side streets are in North East ISD.
King William & Southtown
2026 combined tax rate: $2.51 per $100
Historic districts just south of downtown along the San Antonio River, with houses from the second half of the 1800s. Exterior changes need the city's historic approval first. Walters Gate is about 4.5 to 5.5 miles north, and the Blue Star Arts Complex is in the neighborhood.
Converse & Universal City
Converse builder base prices from the low $180,000s
Converse mixes 1990s resale streets with builder communities that are still selling. A Converse mailing address can sit inside the city, inside San Antonio or in unincorporated Bexar County, and each one changes the tax bill. Universal City is mostly established resales; its median home was built in 1984.
Leon Valley & Helotes
2026 avg. homestead taxable value: $229,768 / $512,208
West-side cities on Bandera Road. Most Leon Valley houses date from the 1960s and 1970s, and the South Texas Medical Center is about 3.5 miles away. Helotes starts the Hill Country, and about a third of the homes inside the city sit on an acre or more. From Helotes, Camp Bullis is closer than Fort Sam.
Schertz & Cibolo
2026 avg. homestead taxable value: $327,222 / $342,341
Northeast cities a few miles from Randolph's main gate, with I-35 running down to Fort Sam, so one house can serve both bases. Expect HOA subdivisions and builders still selling, alongside 1950s houses near Randolph in Schertz. Shopping new? Here's how I handle new construction purchases.
Stone Oak
2026 combined tax rate: $2.30 per $100
A master-planned community north of Loop 1604, built out from the late 1980s, with one property owners association over roughly three dozen neighborhood HOAs. Little open land is left, so most homes for sale are resales. US-281 is the straight shot south toward the post.
Miles are approximate driving distances to the closest gate. Drive times vary by time of day, traffic, and gate. Check current conditions for your route before deciding. Taxable values are each city's 2026 average for homesteads, not sale prices; for today's prices, search homes for sale on my site. Neighborhood guides: Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills, Mahncke Park, King William, Windcrest, Converse, Live Oak. Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: city 2026 tax notices, Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector, Lennar, U.S. Census Bureau.
Should You Buy or Rent When You PCS to Fort Sam Houston?
Buying works best with a house you'd be glad to keep when your next PCS comes, because you can rent it out and, if you have entitlement left, still use a VA loan at the next duty station. A VA loan lets eligible buyers with full entitlement buy with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance, though closing costs, inspections and the move itself still cost money. If you buy, decide early whether you'd sell or rent the house out when you leave, because that changes which homes make sense. If your orders are short or uncertain, renting first while you learn the city is a sound choice, and I'm glad to talk it through either way.
Which School Districts Serve Fort Sam Houston?
On post, Fort Sam Houston ISD runs Fort Sam Houston Elementary and Robert G. Cole Middle and High School. It's a Texas public school district under the Texas Education Agency, not a DoD school system. Children who live on post attend automatically; students living off post can apply for a non-resident transfer, which depends on space and must be renewed each year.
Off post, the district follows the address. Alamo Heights ISD covers 9.4 square miles with five campuses. North East ISD serves more than 51,000 students on 67 campuses, including Windcrest and Stone Oak. San Antonio ISD, with more than 42,000 students on 83 campuses, covers Mahncke Park, King William and Southtown. Judson ISD covers most of Converse and Live Oak, and Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD (14,764 students, 17 campuses) covers most of Schertz and Cibolo. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, call the district's special education office before you enroll, and ask the JBSA School Liaison Office for its newcomer welcome packet.
Confirm the campuses for a specific address with the district, then look each campus up at tea.texas.gov, where the state posts its accountability ratings and campus data.
Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: Military OneSource, Texas Education Agency, each district.How Does a VA Loan Work for a Fort Sam Houston Move?
I've used the VA loan benefit personally, and I work with VA loan buyers headed to Fort Sam. I connect you with VA lenders, and the lender handles your Certificate of Eligibility. Then I write and negotiate your offer.
- No down payment for eligible buyers with full entitlement
- No private mortgage insurance
- No VA funding fee if you receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability (your lender confirms it)
- Texas property tax exemptions for disabled veterans, from a partial exemption at a 10% rating to a full homestead exemption at 100%
- The benefit can be used again on a later home
Eligibility, the funding fee and assumable VA loans are covered on my VA loans in San Antonio page. Your VA-approved lender confirms the details for your loan.
Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: VA.gov, Texas Comptroller.Fort Sam Houston PCS Questions
Which neighborhoods are closest to Fort Sam Houston's gates?
Tobin Hill and Terrell Hills are about 2.5 driving miles from a gate, Mahncke Park about 3 and Alamo Heights about 3.5. Olmos Park and King William are about 4.5, Windcrest and Monte Vista about 5, and Southtown about 5.5. Converse is about 8.5 miles, Live Oak about 9.5 and Universal City about 11. Drive times vary by time of day, traffic, and gate. Check current conditions for your route before deciding.
Which Fort Sam Houston gates are open 24 hours?
JBSA lists Walters Gate, the Harry Wurzbach East Gate and the BAMC/I-35 Gate as open 24/7. The New Braunfels Gate keeps limited weekday hours. Hours change for construction and holidays, so check JBSA's gate hours page before you rely on a route.
Should I buy or rent when PCSing to Fort Sam Houston?
Buying can work well if you'd keep the house as a rental at your next move, since leftover VA entitlement can still finance a home at your next duty station. Eligible buyers with full VA entitlement can buy with no down payment, but renting first makes sense when your orders are short or uncertain. Tell me your timeline and I'll walk through both options with you.
How much is BAH at Fort Sam Houston in 2026?
For 2026, it runs from $1,728 a month with dependents for E-1 through E-4 to $2,490 for O-7, and from $1,359 to $2,112 without dependents. The full table is on this page, and the DTMO BAH lookup confirms your rate with ZIP code 78234. Rates reset each January. Compare your BAH with the full monthly payment on the homes you like, including taxes, insurance and HOA dues, since tax rates differ from one city to the next.
Can I buy a home near Fort Sam from out of state or OCONUS?
Yes. Some of my clients have moved directly into their new home on arrival day. I tour homes with you on video, write and negotiate the offer, coordinate inspections as needed and do the final walkthrough.
What school district serves Fort Sam Houston?
Fort Sam Houston ISD serves children who live on post. Off post, it depends on the address; homes near the post are in Alamo Heights ISD, North East ISD, San Antonio ISD, Judson ISD or Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD. Confirm the campus for the address with the district, then check it at tea.texas.gov.
Ready to Plan Your Fort Sam Houston Move?
Tell me your report date, your budget and the gate you'll use most. I'll set up tours, in person or on video, and write your offer when you find the house.
Tiffany Reed, REALTOR® | MRP | Real Broker LLC
(919) 800-9870 | tiffany@tiffanyreedtx.com | tiffanyreedtx.com