Top 5 Reasons to Call Austin Home

With its laid-back personality, rich culture and trendy lifestyle, Austin presents many reasons to call it home. In fact, the city has so much to offer that it has been awarded numerous titles and has made it to the top of many lists ranking quality of life and the many different variables that make a place a good place to live. To that end, here is a look at the top 5 reasons why Austin is a great place to live.

Reason #1: Employment Opportunities

Historically, Austin has enjoyed an unemployment rate that is significantly lower than national rates and even the rest of the state. In 2010, the Capital City was ranked first in terms of job growth and wages have grown faster in Austin than in any other part of the state. In fact, the city boasted the largest median family income of all of the cities in Texas every year from 2002 through 2007. Furthermore, the Austin metro area is projected to see 2.7 million more jobs added to the area by 2025.

Reason #2: Entertainment for Everyone

Austin isn't known as “The Live Music Capital of the World” without reason. Not only is the city home to the Austin City Limits Music Festival, but it also hosts South by Southwest. The South by Southwest event includes music as well as popular film and interactive exhibits. It is for these reasons and more that the city was named “Favorite Music Destination” by readers of Budget Travel in 2010 and why it was named one of the “Best Cities for Film” by MovieMaker.

Reason #3: Beautiful Nature

In addition to boasting an active night scene filled with cultural opportunities and experiences, Austin is also home to beautiful natural surroundings Lady Bird Lake offers a number of hike-and-bike trails to enjoy, while outdoor enthusiasts love to explore Lake Travis as well as the beautiful hill country that surrounds the city. It is thanks to destinations such as these that Austin has maintained its status as one of the most “fit” cities in the country.

Reason #4: Education is Valued

Austin is known for having many educational opportunities while also being home to intelligent and creative individuals. Not only is the city home to the University of Texas, but it also boasts seven additional public and private universities. The city also has 29 public school districts, 69 private schools and 17 charter schools. With so many educational opportunities available, it is easy to see why 40 percent of those who live in the city and who are 25 years old or older have a bachelor's degree or higher. The city was also once recognized by Forbes as the second most innovative city in the United States.According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, an impressive 2,900 patents were assigned to Austin inventors between 2009 and 2010.

Reason #5: Eco-Friendly Atmosphere

Austin places a priority on creating eco-friendly buildings and programs. For this reason, the city has consistently ranked as one of the “greenest” cities in the country. This is just one of the many reasons why the city has also been regularly been listed among the cities offering the highest quality of life and why Kiplinger's Personal Finance has named Austin as the “Best City for the Next Decade.”

With all that it has to offer, it is little surprise that Austin is regularly identified as a great place for everyone to live. Not only is it consistently recognized as one of the best places to live for young adults and singles, but the city also tops the list as one of the best places to raise a family. For anyone who is interested in relocating, Austin is certainly a city worthy of consideration.