Almost 3 years ago my family and I decided to leave our beloved Astoria Queens in NYC for a better place to live.
2 days ago we closed on a house in Austin, TX
I’ll tell you why we chose to live here as well as some reasons not to.
2 days ago we closed on a house in Austin, TX
I’ll tell you why we chose to live here as well as some reasons not to.
1. Texas has tons of economic optimism. It feels like “Texas’ time to shine” and it’s nice to be in a place like that as an entrepreneur when the rest of the USA seemingly has lost its mojo.
2. Austin is packed full of smart ambitious entrepreneurial people. It’s not just people
2. Austin is packed full of smart ambitious entrepreneurial people. It’s not just people
starting companies, too. The UPS guy is smart. The person working the cash register is smart. Everyone here is smart. I like that a lot.
3. Austin is beautiful (unlike Houston and Dallas). It’s hilly, full of trees, and has some nice bodies of water.
3. Austin is beautiful (unlike Houston and Dallas). It’s hilly, full of trees, and has some nice bodies of water.
4. There are trails everywhere. Texas isn’t walkable, but Austin is the most walkable city in Texas I’ve been to. The trails are a big part of that. Downtown, for an American city, is nice but the paths all over the city are what make it special.
5. It’s not clear to me why this is but Austin always manages to surprise you. Whether it’s randomly placed natural beauty or a bridge club or some sort of funky exotic pet grooming place in a strip mall, there’s tons of cool weird stuff to do and you’re always finding more.
6. If you’re coming from LA, SF, or NYC Austin is cheap. Austin is the most expensive city in Texas for real estate but it’s Texas so you’re going to save a lot of money from the big name coastal cities.
7. No state income tax.
8. Reasonable salaries if you’re building a business that hires locally for excellent talent
9. Afaict excellent public schools
10. Solid airport with increasing number of international destinations (Europe, Canada, central/South America)
8. Reasonable salaries if you’re building a business that hires locally for excellent talent
9. Afaict excellent public schools
10. Solid airport with increasing number of international destinations (Europe, Canada, central/South America)
11. Minimal environmental and natural hazards. You don’t have the chemicals of Houston or it’s hurricanes. You don’t have tornadoes or earthquakes. Obviously no ice storms or tsunamis. It’s not at the top of terrorists, North Korea, or China’s nuke list.
12. It is diverse and has a lot of good food. Houston has a better rep for food in Texas but I’ve found plenty of good places here, ethnic and non. Austin is white heavy for a city but there are areas with tons of diversity.
13. Young with best nightlife in Texas
14. Excellent job prospects. It has a large diverse economy with lots of tech. Tesla is coming soon.
14. Excellent job prospects. It has a large diverse economy with lots of tech. Tesla is coming soon.
15. Weather 7 months of the year is excellent.
16. Thé trend is your friend. I think you’re getting the picture but it’s the fastest growing major city for a reason. More people and investment are pouring into the place every year.
16. Thé trend is your friend. I think you’re getting the picture but it’s the fastest growing major city for a reason. More people and investment are pouring into the place every year.
17. While not perfect Texas is much more economically healthy than California, New York, and many other states so you don’t have to worry about the future headaches that will come with that.
Negatives:
A. It’s too hot 5 months of the year
B. Not as international and easy to get to as a major us city
C. It’s not as walkable as SF or the major eastern cities
D. I’m here
E. Property taxes are high and may get higher
F. No ocean! There are medium sized very big hills
A. It’s too hot 5 months of the year
B. Not as international and easy to get to as a major us city
C. It’s not as walkable as SF or the major eastern cities
D. I’m here
E. Property taxes are high and may get higher
F. No ocean! There are medium sized very big hills
but no proper mountains (or skiing)
G. I couldn’t locate my warehouse here even though I wanted to. Land too expensive and it’s less good than Dallas and Houston for distribution.
H. While better than other Texas cities, as a northeaster I don’t love the local culture. Prefer my
G. I couldn’t locate my warehouse here even though I wanted to. Land too expensive and it’s less good than Dallas and Houston for distribution.
H. While better than other Texas cities, as a northeaster I don’t love the local culture. Prefer my
Obnoxious directness which I don’t get much from Californians and multigenerational Texans (though Austin is way more direct than other cities in the south and in Texas)
I. Expensive for Texas
J. The local government is too friendly to homeless for my liking. State government
I. Expensive for Texas
J. The local government is too friendly to homeless for my liking. State government
overrules them sometime (Austin is capital of Texas) but occasionally it is quite annoying.
J. City government seems impractical often.
J. City government seems impractical often.
Okay that’s it! Austin’s motto is “keep Austin weird”. I know I’m doing my part by living here and if you’re a smart ambitious person, I hope you join me in Austin Texas!
Ps I’ve lived in Texas for almost 3 years and in Austin for 1 year.
K. Traffic was bad during rush hour but covid and work from home solved that almost completely
L. There is no subway like public transport.
K. Traffic was bad during rush hour but covid and work from home solved that almost completely
L. There is no subway like public transport.
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