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ROCKERS, TACOS AND CHIPS
Population: 1,506,425
Population Growth Since 2000: 17%
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36.5%
Cost-of-Living Index: 92.8 (100 being national average)
Median Household Income: $52,882
Income Growth Since 2000: 12.2%
Don’t think for a minute that the laid-back, rockers-and-tacos atmosphere of downtown Austin is all this metro area has to offer. In fact, Austin and the surrounding region offer a strong economy, a solid, moderately priced housing market, a growing population and enough natural beauty to justify staying outside even if the weather weren’t great -- which, by the way, it is.
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Take Our Walking Tour Through Austin | ||
Already home to the University of Texas, the state capitol and a bustling music scene, Austin has lately expanded its economy to include digital media, green energy and biotech, creating 114,000 in the area in the last five years. Meanwhile, downtown Austin is in transformation mode. Redevelopment includes the Second Street District and more than a dozen residential developments. Among them: 360, where a two-bedroom, two-bath condo with a lake view starts at about $400,000.
City life not to your liking? Head to Round Rock, an 18.5 mile hike up I-35. This family-oriented suburb boasts topnotch public schools along with a local economy that includes Dell, three hospitals and a brisk business in sports tourism thanks to the playing fields it rents out for tournaments. As for housing, it’s a deal: For $270,000, you can buy a four-bedroom, three-bathroom house in the Teravista community and enjoy its rolling hills, 18-hole golf course, clubhouse and a pool.
Down the road apiece, in the tiny town of Lago Vista, residents enjoy access to Lake Travis in the spectacular Texas Hill Country setting. Once mostly a resort community for retirees, this 11-mile stretch of land increasingly appeals to young families who like the small-town atmosphere and don’t mind commuting to Northwest Austin or to Round Rock.
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POSTED BY: Victoria (April 13, 2009 08:37 AM)
Ouch Scott, and you are from Milwaukee? Seems like Austin yuppiness has rubbed off on you. Shame on you. I moved here from Milwaukee in 2005 and I had to take a "locality" pay cut to do so. When I moved here people talked about how cool it is, but really it isnt that great. The traffic is way worse than Milwaukee and the transit system for commuters isn't that extensive either. The schools are better in Wisconsin also. I think the people in Milwaukee are nicer and more down to earth, too. Its nice you love where you live, but don't you forget where you came from. So put down the Shiner and drink a Miller in honor of Brew City. I'd move back home if I could get what I paid for my house back in 2005.
POSTED BY: chris (April 16, 2009 10:06 PM)
im from chicago moving down to Austin n August. What are the nicer surrounding suburbs to live in? what is there to do for entertainment?
POSTED BY: barb (April 17, 2009 05:37 PM)
We're planning on relocating to Austin for the winter months and if we love it we'll live there yearround. What we have seen of Austin is very nice...nice friendly people...reasonable cost of everything from food to housing...traffic is a prob but if you are from Chicago or Detroit like me we're used to traffic. music scene is awesome...I've been all over and this town is the most desirable.
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