Austin
Texas, USA
  • Austin Known for its annual South by Southwest (SXSW) event, Austin is also home to an innovative technologyculture that thrives in the relaxed, rolling hills of Texas..  By Jason Persse (Flickr) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Austin
    Known for its annual South by Southwest (SXSW) event, Austin is also home to an innovative technologyculture that thrives in the relaxed, rolling hills of Texas..

Genuinely hip, Austin is a dynamic, growing city with a metro area of more than 1.7 million people known for enjoying live music and a special sense of Texas independence where people accept seemingly eclectic lifestyles.  In a word, Austin is fun, a community where the unofficial slogan is "Keep Austin Weird."

Lots of opportunities

Home to lots of small businesses and large technology companies, the world takes a frequent look at Austin through its long-running PBS TV concert series, Austin City Limits, and the annual South By Southwest festival of music and arts.  Sports are big in Austin, thanks to the presence of the University of Texas Longhorns, but surprising, the city is the country's largest without a professional sports presence. 

With thrilling parks and beautiful museums, Austin offers a lifestyle for visitors and new residents that is relaxed, entertaining and full of zest.

Climate

  • Humid subtropical

Physical Environment

  • Rolling countryside
  • City with at least one 50-story building

Culture

  • Ethnic restaurants
  • Active club/bar/music scene
  • Major public college in downtown
  • Fine art museum
  • Local community theatre
  • Local film festival

Politics

  • Leaning liberal

Economy

  • $$$ -- Prices seem reasonable

Recreation

  • Downtown yoga studio
  • Year-round fitness swimming center
  • Public golf course
  • Biking, hunting, running trails

Infrastructure

  • Public squares
  • Vibrant public transportation system
  • Lots of downtown living space
  • Mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhoods
  • Working farms within 25 miles
  • Safe bike corridors
  • International airport

Health

  • University teaching hospital
  • Emergency medical services within 25 miles
  • Community swimming pool
  • Community senior center