What to Know About Relocating to Austin

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Austin, Texas is one of the most popular places to move right now and it's the fastest-growing metro in the country. One reason for the explosive growth is that it's a fast-growing tech hub. 

A lot of Silicon Valley professionals are moving to Austin, or they've already landed there. Companies including Facebook, Google, and Oracle already have thousands of workers in Austin. 

Apple also recently announced they would be spending a whopping $1 billion on a new North Austin campus. They said with the construction of that new campus they're projecting they'll add 15,000 more workers to the already 7,000 in the area. 

Austin for many people is all that it's hyped up to be, but there are downsides to consider. 

For example, driving in Austin can be frustrating or even dangerous.

The average Austin driver spent 66 hours in traffic in 2017. The city is also ranked as the 14th most congested city in the country. 

There's not just congestion during traditional rush hours either. For example, a report from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute found that around 33% of Austin travel delays were in the midday and overnight hours. 

Even so, most people find a lot of desirable things about living in Austin. If you're thinking about relocating there for the tech industry, or another reason, the following are some important things to know. 

Silicon Hills

Austin has been nicknamed Silicon Hills because of the growth in the tech sector in the area. 

Along with the companies named above, others, including Cisco and Intel, have either headquarters or offices in Austin. 

The University of Texas is also in the center of the city, and there are large-scale innovation-centric events such as South by Southwest (SXSW).  

It's not just established tech businesses that are moving to Austin. The city is also startup-friendly, and the entire state of Texas is largely considered business-friendly. 

Companies in Silicon Hills brought in a total of $950 million in funding in 2017.

The Weather

Outside of the tech and business elements of Austin, there are a lot of things to like about living in this Texas city.

The weather is one. 

The weather is nice much of the year and fairly mild, although the summers are sweltering.

In the winter, temperatures are usually in the 50s or 60s, and sometimes even warmer. 

The spring and fall are mild and nice too. 

Cost of Living

Because Austin is such a popular and thriving metro area, the cost of homes has gone up considerably, but these prices are still much lower than in cities like San Francisco, Seattle, or New York. 

Austin, compared to the rest of Texas, however, does tend to be expensive. 

Rent in Austin is also the highest in Texas if you aren't ready to buy, but still slightly more affordable than the national average. 

For example, you could probably find a one-bedroom apartment in Austin for around $1200 a month, while in San Francisco or New York, you'd probably be paying more like $3200. 

The cost of living in Austin is around three percent lower than the average, but whether you're buying or renting, the part of the city where you decide to call home will have a big impact on what you pay. 

Entertainment

While you might be planning to move to Austin for work, there will be plenty of things that will keep you occupied during your downtime. Austin, for example, is the live music capital of the world. 

Festivals like Austin City Limits let residents and visitors experience both established and new talent. 

There are regularly live bands at the many venues around the city, and the Austin nightlife is also vibrant. 

The culinary scene is as amazing as the music. 

Austin is known for having a number of unique restaurants headed up by talented and renowned chefs. There are also many food trucks, and even the grocery stores in Austin are great. For example, Whole Foods has its headquarters in downtown Austin.

Outdoor recreation options are extensive in Austin, thanks to Lake Austin, hiking at Mount Bonnell, and the many beautiful parks.  

What's so great about life in Austin beyond what the city itself offers is the fact that you're in Texas, and there are places to explore all over the state. 

For example, the Dallas/Fort Worth metro is within driving distance as is San Antonio. There are the beaches of Galveston that you can drive too as well, for a change of scenery.