Austin Named Best City for Young Adults

The secret is out: Austin, TX is the best place for young adults (ages 20 to 29) to live. Forbes.com online magazine reports:

“According to our list, uber-hip Austin is the best place to live if you’re in your 20s and searching for a town filled with peers, good job prospects and fun things to do. The Central Texas metro, known both for a bustling tech community and a trend setting music scene, ranks first on our list of America’s Best Cities for Young Adults.” – Forbes Magazine

What’s the Draw to Austin for Young Adults?

In the past decade, Austin has surged to the top-tier rankings for healthy lifestyle, friendly business environment, strong growth and a cost of living lower than other major cities. In a recent article the The New Times reported that one-third of the companies – mostly technology based – that are moving to Texas originated in California, where the high cost of the doing business and draconian tax code often sends companies – and people – looking for other options. Even Texans say that Austin is the one city in the state that most want to live. Let see why.

Austin is a Friendly Place to Live

KINSHIP. A lot goes on in Austin between friends and “friendenemies” in the world of technology. Major players have a strong presence and there is a burgeoning incubator scene where people can live, work and play. Austin gives people a place to come together and work together to grow a career and build a business. It’s easy to network in a vibrant start-up community. It’s a city that nurtures start-ups. Austin has a large contingent of engineers, designers, marketing professionals, scientists, advisors, and investors. Young adults continue their endless quest for the most vibrant cities to call home.

Austin Promotes a Balanced Lifestyle with Endless Events

EVENTS. Austin is a happening place. Almost any day in any week you’re likely to find any number of technology events. Yet, what makes Austin so special – especially for young adults and families – is that it offers both an intense start-up community and a culture that fosters a balanced life style.

Austin Has a Low Cost of Living and is Tech Friendly

COST OF LIVING. If you have lived in other tech cities around the country, you know that the cost of living can be exorbitant. With no state income tax, people have more disposal income than they would otherwise. “It’s possible for a family to live comfortably on one income in Austin,” one engineer told me. Try that in Sunnyvale, CA! Young adults take home an average salary of $43,000 including entry-level salaries, and Austin’s unemployment rate is almost one-third lower than the 9.8% national average. Austin’s attractiveness is a pairing of a relatively low cost of living and access to a highly educated, well-trained talent pool.

Austin Welcomes All Types of People

LIFESTYLE. Austin is a state of mind. It’s eclectic and electric. It offers a little bit of everything – live music, art, outdoor lifestyle, entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation, weirdness (“Keep Austin Weird”), individualism, and a bit of southern hospitality. There is something to please everyone – children, young people, families, and older folks. Business, recreation and community involvement all flourish.

Austin’s Community is Rich in Resources

OPPORTUNITY. Whether you choose to work for a multi-national company or a start-up, Austin is a community rich in resources. Drive your passion or live your own life style, the choice is yours. Austin has the look of a big city with a small town feel. Whether you’re into the fitness scene, the football scene, the movie scene, the foodie scene, the live music scene, the techy scene or simply your scene, Austin is the real thing. Most of us Austenite’s would like to keep Austin a secret, but it’s pretty clear we can’t keep Austin’s awesomeness to ourselves any longer.

Are You a Young Adult Looking to Relocate to Austin?

We relocated to Austin from San Francisco about 4 years ago and love it. Coming from San Francisco, we thought it would be a huge change, but have found Austin is a great place to live and wouldn’t go back now if we could. If you think Austin might be a place where you could call home, check out our Guide to Relocating to Austin and read more in our Austin Relocation Blog. You also might want to check out our Best Austin Neighborhoods for Young Professionals to find out where you might want to live. Then, when you’re ready, call us at (512) 827-8323 or email us at info@11OaksRealty.com and we’d be happy to discuss your move and how we might be able to make the transition as easy as possible.