Austin, Texas

Ditch your perceptions of deserts, oil magnates and cowboys. The capital of the Lone Star State ain’t that. Want some nature? Go kayaking or swimming in one of the many tree- lined lakes and rivers, or go biking or hiking along one of the many trails around them. Want some culture? Austin is home to one of the country’s most popular art scenes, has a great foodie culture, and a music scene that has Austin hailed as the “Live Music Capital of the World.”

Want a job? You might question whether you’re in Silicon Valley when you see the number of tech companies here. Facebook, Google, Apple and more all have offices in Austin, and the city unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the country.

Finally, we have to mention the political climate in Austin. If you’re moving to Texas to escape the progressives in San Francisco or Boulder then take 35 or 290 in virtually any direction to find giant pockets of conservatism. If on the other hand you’re looking for an island of misfit liberals that comprise the Austin populace then you’re going to love it here.

Note from a local about what they love here:
Breweries, H‑E‑B, parks, barbecue, waterways, relaxed vibe (compared to other big cities), friends, live music. Looking forward to having the MLS team here, too.

I also love our big events throughout the year: ACL, SXSW, F1, etc. I know they come with their own sets of problems, but I love being able to take advantage of that kinda stuff in my own backyard.

For more reviews of what living in Austin is like from locals check out: The Reviews.

Two Texas staples that Austin still clings onto are, unfortunately, traffic and weather. Austin commutes are some of the most brutal in the country. Austin is rapidly expanding, a reflection of those positives, but the roads are not, and regardless of when you leave the house, you’ll probably be stuck somewhere. The lack of good public transportation does you no favors, so you pretty much have to own a car to live here.

You need a car with great AC as well. You won’t forget you’re living in Texas in July and August when the highs occasionally get up to a humid 110 Fahrenheit. The plus is winter days in the sixties and autumn ones in the seventies, but we’ll let you be the judge as to whether or not the trade off is worth it.

Note from a local about driving here:
Whenever I get in my car I feel like a contestant in the movie Death Race. I'm actually nervous to drive with the amount of red-light-runners and stop signs that don't seem to apply to some drivers. Lots of road rage I see that I don't engage in but still scary to witness. It's gotten worse since the start of the pandemic.