Nine Reasons to Move to Austin, Texas NOW

When people think Texas, what do they think of? Some say heat. Others, George Bush. Tumbleweeds. Cowboys. The Alamo.

Non-Texans don't imagine 200-year-old cypress trees towering alongside glittering Lake Austin, or the aquifer-fed greenbelts entangling Lost Creek. They don't envision rolling hills carved hundreds of thousands of years ago by receding oceans, blanketed by southern oak, pecan, evergreen, and cottonwood trees. No. Oasis is definitely not the first word that comes to mind when people think of Texas. Let alone art, music, culture, technology, or green-living.

That's why Austin is still one of the best kept secrets in Texas. And honestly, though quite a few Texans might prefer to keep it that way, it's high time to set the record straight. Austin was voted the #1 Best City for the Next Decade (Kiplinger, July 2010). Want to know the reason why? Here's 9.

1. ECONOMY

• ActiveRain named Austin the #2 Top Performing Real Estate Market in 2012.
  
• PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP named Austin the #2 Real Estate Market to Watch in 2012.
• The Fiscal Times ranked Austin #2 on "Top 10 Cities People are Moving to in 2012."
  
• Realtor.com named Austin the 2nd Best Investment Market. (2012)
• Policom Corporation named Austin the 5th strongest economy in the U.S. (2012)
• Forbes ranked Austin the #9 Best City in the U.S. for Business and Careers. (2012)
• Payscale.com ranked Austin the #2 Hotspot City for Tech Startups. (2012)
  
• CNN ranked Austin the #1 Most Recession-Proof City (July 2010)
• Austin was named #1 Best City for Housing Market by Builder Magazine (February 2010)
• Texas ranks #1 in the U.S. for Economic Development (Business Facilities Magazine, 2007)
• The Brookings Institute named Austin the #3 Most Stable City (2010)
• The Milken Institute named Austin #4 Best Economic Performer in U.S. (January 2011)
• Austin is the #9 Fastest Growing Metro in the U.S., according to the 2010 Census Bureau.
• Chief Executive named Texas the best state in which to do business for the EIGHTH year. (2012)

2. JOBS

• Forbes ranks Austin #1 on Best Big Cities for Jobs. (2012)
  
• Forbes ranked Austin #8 among Cities Where a Paycheck Stretches the Furthest. (2012)
  
• Rent.com named Austin the 10th Best City for College Grads. (2012)
  
• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Austin is the #1 Best City for Job Growth (June 2009)
• The Brookings Institute ranks Austin #1 in the U.S. and #26 in the World for Jobs and Income Growth During the Current Economic Recovery (December 2010)
• Austin is the #1 Best City for Young Professionals (Austin Business Journal, March 2010)
• Forbes named Austin the #3 Best Job Market in America in 2011

3.      BUSINESS

• Austin has the Healthiest Small Business Climate in the South, according to On Numbers. (2010-2012.)
  
• CNBC named Texas the #1 Best State for Business in 2011.
• ForbesWoman ranked Austin #18 on Best U.S. Cities for Working Mothers in 2011
• Austin is ranked #1 Best City for a Career by Women & Co. (May 2009)
• Named #3 Most Innovative U.S. Cities by the Wall Street Journal (October 2005)
• Forbes said Austin is #8 Best Places for Business and Careers. (March 2009)
• Austin is a Top Manufacturing City, according to Manufacturer News (December 2010)
• Austin's airport is #3 Best Performing Airport in U.S (Airports Council International, March 2009)

4.      CULTURE

• GrubHub Inc. ranked Austin #6 on the 10 Most Vegetarian-Friendly Cities. (2012)
• Austin is #13 on Travel + Leisure Magazine's list of America's Best Burger Cities 2012.
  
• U.S. News named Austin #5 on "America's Best BBQ Cities." (2012)
  
• Hotels.com in conjunction with renowned chef Richard Sandoval named Austin a Top Foodie City. (2012)
  
• Daily Beast ranked Austin #4 on "Best Cities to Find a Date in 2012."
  
• CBS Moneywatch included Austin on its list of 10 Best Places to Retire. (2012)
• MapMyFitness LLC named Austin the 9th Fittest Large City. (2012)
  
• Forbes named Austin one of the 10 Best U.S. Cities for a Weekend Vacation. (October 2011)
• National Geographic Adventure named Austin the #1 Adventure town in their list of 50 Best Places to Live & Play. (September 2007)
• Austin ranked 2nd out of Top 10 U.S. Big Cities by Money.cnn.com. (June 2006)
• Hispanic Magazine calls Austin the 2nd Best Place to Live in America. (August 2008)
• Forbes names Austin 5th Best City in America for Couples. (February 2008)
• According to Kiplinger's, Austin ranks among the Top 5 Smart Places to Live. (June 2006)
• Austin: One of the Top 8 Sensational Places for Foodies. (Where to Retire Magazine, May/June 2009)
• PETA places Austin at #8 Vegetarian/Vegan-Friendly Large Cities. (April 2006)
• MSN Travel featured Austin as one of the 15 Coolest North American Cities. (January 2009)
• Austin made Forbes' list of Best Places for Singles for its nightlife, culture and low cost of living. (February 2008)
• Austin named one of the 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live by Gregory A. Kompes. (December 2005)

5.      NATURE

• Austin named Best City for the Outdoors (Forbes, February 2009)
• In 2010, The Greenguide ranked Austin #2 Green City in US
• Ranked #6 of U.S. Cities to Integrate Renewable Energy Sources such as solar, wind and hydroelectricity into daily life, according to SustainLane.com (April 2007)
• Austin: #8 of America's Cleanest Cities by Reader's Digest (July 2005)
• According to The Mother Nature Network, Austin is among the Top 10 Greenest Cities in the U.S. (July 2010)
• Austin is one of the Top 10 Cities to Be a Dog, according to Dog Fancy magazine (November 2005)

6.      FAMILY

• Austin is the #1 Best City for a Fresh Start (Relocation.com, May 2009)
• Parenting Magazine ranked Austin 2nd Best City for Families in 2011
• It is the 4th Safest City in America, according to Travel and Leisure (February 2010)
• Five of the Best Elementary Schools in the U.S. are located in Austin (Great schools.org, 2011)
• The U.S. Census Bureau named Austin the 5th Most Educated City in the U.S. with 45.1% of the population having a college degree or higher.
• Austin is the Best College Town (Travel Channel, 2010)
• ABC News ranked Austin as the #1 Retirement Hot Spot in the Nation. (2011)
• Austin has Seven of the Best High Schools in the US. (Newsweek Magazine, 2011)
• Natural Home Magazine ranks Austin #2 of America's Top Ten Eco-friendly Communities, featuring walkability, green planning and outdoor orientation (January/February 2007)

7.      SHOPPING

• Lucky Magazine named Austin #12 on its list of the 25 Best Cities for Shopping. (2012)
  
• Forbes ranks Austin 12th best city for Shopping. (Forbes, December 2010)
• Austin is the #1 Best Bargain City in U.S. (Forbes, May 2009)
• Austin is a Top Retail City in U.S. (Pitney Bowes Business Insight, May 2009)

8.      ART

• In 1992, Austin was knighted Live Music Capital of the World, because it has more live music venues per capita than anywhere else in the nation. (Austin Visitors Bureau, 2011).
• Austin City Limits Festival was named Festival of the Year by Pollstar (February 2006)
• Austin is the #1 City in America to Live and Make Movies, due to industry infrastructure and a "film friendly" attitude (MovieMaker Magazine, January 2008)
• AmericanStyle magazine ranks Austin #15 Top Art Destinations in the Country (April 2009)

9.      HEALTH

• Forbes names Austin Least Stressful City to Live In out of 40 metro areas (August, 2009)
• CNN and Golf Magazine called Austin The Best Golf City in America in 2010
• Men's Journal ranks Austin #2 of America's Heart Healthy Cities (August 2006)
• #2 in the Best Cities for Walking according to Prevention Magazine (March 2007)
• Austin ranked #2 Most Energetic Cities (Sperling's, 2011)
• The American College of Sports Medicine named Austin #10 Fittest City in U.S. (May 2009)
• Ranks 11th of 25 Best Running Cities in America according to Runner's World (July 2005)
• Austin made Cooking Light's Top 20 Healthiest Cities in America list, judged on nutrition, physical health and holistic well-being (January/February 2007)