So, here it is again, Forbes Magazine ranked Austin #1 for the Best Bargain City.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/13/bargain-cities-america-lifestyle-real-estate-bargain-cities.html
Here's a quote from the article:
"They have the triple-whammy of being a university town, a state capital and a technology center," says Al Lee, director of quantitative analysis at PayScale.com, a salary data aggregator based in Seattle. "It makes for a very robust economy and a great place for people to work."
Four other Texas cities make the list of America's Best Bargain Cities, but none come close to Austin, whose 5.5% unemployment is the best in the country and about half the national average.
Is Austin really a bargain? Yeah, I guess it is. Over the past year, Christy and I have actually been able to save money here. With two kids, I would have thought this unimaginable. Rent, gas, food, and entertainment are all cheaper here, so it is much easier to get by with less.
Finding a job here doesn't seem to be that difficult either. I know two colleagues of mine who recently got fired at the hospital, and they were able to find another job within a couple of weeks. I think as long as you're not looking for some high paying tech or engineering job, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a job here.
Of course, long-time Austin residents are worried about an influx of people moving here because of these types of articles. They want to "keep Austin weird" and they have this idea that all these people moving in will cause the "weirdness" to disappear from the city. They shouldn't worry so much. And as far as my family living here, I think their "weirdness" reputation is still intact.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/13/bargain-cities-america-lifestyle-real-estate-bargain-cities.html
Here's a quote from the article:
"They have the triple-whammy of being a university town, a state capital and a technology center," says Al Lee, director of quantitative analysis at PayScale.com, a salary data aggregator based in Seattle. "It makes for a very robust economy and a great place for people to work."
Four other Texas cities make the list of America's Best Bargain Cities, but none come close to Austin, whose 5.5% unemployment is the best in the country and about half the national average.
Is Austin really a bargain? Yeah, I guess it is. Over the past year, Christy and I have actually been able to save money here. With two kids, I would have thought this unimaginable. Rent, gas, food, and entertainment are all cheaper here, so it is much easier to get by with less.
Finding a job here doesn't seem to be that difficult either. I know two colleagues of mine who recently got fired at the hospital, and they were able to find another job within a couple of weeks. I think as long as you're not looking for some high paying tech or engineering job, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a job here.
Of course, long-time Austin residents are worried about an influx of people moving here because of these types of articles. They want to "keep Austin weird" and they have this idea that all these people moving in will cause the "weirdness" to disappear from the city. They shouldn't worry so much. And as far as my family living here, I think their "weirdness" reputation is still intact.
How many state capitals don't have universities?
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