Bexar County · Texas
Helotes
Small Bexar County city where Bandera Road climbs into the Hill Country, home to Floore's Country Store, Cornyval and a doorstep to Government Canyon.
- ~10,400Population (2025 est.)
- ~$442KMedian Sale Price
- 1,037 ftElevation
- 78023ZIP Code
Where it is
Where Helotes sits
Greater San Antonio / Hill Country edge (TX-16 Bandera Road corridor.
Located in Bexar County.
- ~30 minto Downtown San Antonio
via TX-16 (Bandera Rd) and I-410 / I-10 - ~25 minto San Antonio Int'l Airport
via Loop 1604 East and Wurzbach Pkwy - ~30 minto Boerne
via Loop 1604 and I-10 West - ~35 minto Bandera
via TX-16 North
Drive times are approximate and assume no traffic.
About Helotes
Where Bandera Road leaves the city behind
Helotes sits in the valley of Helotes Creek on the northwest edge of Bexar County, about 20 miles from downtown San Antonio, right where the land starts rising into the Hill Country. The name comes from the Spanish word for ears of corn, and German and Hispanic settlers farmed and ranched here from the 1850s. A post office opened in 1873 and the city incorporated in 1981.
The city itself is small, covering about 7 square miles with roughly 10,000 residents, but the 78023 ZIP code reaches well beyond the city limits into unincorporated Bexar County and parts of San Antonio. That distinction matters for buyers, because tax rates, zoning, utilities and even trash service change depending on which side of the line a home sits. Inside the city you will find Old Town Helotes, established subdivisions on hilly, oak-covered lots and a share of acreage properties.
Daily life runs along TX-16, known locally as Bandera Road, and Loop 1604, which connects Helotes to UTSA, the South Texas Medical Center and the rest of north San Antonio. Northside ISD serves the area. On weekends, the pull is outdoors: Government Canyon State Natural Area sits just west of town, and the Frank L. Madla Natural Area and Helotes' own fitness park keep trails close to home.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year (2020–2024). Figures are rounded.
What stands out
Why people choose Helotes
John T. Floore Country Store
Opened in 1946 on Old Bandera Road, Floore's is a honky-tonk and dance hall best known for Willie Nelson's regular early-career shows. It still books touring country acts on its outdoor stage.
Cornyval Festival and Rodeo
Held each spring since 1966 at the 44-acre Helotes Festival Grounds on Leslie Road, Cornyval brings a rodeo, parade, carnival and live music. The 2026 event was its 61st year.
Government Canyon State Natural Area
More than 12,000 acres of protected Hill Country land just west of town, with miles of hiking and mountain-bike trails over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone.
Old Town Helotes
The revitalized historic district along Old Bandera Road, completed in 2011, mixes restaurants and shops with older stone and frame buildings, and a walking tour covers its historic structures.
Helotes Fitness Park
The city's park on Parrigin Road has a community disc golf course, outdoor fitness equipment, a paved walking loop and covered picnic areas, and leashed dogs are welcome.
Gateway to the Hill Country
TX-16 continues northwest to Bandera, the self-styled Cowboy Capital of the World, while Loop 1604 links Helotes to UTSA, La Cantera and the Medical Center.
Neighborhoods
Areas in and around Helotes
Price ranges are approximate, based on recent sales, and change with the market.
Old Town Helotes
$300K–$650KHelotes Park Estates
$450K–$800KIron Horse Canyon
$380K–$550KLaurel Canyon
$300K–$450KSonoma Ranch
$350K–$700KTriana
$350K–$500KShadow Canyon
$350K–$500KGrey Forest (separate city)
$500K–$900K
- 1946Year Floore's Country Store opened
- 1966First Cornyval festival
- 12,000+Acres in neighboring Government Canyon
- 6.93 sq miLand area inside city limits
- 1,037 ftElevation
Live MLS data
Helotes homes for sale
Listed by Option One here: 10515 Wind Walker.
Live listings load here. If they don't appear, search all homes on our listing site.
HOA fees
What to expect monthly
| Community type | Typical fee |
|---|---|
| Older homes and acreage tracts | None to ~$25/month |
| Suburban subdivisions | ~$30–$80/month |
| Gated communities | ~$75–$150/month |
Many 78023 homes sit outside Helotes city limits in unincorporated Bexar County or the City of San Antonio, which changes the tax rate and services. Confirm the jurisdiction, HOA dues and any transfer fees for each address.
What HOA dues often cover
- Entry gates and access systems in gated sections
- Common-area landscaping and entry monuments
- Neighborhood parks, pools or sport courts where present
- Deed-restriction enforcement
Parks & recreation
Getting outside in Helotes
Helotes Fitness Park & Disc Golf Course
10483 Parrigin Rd, Helotes, TX 78023
Directions ↗Helotes City Park & Playground
12951 Bandera Rd, Helotes, TX 78023
Directions ↗Government Canyon State Natural Area
12,000+ acres12861 Galm Rd, San Antonio, TX 78254
Directions ↗Senator Frank L. Madla Natural Area
9788 Menchaca Rd, Helotes, TX 78023
Directions ↗Helotes Festival Grounds
44 acres12210 Leslie Rd, Helotes, TX 78023
Directions ↗
Schools
Schools serving Helotes
Northside ISD serves Helotes and the surrounding 78023 area; campus assignments depend on the specific address.
| School | Grades | District |
|---|---|---|
| Sandra Day O'Connor High School | 9–12 | Northside ISD |
| Hector Garcia Middle School | 6–8 | Northside ISD |
| Dr. John Folks Middle School | 6–8 | Northside ISD |
| Helotes Elementary | PK–5 | Northside ISD |
| Charles L. Kuentz Jr. Elementary | PK–5 | Northside ISD |
| Bob Beard Elementary | PK–5 | Northside ISD |
| Los Reyes Elementary | PK–5 | Northside ISD |
School assignments depend on the address and are set by each district; boundaries can change. Confirm eligibility directly with the district. Option One Real Estate does not rate or rank schools.
Nearby
Compare nearby areas
| Area | Starting around | Why consider it |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio | From ~$200K | Far west and northwest San Antonio offers newer subdivisions and lower entry prices a few minutes down Loop 1604. |
| Boerne | From ~$350K | The Kendall County seat about 30 minutes north, with a walkable downtown and Boerne ISD. |
| Bandera County | From ~$250K | Up TX-16, ranch land and river towns trade commute time for acreage. |
| Bexar County | From ~$200K | Unincorporated Bexar County around Helotes has acreage and estate lots outside city limits. |
| Medina County | From ~$250K | Castroville, Hondo and rural land to the west for buyers who want more room. |
FAQ
Questions about Helotes
Redfin reported a median sale price of about $442,000 in Helotes for the three months ending September 2026, up roughly 10% from a year earlier. Sales volume in the city is small, so the median can swing from month to month.
Helotes is entirely in Bexar County, on the northwest edge of the San Antonio area. Its 78023 ZIP code extends outside city limits into unincorporated Bexar County and parts of San Antonio.
No. Many homes with a Helotes mailing address are in unincorporated Bexar County or the City of San Antonio. The jurisdiction affects property taxes, building rules and utilities, so check the Bexar Appraisal District record for any home you are considering.
Northside ISD serves Helotes. Sandra Day O'Connor High School on Leslie Road is the high school for much of the area, and elementary and middle school assignments vary by address.
Helotes is about 20 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio, roughly a 30-minute drive via Bandera Road and I-410 or Loop 1604 and I-10 outside rush hour. UTSA's main campus and La Cantera are about 15 minutes away.
Cornyval is held each spring, usually in late April or early May, at the Helotes Festival Grounds at 12210 Leslie Road. It includes a rodeo, parade, carnival and live music, and 2026 marked its 61st year.
Yes. Helotes Park Estates and parts of the surrounding county have lots of an acre or more, and nearby Grey Forest has wooded 1 to 5 acre tracts. Ask about septic systems, wells and any deed restrictions on livestock.
A local agent can help you sort out city versus county jurisdiction, HOA rules and the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone rules that apply to some lots. Option One Real Estate works the Helotes and Hill Country market from its Boerne office.
Day to day
Live music, open land and quick access
Helotes has the feel of a Hill Country town even though it is wrapped by San Antonio's growth. Old Bandera Road still has the dance hall, older stone buildings and the restaurants that locals use as meeting spots, and the hills start almost as soon as you leave town.
Outdoors is easy here. Government Canyon's trails are a few minutes west, the city's disc golf park is in town, and Bandera's rivers and ranches are about 35 minutes up TX-16. For shopping, dining and work, Loop 1604 puts La Cantera, The Rim and the Medical Center within a short drive.
- Concerts at John T. Floore Country Store on Old Bandera Road
- Cornyval Festival and Rodeo each spring at the Helotes Festival Grounds
- Hiking and mountain biking at Government Canyon State Natural Area
- Disc golf and walking loops at Helotes Fitness Park
- Dinner in Old Town Helotes
- Day trips up TX-16 to Bandera and the Medina River
Thinking about Helotes?
Talk with an Option One agent who works here, or start with live listings.
Sources and data notes (data as of 2026-10)
Prices, HOA ranges and drive times are estimates. Census figures are rounded. Verify anything that affects a decision.
- census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/boernecitytexas,helotescitytexas,sanantoniocitytexas,schertzcitytexas,selmacitytexas/PST045224
- censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US4833146-helotes-tx/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helotes,_Texas
- redfin.com/city/8471/TX/Helotes/housing-market
- redfin.com/neighborhood/400637/TX/Helotes/Iron-Horse-Canyon
- helotes-tx.gov/
- helotes-tx.gov/residents/city-parks/
- helotes-tx.gov/event/cornyval-festival-rodeo
- ksat.com/news/local/2026/04/30/helotes-cornyval-festival-returns-for-61st-year-with-live-music-rodeo
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_T._Floore_Country_Store
- tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/government-canyon
- madlapark.org/
- backroadstexas.net/helotes
- lrgrealty.com/lrg-blog/helotes-neighborhood-guide
- lege-lookup.texastribune.org/districts/northside-isd-bexar/helotes-elementary-school
- lege-lookup.texastribune.org/districts/northside-isd-bexar/garcia-middle-school
- lege-lookup.texastribune.org/districts/northside-isd-bexar/folks-middle-school
- privateschoolreview.com/texas/zip/78023
- nominatim.openstreetmap.org/