4 Things to Know about Austin

Austin, TX, is routinely among the fastest growing cities both in Texas and the United States with a roughly 16% growth rate between 2010 and 2018. Long known for its thriving job market, social scene, and amazing food options, it’s no small wonder countless folks make ATX their home each day.

So, are you looking to move to the Capital City of Texas? If so, here are four things to know about Austin.

1. Welcome to the Silicon Hills

As mentioned earlier, Austin is full of job opportunities, particularly in the tech industry. In fact, it’s been recognized by Comptia as the best city for tech jobs. Home to massive and established companies such as Apple (two campuses, actually,) Dell, IBM, and Google, the Austin Chamber of Commerce recorded 46 new tech companies relocating to Austin in 2018 alone.

A further and quick breakdown of the tech industry in Austin shows that there were nearly 49,000 job postings between August 2018-July 2019, with a median salary of just under $89,000—plus they expect a 16% growth rate in jobs over the next five years!

2. Find your home and way around Austin

Depending on who you’re talking to, ATX has at least 14 neighborhoods, but likely much more. Regardless of whose count you use, you’re not without your options to find which Austin neighborhood is right for you. For instance, if you like a relaxed nightlife with some amazing food options, checkout Burnet and North Loop. On the other hand, if you want more of a family-friendly area, checkout spots areas such as North Austin or Rock rose.

One thing important to note, however, is finding a place to live near where you work if at all possible. Unfortunately, all of Austin’s growth does come at the cost of traffic, earning ATX as one of the most congested cities. It could take up to half an hour just to drive three miles.

3. Austin summers are hot.

We know, we know, lots of cities are hot in the summer. It’s summer after all? Still, you can’t take Austin summers lightly. With temperatures that can regularly reach triple digits, the key is finding shade, staying indoors, or hitting a public pool. Local Austinites recommend cooling off at the Deep Eddy, Barton Springs, or El Salido public pools.

4. Know there’s food beyond tacos in Austin

Does Austin have great tacos? Yes. Are breakfast tacos worth eating on a regular basis? Adamantly yes. Are there other food options? Yes—and they’re all worth exploring. For instance, for an amazing chicken sandwich, check out the Bird Bird Biscuit or for something more tropical, checkout The Big Kahuna food truck.

And if you do want tacos, check out places like the Taco Joint.

Now, these is just a short list of things to know about Austin. We didn’t even mention the more well known tidbits such as being how to SXSW (or just “South by” if you want to sound like a local right away) as well as proximity to other nearby favorite Texas cities. The City of Austin itself provides a list of 50 cheap or free ways to checkout the city.

One last thing we would like to let you know is that with so much going on in Austin, space can come at a premium. Our biggest tip for keeping your cost of living down in ATX? Checkout Austin self storage. Click here to learn how a storage unit can help your time here.