Austin used to be a somewhat small, understated city in the center of Texas that was mostly known for music festivals. But lately it’s been on everyone’s radar. Now Austin is the fastest growing big city in the United States. Between July 2013 and July 2014 Austin’s population grew another 2.9 percent, which was 0.5 percent higher than Denver, the second fastest growing metro area.
The Austin cityscape as seen from the new boardwalk on Lady Bird Lake
So, why are thousands of people moving to Austin each year?
The better question is why wouldn’t someone want to live in Austin, Texas. There are countless reasons to move there, but the points below are five of the most common.
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
Texas as a whole has been creating jobs through the recession while other areas of the country were struggling. Austin’s blend of industries (which includes tech), tourism, highly educated population and the fact that it’s the Texas capital, has kept the economy stable. As of April 2015 the unemployment rate in Austin was an amazingly low 2.6%. Basically, anyone that wants a job can find a job in Austin.
Music, Music, Music
Austin’s nickname is the Live Music Capital of the World, and with the Austin City Limits Festival, SXSW, the Fun Fun Fun Fest, along with many other major events, the city is living up to that reputation. No matter what genre you keep on your playlist, chances are you can see it performed live during any given week.
Sara Watkins playing at the Austin City Limits festival, October 2, 2009.
No Income Taxes
One thing that some people don’t consider until they get their first paycheck is the fact that Texas has no individual state or local income taxes. This means you keep more of your salary, and it makes the cost of living even lower.
Outdoor Activities and Entertainment
Austin is a green city – in terms of both being eco-friendly and the surrounding environment. The city government has gone to great lengths to protect public areas and green space from development, no matter how valuable the land may be. There are a number of notable spots, including the 10-mile Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail that winds its way through the center of the city. There’s also Barton Springs Pool, the Hill Country, Lake Travis, Lake Austin and a slew of city and state parks. The city is also dog friendly and boasts a dozen off-leash parks.
Barton Springs community swimming pool in Austin, TX
Decent Home Prices
The median home price has increased significantly in the last 5-10 years, but Austin real estate is still somewhat affordable. This is especially true when compared to similar metro areas. For a tech hub, the prices are a steal at $269,500 on average. The Austin Board of Realtors notes that homes have appreciated 12 percent year-over-year, which makes it a good investment as well.
3 Tips for Making a Move to Austin, Texas Easier
If Austin sounds like a place you’d want to live you’re better off moving sooner rather than later. If you live outside of Texas there are a great deal of things to consider. Long distance moving companies can make an out of state move way easier. They know all the logistics of hauling large moving trucks across state lines and allow you to travel at your own pace.
No matter where you’re moving from, here are a few other tips that will save you a lot of stress during a move.
Plan well in advance – The earlier you start planning the move the easier it will be. Professional moving companies suggest that people begin the planning phase at least a month in advance. However, 2-3 months out is even better. Having to rush to find a moving company, change your mailing address, establish utilities, etc. will only cause stress, and likely cost you more money.
Make reservations with the moving company ASAP – As soon as you have your move date locked in, reserve your moving services. Ideally, this will be at least a month before the actual move. During the busy summer season, it’s not uncommon for good moving companies to get booked up more than a month in advance.
Pack a First Night Box – On the first night of a move, typically things are still packed up and you’re exhausted from hauling things all day. Packing a first night box with all the essentials will make life much easier. This box should contain the basics like a few towels, sheets, toiletries, a change of clothes, medications, snacks, paper plates, disposable utensils, toilet paper and paper towels.
These three tips alone will make moving more relaxed so you can focus on enjoying your new digs in Austin, Texas.
Photo Credits
The Austin cityscape – Wikimedia Creative Commons
Barton Springs Pool – Wikimedia Creative Commons
Sara Watkins – Wikimedia Creative Commons
Guest Author Bio
Jenna Brown
Jenna is a freelance blogger who is mainly focused on business innovation and breaking stories in business. Jenna has been blogging since college where she studied marketing and has merged her love of keying stories into copy writing work as well as plenty of reading and writing for fun! Find and follow on her new Twitter here!
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