Selma is the I-35 boomtown that most San Antonians pass every weekend without quite knowing its name: a small city at the 1604 and I-35 interchange, about halfway between San Antonio and New Braunfels, with a fast-growing ring of new neighborhoods around a genuinely old town core. It crosses three county lines, feeds into three school districts depending on your street, and anchors some of the region's busiest shopping. If you like the corridor lifestyle with small-town bones, Selma is the place to watch.
The feel of the area
What it's like to live here
Selma has been a crossroads town since German and Polish settlers arrived in the 1800s, and the old center still keeps that identity, while everything around it has gone full suburban: new subdivisions, retail, and the energy that follows highway growth. Incorporated in 1964, the town has roughly tripled in population since 2010.
The Forum at Olympia Parkway put Selma on the map as a retail destination, and the restaurants, shops, and entertainment along that corridor are a genuine part of daily life for the whole northeast side. Yet drive a mile into the neighborhoods and you are back to quiet streets, new schools, and families doing family things.
Summer nights mean Retama Park's racing season, the weekend means the Forum or the river, and the small-town calendar, with festivals and parades, keeps the old Selma alive. It is one of the more dynamic mixes in the metro.
Housing market
Homes and what to expect
The housing story is new construction and recent resale, with Fort Worth-style and Texas transitional homes in the newer sections, plus a smaller stock of older homes near the historic core. Recent data shows typical sales around $275,000 to $310,000, with listings from the $310,000s into the $355,000s and the broader 78154 corridor trending higher. Because the town is growing fast, the inventory mix keeps changing, which is exactly why current listings matter more than averages.
Market snapshot
Price Ranges
- Typical recent sales
- $275K – $310K
- Median list (2026)
- ~$310K – $355K
- Larger newer homes
- $350K – $500K+
Land
Typical Lot Sizes
- Newer neighborhoods
- 0.15 – 0.3 acres
- Older core lots
- 0.2 – 0.4 acres
Schools
SCUC ISD / Judson / Comal
Selma is an address-check in the truest sense: the city crosses Bexar, Comal, and Guadalupe counties, and depending on which part of town you buy in, your kids could attend SCUC ISD, Judson ISD, or Comal ISD schools. The bulk of the growth and development around the Forum sits within SCUC ISD's footprint, so that is the district most families research first, and I have the full guide linked here. Never assume, always verify the zone for the exact house.
Getting around
Commute and access
Selma sits at the I-35 and Loop 1604 interchange about 16 to 18 miles northeast of downtown San Antonio and roughly 13 miles southwest of New Braunfels. The Forum is right at the 1604 and I-35 knot, downtown runs 20 to 25 minutes, Randolph about 10 to 15, and Austin is 75 minutes north. It is the most highway-adjacent town in the corridor.
Lifestyle
Things to do in Selma
The Forum is the area's living room: movie nights, restaurants, shopping, and weekend crowds, then quiet again ten minutes into the neighborhoods. Retama Park brings summer racing with a festive, family-friendly vibe, and the I-35 corridor puts New Braunfels's rivers, Gruene's dance halls, and San Antonio's downtown all within a half hour. For location flexibility, Selma covers the whole northeast.
Explore more local guides
Who it's for
Selma fits people who want the corridor's best location, new homes, and retail convenience: I-35 commuters who want two-city access, families in the SCUC footprint who want the district and the lifestyle, and younger buyers who like being minutes from everything. Buyers hoping for an established historic town should temper expectations, since the boom is the story here.
Selma FAQ
How far is Selma from San Antonio and New Braunfels?
About 16 to 18 miles northeast of downtown San Antonio, 20 to 25 minutes, and roughly 13 miles from New Braunfels. It sits right on the I-35 and 1604 interchange.
Which school district is Selma in?
All three, depending on the street: SCUC ISD in the Guadalupe County portions, Judson ISD in the Bexar County portions, and Comal ISD in the Comal County portions. The address check is non-negotiable.
What is the housing market like?
Typical sales from about $275,000 to $310,000 with listings commonly $310,000 to $355,000 and larger new builds above that. Growth keeps the inventory turning.
Is Selma a good place to live near Randolph?
Yes, the base is 10 to 15 minutes away, and the corridor is full of JBSA families for the same reason.
Let me help you call Selma home.
Selma is for buyers who want to be genuinely at the center of the northeast corridor: new homes, big retail, three-district math to sort out, and the highway to anywhere. Let me help you decode the school lines, find the neighborhood that fits, and show you what your budget buys today. Reach out or book a free consult.
