Growing and changing fast... it
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9/18/2019
Austin isn’t perfect by any means, but it’s great for people in their 20s or 30s who work in tech.
Rent is pretty reasonable, especially compared to the other major tech hubs (SF/SV, Boston, and Seattle). Real estate is getting pricy, but again, it’s a steal compared to the big cities of the Northeast and West Coast. Your salary will go MUCH further here.
Nightlife is excellent. There are five or so bar districts (depending on how you count them), and you can find virtually anything you’re looking for... except for upscale dance clubs, for whatever reason. Austin is a bar city, not a club city. The nightlife is still light-years ahead of cities like Denver, Seattle, or Minneapolis though.
Cityscape/transit: Austin is also the fastest-growing city in America, and one of the most obvious effects of this is its changing urban form. City planners have placed a high priority on increasing density, so five-story apartment buildings and condo towers are replacing the single-family housing in central neighborhoods and along major thoroughfares. However, the vast majority of residents still live in single-family houses, and the public transportation is atrocious. You will absolutely need a car, which is a shame, because the traffic is awful. The road infrastructure was designed to handle about half of the city’s current population. Thanks to local environmental ordinances and neighborhood opposition, roadway construction/expansion takes forever... when it happens at all.
Crime: The homeless population has exploded in the last several years. In June, our UNBELIEVABLY moronic City Council legalized camping on sidewalks and harassing people for money. I’m not joking. Because of this, certain parts of downtown have effectively been taken over by the homeless. Pedestrians get robbed/attacked in broad daylight. Last month, a homeless guy attempted to mug me on E 6th St at freaking NOON. In fact, because of the bars/nightlife, a few major downtown streets are actually safer at night.
Career: You can’t beat salary to cost-of-living ratio here, but if you’re hyper-ambitious, you’re better off in the Bay Area or Boston. No real surprise there.
Scenery: Austin is bordered to the West by the Texas Hill Country, pleasant rolling hills with plenty of trails. If you’re from anywhere west of Denver, it will look pretty boring to you. There are two lakes (Lake Austin and Lake Travis) that are hugely popular for recreation. Downtown has an excellent grade-separated hike and bike trail, roughly a 10 mile loop. No e-scooters allowed on the trails (thank god).
Schools: Austin has maybe the best public schools of any major city in America. There are private schools too, but it’s rare to meet anyone who went to one. There’s just no need to spend the extra money.
All-in-all, it ain’t a bad place to live. Especially if you’re young and you make a decent salary.
[My background: I grew up in Austin, left for college, and moved back last year for a job.]
Ryan | Austin, TX