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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: Eric (August 02, 2008 05:16 PM)
I have lived in both Houston and Austin. I actually like both cities for different reasons. I love Downtown Houston and I am a HUGE fan of all Houston professional sports. That being said, professional sports is about the only thing that Houston has over Austin. I believe this is the friendliest city in America. Granted, it's not as friendly as it used to be....but still the friendliest. Austin is a forward thinking city and it opens it's arms to all kinds. Austin is also one of the safest places to live. Try comparing our crime rate to Houston. I can't help but think that, because this is a financial magazine, they have 'sucked up' to the corporate giants that call H-Town it's home. Houston has great people! Unfortunately, it also has spawned some of the greatest political corruption in modern times. If you are a neo-con, you would love Houston and probably want to drop a bomb on Austin. Austin is a unique piece of Americana. Houston is a giant cookie cutter, of a metropolitan area.
POSTED BY: Allen (August 18, 2008 10:10 AM)
I currently live inside the loop and Houston. I'm sorry but I totally disagree with Tim. Houston's outdoors life amounts to Buffalo bayou and hermann park..hardly a comparison to zilker park and hamilton pool. Houston has no identity of itself, part NY wannabe (downtown), part austin wannabe (heights), and mostly cookie cutter suburban. High crime rate and an influx of mostly uneducated illegal immigrants. Austin on the other hand has one of the lowest crime rates and is the live music capital of the nation.
POSTED BY: Christina (September 27, 2008 08:04 PM)
I have been in Austin all my life (28 years) and love it!!! I have researched moving to other states and I just cannont fathom leaving such a beautiful town. Yes we have live music - this weekend is Austin City Limits. A huge musicial gathering of so many different and talented artists. Whole sections of downtown are closed, and there are so many people that make a living during these festivals just by riding a bike and pulling a small wagon with a few people in it. Or horse drawn carriages. This town is the best place to live. Not only about the music, but the different cultures, the food, and of course the business opportunities available here. Not to mention as the other posts say we are the city with a low amount of crime. So if you are serious about moving here, don't second guess it... its beautiful!!!
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