Is Austin A Good Place To Live?
-
5/1/2014
Austin is great. I've lived here for almost 14 years. Before that, I lived in Saratoga, CA ("Silicon Valley") for 13 years and I grew up in Plano, TX, just north of Dallas. So, I've lived a few places and been to a few more and I can tell you Austin is a good place. It's like living on the West Coast without the taxes, regulations and traffic (although, Austin does have traffic issues). There are many things to do here, especially if you enjoy the arts and outdoor activities. You can see live music all over town every night of the week and huge music festivals, like SXSW and ACL, annually. The outdoor activities are a big part of the city's vibe and the facilities are well-used and well-loved. How many places have, not one, but several, frisbee-golf courses? Hiking, biking, tennis, golf courses and running facilities are all over town. There is also a cool, laid-back feel to the place; people don't usually ask you what you do for a living within 2 minutes of meeting you and aren't always commenting about the cost of this or how much they paid for that. If you want that, move to Dallas. A guy I know moved down last year from Long Island. He wasn't sure he'd like it but now says he'll never leave. When it comes to real estate, Austin is the most expensive place in Texas on a per square foot basis, but compared to much of the rest of the US (like, say, CA) it's still cheap. Property taxes are around 2%, depending on where you live, but your cost basis is much lower and there are no state income taxes! Take that NY! It's hot here, don't let anyone tell you it's not. But, you adapt and the winters are nice. No 20 below down here. Generally speaking, the schools are good. Lots of good places to eat - we even have several great Indian food restaurants - and cool bars all over. All things considered, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Austin as a nice place to live.
Steve | Austin, TX