Austin’s STILL Better Than [Your City]
This week, I was razzed by San Diego for touting Austin as the best city on the planet. But why shouldn’t I? Almost every magazine this year has awarded Austin the best of whatever list they are running. Now, even Entrepreneur Magazine has taken note of Austin as the “Best Place to Buy a Home” in America due to stable housing prices and consistent job growth.
I know, I know, you’re tired of hearing how awesome Austin is and you’re probably oozing jealousy, but what does this particular nod mean? Entrepreneur took note of Austin *AND* the surrounding areas by including Killeen. Call me crazy, but I didn’t know that Killeen had that lowest average home price in the nation nor did I consider it a part of Austin! Killeen is a bit outside of Austin but I guess you could consider it Austin, would you? Killeen is a great alternative to Austin if you want to be within an hour of the Live Music Capital of the World but you want a more small-town country lifestyle or a military environment (due to its sister city Fort Hood). There is still a lot of land left, they are not landlocked, retail developments are popping up in the IH-35 corridor, and the population is very diverse.
Best Places to Buy a Home:
1. Austin-Round Rock-Killeen, TX
2. Mission Viejo, CA
3. Palm Beach, FL
4. Las Vegas, NVWorst Places to Buy a Home:
1. Detroit, MI
2. Miami, FL
3. Riverside/San Bernadino, CA
Is your city on this list? If you made the “worst of” list, what positive can you see in making this list?
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photo credit: Julian Humphries
February 3rd, 2008 at 7:18 pm
I lived in Killeen as a young child.
There’s a reason they have the lowest average home price in the nation…
February 3rd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Haha well, it’s a growing little place, you should come back and visit! I do think it’s strange to call it part of the Austin MSA though….
February 3rd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
I’m a little baffled at the best buy list. Las Vegas? Mission Viejo? I’m not tracking.
Austin I get.
February 4th, 2008 at 2:00 am
I’m not going to lie, the list was odd to me too, especially the worst places (minus Detroit).
I love these lists because no matter what, they favor Austin, but “buying a home” lists are so subjective- what are you using the home for? A homestead? A vacation home? A short term investment? A long term portfolio pad?
Whatev, Austin still rocks! OH, and hey California, take a page from Jeff- your money is green in Austin too!
February 4th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Lani - I have spent a lot of time in both Austin and San Diego. While Austin is the best town in Texas, it does not come close to San Diego in the weather, location, recreation and beach department. Outside of Texas residents, I believe 99% of the people in the remaining 49 states, much less the world would rather live in San Diego than Austin. Again, not taking anything away from Austin (it’s a cool city) that is definately more affordable than San Diego, yet to call it the best city on the planet…you better start traveling a little more Lani.
As for UT football team, never has a team with so much talent under performed for so long a period. Mac Brown can bring in the talent like no other, however his teams have a long history of under performing. In UT national championship year…thank God they had Vince Young. What a player…he may be the best player I’ve ever seen in college with an ability to take over a game! Take away a once in a decade player and you have another 9-3 season that year too. But what a thing of beauty watching Vince Young pick apart USC.
Austin = Very cool city, best in Texas but not the world or even the USA!
Ok Lani…shoot away!
February 4th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Oh Tony, you sure know how to piss in a girl’s cheerios on a Monday morning don’t you? Okay, let’s do this!!
(1) Travel more? I’ve lived in Salamanca, Spain, Austin & Dallas, as well as Monterrey, Mexico, traveled to Madrid, Ibiza, Toledo (Spain), Portugal, Paris, London, New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, West Virginia, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, California (Del Mar), Nevada, Colorado, Illinois, Virginia, Mexico City, Cancun, St. Kits, St. Martin, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Thomas (Dutch side & French side), and Grandada. That said, I agree with you that Austin isn’t the best place on the planet- St. Thomas French side is, NOT not not not not San Diego! Austin is 2nd in the world only to St. Thomas island.
(2)I can’t argue your second paragraph… Can’t wait for Applewhite to be the head coach- MOVE ON, MAC!
(3) Austin OR Texas isn’t the best? Dude, you’re about to see the hulk part of my personality come out- take it back!
Thanks for popping in, Tony- haven’t “seen” you in a while!
February 4th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I was hoping to rifle a few lone star feathers!
Sounds like you have been to some cool places…did you study abroad? Have family in Spain.
Boulder, CO. BLOWS away Austin as a college town!!!! (Notice I didn’t say football…except for 2002 Big XII champship game which Major Applewhite was the QB).
Wow, a green Lani…I have to see that!
Lani, as always, I love reading your blog posts. Keep up the spit and fire!!!!
P.S. Throw away those pissy cheerios.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:13 am
As a former Killeenite and current Austinite - Killeen is NOT a part of Austin, more Waco than Austin. But it’s not that odd they did that. But I agree with one statement, there is a REASON that house prices are so low there.
I can say that, I’m from there.
As for Austin being the best place in the USA. Gonna have to agree. We may not have a ton of pretty beaches, but for being a landlocked city, Austin RULES! Put Austin on the CA coastline and it would be the best city in the world. Give it a barrier reef, even better. But it’s not all that which makes it great. It’s the people. We are what makes this place great.
Okay, off soapbox.
February 4th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Austin is certainly at the top of the “easiest places for magazines get publicity with a pointless list” list.
February 4th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
@Kate- thanks for weighing in… wouldn’t it be great to take the entire population and small businesses and put them on a carribean island???
@Steve- great to be popular, huh?
February 4th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Having lived in Austin for 20+ years (and having traveled extensively) about all I can say is this:
It IS the best place to live in the US of A.
February 4th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
No one said Austin is a bad place to live, quite the opposite. But to call it the best place…well?
Notice it’s only the the Austinites who claim it’s the best city in the USA and world?
My job takes me to a lot of places throughout the country (124 planes last year) and while Austin is definately a very nice place (best place in Texas easily), most people outside the State of Texas would most likely not pick it at such. What I truly like about Texans are they are very proud of their state. Kind of like a proud parent who thinks their kid is the best.
February 4th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Interesting. My kids are the best!
Coincidence? I think not
February 4th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Jay - You too…my kids are also the best!
Gawd I love Texans (I really do)!
February 5th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
It’s not polite to brag!