If you're thinking about moving to Austin, one of the first questions you're probably asking is pretty simple:
Is Austin actually a good place to live?
My answer is yes, but I don't think Austin is the right fit for everyone.
That's actually one of the things I tell people when they first reach out to me about moving here. Austin has a lot going for it, but it also has some very real tradeoffs. The best way to figure out whether it's right for you is to look beyond the things Austin is known for and think about what your day to day life would actually look like here.
You'll hear a lot about the food, live music, outdoor activities, and warm weather. Those things are all part of what makes Austin special, but they're only part of the story.
If you're considering making a move, here's my honest take on what it's like to live in Austin and what I think you should know before deciding if it's the right place for you.
For a lot of people, absolutely.
Austin offers a combination that's difficult to find in one city. You have access to outdoor spaces, a strong restaurant scene, live music, a growing economy, established neighborhoods, newer communities, and a wide variety of housing options.
You can spend a Saturday morning on a trail, grab lunch somewhere local, spend the afternoon on the lake, and end the night listening to live music.
But you can also live a very quiet life here.
That's one of the things I think people sometimes misunderstand about Austin. There isn't one Austin experience.
Where you live makes a huge difference.
Someone living in a walkable central neighborhood is going to have a very different experience from someone living in a newer community 30 minutes outside the city.
That's why I always encourage people relocating here to start with their lifestyle and priorities rather than starting with a list of houses.
I wrote more about that in Moving to Austin? How to Choose the Right Neighborhood for Your Lifestyle.
If you enjoy being outside, Austin is hard to beat.
There are trails, parks, lakes, greenbelts, swimming holes, golf courses, patios, and plenty of ways to spend time outside without leaving the city.
And you don't have to be an especially outdoorsy person to enjoy it.
For a lot of people who move here, it's less about having one particular hobby and more about how easy it is to build outdoor time into your normal week.
Austin also has a huge food and restaurant scene, from longtime local spots to newer restaurants opening all the time.
And yes, the live music reputation is real.
There is almost always something happening, whether you're looking for a major concert, a small neighborhood venue, or live music at a restaurant or bar.
The city has changed significantly over the years, but that combination of food, music, outdoor access, and a generally casual lifestyle is still a big part of what attracts people here.
Austin has grown into a major employment center, particularly in technology, healthcare, government, education, manufacturing, and other professional industries. The metro's economy is much more diverse than the Austin of a few decades ago.
The city also continues to attract new businesses and residents.
In fact, Austin recently ranked at the top of LendingTree's boomtown list for the third consecutive year, with strong scores for housing development, new business activity, employment, and population growth.
That continued growth is one reason people are still relocating here.
It also means Austin is not the sleepy, inexpensive Texas city some people may remember from years ago.
This is probably one of the biggest things I would tell someone considering a move to Austin.
Austin isn't cheap.
Housing costs are higher than they are in many parts of Texas, although the market has changed significantly from the peak of the pandemic boom.
Current home values and prices vary dramatically depending on whether you're looking at central Austin, the suburbs, or communities farther outside the city.
And that's actually one of the advantages of the Austin area.
You don't have to live in the center of Austin to enjoy living here.
There are established neighborhoods, newer communities, smaller towns, and suburban areas surrounding the city, each with a very different price point and lifestyle.
If you're relocating here, I would not choose your neighborhood based solely on the price of the house.
Think about your commute, how often you want to be near restaurants and entertainment, how much outdoor space you want, and how much time you're willing to spend in the car.
Your location can completely change your experience of living in Austin.
If you're moving to Austin from a state with lower property taxes, this is something you definitely want to understand before buying.
Texas does not have a state individual income tax, but property taxes are an important part of the overall cost of homeownership.
And the amount you pay can vary significantly depending on the property, taxing entities, exemptions, and where you live.
This is one reason I encourage relocation clients to look at the total monthly cost of owning a home, not just the mortgage payment.
Your lender can help you estimate your payment, but I also want buyers to understand the property taxes, insurance, HOA dues, and other costs that come with a particular property.
Let's talk about the elephant in the room.
Austin summers are hot.
Really hot.
If you're moving here from somewhere with mild summers, you may need some time to adjust.
The good news is that Austin has a lot of ways to make summer more enjoyable. Pools, lakes, Barton Springs, indoor activities, shaded patios, and early morning outdoor time all become part of the routine.
And if you're willing to embrace the fact that you may not want to spend two hours outside in the middle of an August afternoon, you'll be fine.
The flip side is that Austin winters are generally much milder, which is one of the things many people love after moving here.
Austin is not known for having an amazing transportation system.
For most people, a car is still an important part of daily life, especially if you live outside the central neighborhoods.
That means your commute should be one of the first things you consider when choosing where to live.
I would much rather have someone choose a home that's slightly smaller or slightly different than what they originally imagined if it means they aren't spending an extra hour in the car every day.
If you're relocating here for work, tell your Realtor where you'll be commuting before you start looking at houses.
It can completely change which neighborhoods make sense.
This is one of my favorite things about Austin.
You can live in a neighborhood where you're walking to coffee and restaurants, or you can have a larger home with more space and a quieter setting farther outside the city.
You can live in an older bungalow, a downtown condo, a modern home, or a new construction community.
You can be close to the action or have a little more breathing room.
That's why I don't think there is one "best" Austin neighborhood.
There is a neighborhood that fits you.
And figuring that out is one of the most important parts of relocating here.
Austin's growth is one of the reasons the city has so many new restaurants, businesses, neighborhoods, and amenities.
It's also one of the reasons traffic has gotten worse, development is happening quickly, and some longtime residents feel that the city has changed significantly.
If you're moving here, I think it's important to understand that Austin is still evolving.
Some areas feel established and mature.
Others are changing rapidly.
Some communities have more established amenities, while others are still developing.
This is another reason I recommend visiting the areas you're considering in person before making a decision.
When I talk with people who have moved here, the things they tend to appreciate most include:
The outdoor lifestyle
There are so many ways to spend time outside without having to leave the city.
The food scene
You have everything from casual neighborhood restaurants to nationally recognized dining.
The culture
Live music, festivals, art, local businesses, and a strong creative community are a big part of Austin's identity.
The variety of neighborhoods
There are so many different ways to live here.
The weather in the cooler months
Winter is generally much easier to enjoy than in many northern cities.
The opportunity
Austin continues to attract businesses, jobs, and people from across the country.
It's also important to talk about the other side.
The summer heat can be intense.
Traffic can be frustrating, particularly if you have a long commute.
Housing costs are higher than many people expect when they first think about Texas.
Property taxes can have a meaningful impact on your monthly housing costs.
Growth means more development, construction, and congestion in many parts of the metro.
Car dependence can be frustrating if you're used to living somewhere with extensive public transportation.
None of these automatically mean Austin is a bad place to live.
They're simply things you should understand before moving here.
I think Austin tends to be a great fit for people who value:
Outdoor access
A strong restaurant and food scene
Live music and entertainment
A relatively casual lifestyle
Career opportunities and entrepreneurship
Warm weather
Having a variety of neighborhoods and housing options
Being close to lakes, trails, and the Hill Country
But your priorities matter.
If your dream is to live somewhere where you never need a car, Austin may not be your favorite choice.
If you strongly dislike heat, August might change your mind.
If you are looking for extremely affordable housing, you may need to look farther outside the city.
And if you want the feel of a massive city with extensive public transportation and nonstop urban density, Austin may feel different from what you're expecting.
I don't think there is a universal answer.
But if you're looking for a city with a strong lifestyle component, plenty to do, access to the outdoors, a growing economy, and a wide variety of ways to live, Austin is worth considering.
The key is finding the part of the Austin area that actually fits your life.
That's where I think the relocation process becomes really important.
Before you start scrolling through listings, think about where you'll work, how you want to spend your weekends, how much space you need, how much you want to drive, and what you want your day to day life to look like.
Then we can work backward from there.
I may be biased because I live and work here, but I don't think Austin is great simply because of the things you see in a relocation guide.
What makes Austin appealing is the ability to create a lifestyle that works for you.
You can live in the middle of the city or farther out. You can prioritize walkability or space. You can spend your weekends at a restaurant, on the lake, at a concert, or somewhere in the Hill Country.
But I also think the best relocation advice is honest.
Austin has tradeoffs. The heat is real. Traffic is real. Housing costs and property taxes matter. And choosing the wrong location for your lifestyle can make you feel very differently about the city.
If you're considering a move to Austin, my goal isn't just to help you find a house.
It's to help you figure out where you actually want to live and what kind of life you want to build here.
Madison Swanson
Luxury Real Estate Advisor, Compass
@buyingwithmadison
Moving to Austin: A Complete Relocation Guide
Moving to Austin? How to Choose the Right Neighborhood for Your Lifestyle
How Much House Can I Afford in Austin?
