Why Everyone Is Moving to Austin

The heart of Texas is alive with music, barbecue and rolling Hill Country

It is not hard to imagine why a person would dream of living in Austin, Texas. The capital city ranked number one on U.S. News and World Report’s 2017 Best Places to Live list, after all! Between the culture and the quirk, the bustling city and the 14,000 square miles of Texas Hill Country that surrounds it, Austin seems to have it all: excellent food, top-ranked public schools, the University of Texas system, and a healthy business economy. You will be hard-pressed to find a reason not to call Austin home.

Granted, being one of the fastest growing metros in the country means the real estate market is competitive and housing costs are higher than the U.S. national average, but you also benefit from low state and local tax rates, and no personal or corporate income tax.

In response to the high influx of relocators, more and more affordable home builders are constructing beautiful new homes in the suburbs surrounding Austin that offer the excitement of city life without the stress of an empty pocketbook. All in all, you would be crazy not to want to make Austin your new home.

Can you say, "Live music?"

Austin was officially dubbed the Live Music Capitol of the World in 1991. Turns out, it is home to more live music venues per capita than anywhere else in the country! And while epic, bucket list-worthy annual music festivals like Austin City Limits and South by Southwest are for many their sole experiences with live music in Austin, the city also offers live music nearly any time at one of its almost 200 venues. Local spaces like Hole in the Wall, The White Horse and The Continental Club offer daily musical performances from national and local acts.

Austin is a green machine

Austin has been recognized for some years as one of the greenest cities in the country. The city, its community and local businesses are committed to making environmental consciousness part of the city’s culture and appeal. Rideshare programs, environmental conservation efforts, green architecture, a commitment to recycling and good ole-fashioned tree planting are just some of the ways Austin and Austinites are working to create a more environmentally sustainable city.

Sure, you will need to bring reusable bags—or be prepared to pay for paper and plastic ones—at the grocery store; and, yes, you will be sharing the road with lots of bikers. But that seems like a small price to pay to live in a city determined to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions community-wide by 2050.

Get out of Austin

The query, "What to do in Austin" is often best answered with, "What to do outside of Austin"—especially come Friday.

Less than two hours outside of Austin sit some of the coolest little hill country towns you will ever spend a day—or a weekend—exploring. Once a German farming settlement, the revitalized community of Gruene is now a member of the National Register of Historic Places; historic Fredericksburg boasts wineries, spectacular views from Enchanted Rock, national historical parks, and more; and you simply cannot skip a trip to Wimberley for a swim in Jacob’s Well.

For those who prefer to explore nature, Austin and its surrounding areas offer tons of scenic hiking and swimming opportunities. And who would not need a cool dip during the long Texas summer?

One word: barbecue

In case you did not know, Texas is kind of famous for its barbecue. And Austin is home to some of the best-of-the-best. There is Franklin Barbeque, where patrons wait in line for upwards of five hours to order delicious smoked meats—unless, of course, you are the president of the United States; La Barbeque, which often offers free beer and music to guests waiting in line; and Micklethwait Craft Meats, currently number eight on Texas Monthly’s 50 Best BBQ Joints. And that is just the beginning. Check out Thrillist’s list of Austin’s best BBQ, compiled by culinary experts.

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