Castroville's housing stock spans more than a century and a half. The historic core contains homes and commercial buildings reflecting the town's Alsatian architectural heritage, with 1840s-era limestone and European-influenced designs that are rare in Texas. Around that center, the city has grown with conventional single-family subdivisions, reflecting its role as a western suburb of San Antonio. The surrounding countryside offers larger lots and rural acreage along the Medina River and farm-to-market roads. This range—from historic cottages to newer tract homes to rural properties—gives buyers distinctly different choices within a small community, all within a short drive of San Antonio's west side.

The heart of Castroville is its historic downtown district along the Medina River, where Alsatian-style buildings, the Steinbach Haus, the Landmark Inn, and St. Louis Catholic Church cluster near the original 1844 town site. Newer residential subdivisions fan out from this core, particularly along the US 90 corridor and connecting farm-to-market roads, accommodating the town's growth as a San Antonio bedroom community. Beyond the developed areas, scattered acreage and ranchettes line the river and surrounding countryside, offering a more rural setting. This layering of historic center, suburban subdivisions, and open land defines the community's varied residential character.

Life in Castroville blends a small-town Texas pace with a strong European heritage. Residents and visitors explore the historic downtown's architecture, visit the Steinbach Haus and Landmark Inn, and take part in community traditions rooted in the town's Alsatian identity. St. Louis Catholic Church, a local landmark, reflects the community's long history. The town's shops and gathering places center on the historic district, while San Antonio, about 25 miles east, provides big-city dining, culture, and employment. The result is a lifestyle that feels far removed from the metro but remains closely connected to it.

Castroville is served by Medina Valley Independent School District, which has its administrative offices in town. Medina Valley High School and Castroville Elementary School are both located in Castroville, placing key campuses close to home. The district has grown alongside western Medina County's population, with recent bond-funded projects including new school facilities to accommodate enrollment. Families relocating to the area typically attend Medina Valley ISD schools, and the district serves a broad area between Castroville and the San Antonio metro's western edge. Prospective residents should confirm current attendance boundaries with the district.

Castroville sits along the US 90 corridor about 25 miles west of downtown San Antonio, a drive of roughly 25 to 30 miles that makes it a practical base for commuters to the city's west side. US 90 and connecting farm-to-market roads link the town to nearby Medina County communities and to San Antonio's highway network, including access to Loop 1604 and the broader interstate system. As part of the San Antonio–New Braunfels metropolitan statistical area, Castroville offers small-town living with a direct route into one of Texas's largest cities.

Castroville Regional Park is the community's outdoor hub, set along the Medina River. The park offers more than a dozen trails for hiking, jogging, and biking, along with river access for swimming and fishing, birding areas, a butterfly garden, and facilities for tennis, pickleball, soccer, and basketball. It hosts picnics and community gatherings for visitors of all ages. The Alsatian Golf Club adds a golf option near town. For broader recreation, residents are within easy reach of San Antonio's parks, the Hill Country to the north and west, and the Medina River's scenic stretches.