Where & Why to Live Downtown
What They Say About Living Downtown
From Time Magazine to Ladies' Home Journal, Austin one of the best places in the country to live. Find out what all the talk is about.
2003
Austin No. 1 Best City for Singles, Says Forbes.
Austin edged out much larger metros like Boston, Denver and New York, according to Forbes. "The Texas capital can thank its terrific job market, its low cost of living and an environment that draws the young, unattached and artistic in droves," the magazine said. The Forbes rating is based on nightlife, culture, job growth, number of other singles, cost of living alone and coolness. (Forbes, 06/03)
Austin ranked among the top four Most Loved Cities.
A Travel & Leisure Magazine and America Online poll ranked Austin after San Francisco, San Diego and Honolulu as the cities "frequently and favorably mentioned". Austin ranked No. 4 in Best cultural attractions, No. 5 in Best nightlife, No. 5 in Friendliest, No. 3 in Best in spring, No. 3 in Best-looking people. (USA Today, 03/03)
Austin ranked No. 1 City in which to do business and advance your career.
Low costs, high quality of life and an educated labor pool helped Austin beat 147 other large metro areas for the top slot. The University of Texas supplies a steady, talented labor pool to businesses. In addition, Austin boasts the headquarters of corporate giants such as Dell and Whole Foods Markets. (Forbes, 05/03)
Austin makes international list as a "rising urban star".
Jones Lang LaSalle, an international real estate consulting firm, ranks Austin as one of 24 "rising urban stars" , cities that exemplify one or more characteristics that make them future winners. Austin, Raleigh-Durham and Helsinki made the list as technology rich cities. Austin's advantages included the University of Texas and its linkage of high-tech development to quality of life and land development policies. (www.joneslanglasalle.com, 6/03)
2002
Austin ranks eighth in Money Magazine's list of Best Places to Live 2002.
These cities were ranked by population growth since 1990, average home prices, median household income and a housing premium ratio that compared housing prices and income. "Austin residents enjoy the best of both worlds: a stylish, exciting urban life without a lot of the hassles big cities are known for," the magazine said. (www.money.com, 12/02)
Austin ranked third as the world's most knowledge competitive region.
In a study of international and regional competitiveness, Robert Huggins Associates, a research agency in the United Kingdom defined knowledge competitiveness as a reflection of the economic buoyancy of a region. The World Knowledge Competitiveness Index 2002 is based on several indicates including the number of managers per 1,000 inhabitants, the number of IT, computer manufacturing, biotechnology and automotive engineering employees per 1,000 inhabitants, the number of patents registered per one million inhabitants, mean gross monthly earnings, unemployment rates and per capita public expenditures on education. (www.roberthuggins.com, 11/02)
Austin cited in Where to Retire Magazine
Austin was cited in Where to Retire Magazineas a place where "High technology meets tradition in this diverse and scenic Texas capital." The magazine said "Austin and the surrounding suburbs and small towns are often where other Texans choose to retire or relocate" partly because "Austin, the state capital, is an eclectic city with a playful nature." (www.WhereToRetire.com, Special Issue 2002)
Austin Ranks Second Best City for Singles.
Forbes Magazine placed Austin behind only Boston as the best city for single life. The list was based on seven criteria: number of singles, cost of living, nightlife, projected job growth, culture, "buzz" and the "coolness factor". The coolness factor measures diversity, bohemianism, innovation, talent and high-tech industrial output. (Forbes, 06/02)
Austin ranks seventh in a study of Top-Ranked College Towns in the U.S.
The study was created by ePodunk, which provides in-depth information about more than 25,000 communities around the country, from Manhattan to Los Angeles, Pottstown to Podunk. In the study, Austin ranked as having one of America's outstanding music venues, and scored well in art funding, information-related companies, its library system and historic preservation. (http://www.epodunk.com/, 04/02)
Austin ranks No. 4 in Best Cities for Women. What's the healthiest town in the nation? The best for jobs? Finding a mate? In looking at the 200 largest cities in the U.S., Ladies Home Journal measured: low crime, health, education, economy, jobs, lifestyle and child care. Austin was fourth out of cities with populations over 300,000. (Ladies Home Journal, 03/02)
Austin, Dallas and Houston offer the best mix of top high-tech salaries and low cost of living in the country, making them prime locations for people seeking tech jobs, according to a new study. The second annual Affordability Index from Eden Prairie, Minn.-based techies.com Inc. puts Austin in third place, behind Houston at No. 2 and Dallas at No. 1. The study weighs the cost-of-living index against information technology salaries in the country's 38 most popular job markets. (techies.com Inc./Austin Business Journal, 02/02)
Barton Springs made Utne Reader's list of America's 60 Best Public Places in the January-February issue. "Spring-fed swimming hole beloved by Austinites of all social classes, racial hues and philosophical persuasions," the magazine said. The only other Texas places on the list were San Antonio's River Walk and Staples Street Station in Corpus Christi. (Utne Reader, 01/02)
Austin will be a leading destination for people moving in 2002, according to a migration study compiled by Reno, Nev.-based U-Haul International Inc. U-Haul says Austin will be among the top five destination spots that U-Haul helps families move to in 2002. Other top spots were Atlanta, New York, Las Vegas and San Diego. Final results will be released in mid-January. (Austin Business Journal, 01/02)
Austin ranks 16th fittest in the nation in Men's Fitness Magazine, a sharp contrast to Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio, all ranked among the 10 fattest cities in the country. More than 527,000 Austinites say they work out at a gym or at home, according to a 2001 Galllup poll. (Austin American Statesman, 6/11/02)