Review of Austin, Texas

---

Austin area cost of living

- 1/21/2010
In 2007 we moved to just north of Austin in a small community called Leander which happens to have the #1 school district in the state. After researching several cities and states to move to we selected the Austin area. After living in Kansas for over 25 years we wanted to get away from the tornadoes, snow and sub zero weather. There is no state income tax however Real Estate property taxes are 2.5% which is double that of Kansas. Instead of paying over $700 a year for taxes on auto's in Kansas we pay only $210 a year for three auto's. No tax on grocery food either. Utilities are another story. It's costing us 28% more for electricity and water which we knew before we moved and most of that comes from the hotter summers and having the AC run at 78 degrees. Unless you make huge bucks you won't be able to afford Austin itself for housing but Leander and Cedar Park are affordable. My wife is a nurse and got a huge bump in pay to work. Demographics are tilted towards the 18 to 35 age group. Most retirees live in Georgetown which is 25 miles North of Austin. We are 70 miles away to the Hill Country wineries and if you are a foodie you'll love Austin.
Steven | ,