Windcrest is a 1.7-square-mile incorporated city surrounded entirely by San Antonio, sitting inside the 78239 ZIP code just east of Loop 410 and north of I-35. The median home price lands around $315,000, property tax rates run roughly 2.1% (combined city, county, and school), and the city collects its own sales tax on top of state and county rates. Residents get a small-town municipal structure with full metro access.

Because Windcrest governs itself separately from San Antonio, it sets its own codes, maintains its own police department, and handles permits through city hall on Crestway Drive. That independence means stricter yard maintenance standards and a coordinated holiday lighting program that draws visitors every December. Homes here skew mid-century ranch style on larger lots than you typically find in surrounding San Antonio subdivisions, and most streets have no HOA fees layered on top of city taxes.

Windcrest’s population sits around 5,800 residents based on the 2020 Census, and recent estimates show modest growth pushing closer to 6,000. That puts roughly 3,400 people per square mile, denser than many San Antonio suburbs but still far from urban. The city feels smaller than the number suggests because single-family homes dominate the housing stock and most blocks stay quiet outside of the holiday light season.

Household size averages about 2.4 people, skewing toward established homeowners rather than young renters. About 70% of occupied units are owner-occupied, which is notably higher than the San Antonio metro average near 55%. That ownership ratio keeps turnover low and inventory tight. When homes do list, they tend to move within 30 to 45 days depending on condition and price point.

Windcrest operates under a separate city charter with its own mayor, five-member city council, and fully independent municipal departments. That distinction directly affects your tax bill, your permit process, and who shows up when you call about a code issue or street repair. Buyers sometimes assume Windcrest is just another San Antonio subdivision, but the governance is entirely separate from the city that surrounds it.

Windcrest collects property tax at roughly $0.34 per $100 of assessed value. Add Bexar County and school district levies, and total rates land around $2.50 to $2.70 per $100, comparable to most San Antonio neighborhoods. Where it differs is allocation. Windcrest directs its revenue toward a compact service area rather than a sprawling metro covering 500-plus square miles. The city also controls its own zoning and land use, historically limiting commercial development to Walzem Road and IH-35 corridors while keeping interior residential blocks quieter than what you find in comparable San Antonio areas.

Windcrest works for buyers who want a small, incorporated city with its own services and no HOA fees, all within minutes of Loop 410 and I-35. The median home price around $315,000, a compact 1.7-square-mile footprint in the 78239 ZIP code, and a population near 6,000 give it a neighborhood feel that most San Antonio suburbs can’t match at this price point.

The key factor is understanding that Windcrest operates as its own city, not a San Antonio subdivision. That means separate property tax rates through both Bexar County and the city, its own municipal services, and a distinct identity bordered by Converse, Kirby, and San Antonio proper. For buyers who value that independence and proximity to the northeast side’s job centers, Windcrest checks the right boxes.