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I dont agree with the people that say the heat is oppressive in Austin and that there isnt as much to do outdoors. It's simply not true unless you just hate the warmth but I happen to love it. I was use to the heat by the second summer here and there are so many water related outdoor things to do here that summer has become my favorite time of year. There is plenty of scenery in and around Austin. You just have to realize that you are in Texas, the terrain is different but it has it's own beauty. Dont get upset when you dont see mountains, it's Texas! There is a way of life here and a mentality that is unlike anywhere else, ive lived all over the country and I think Texas (Austin) makes for a great life. You just have to have the right attitude. It sounds like you can afford to live in either state so like others have said best thing to do is visit both. You will either fall in love with Austin or find that Portland is more your cup of tea.
Very nice posts. I moved to Austin from Portland earlier this year and
here are some of the things I feel deserve comparison:
1) Jobs and Career: Austin wins hands down, many companies to
choose from, vibrant and growing economy and a top-ranked
university in town, in case you want to pursue a degree on the side.
The only university of International repute in the PNW is UW in Seattle,
and the job market in Portland is BAD.
2) Real estate and taxes: Oregon has a high state income tax,
no sales tax and a low property tax. In other words, the system is
designed to take low income and middle class people and allow them
to buy things of daily necessity tax-free and allow them to afford a
home. The rich pay more tax, life is more affordable for the poor and
middle class. Texas has no income tax, a reasonably high sales tax and
an atrociously high property tax. The tax code was written by
Mr. Robbing Hood (evil twin of another famous guy) to rob the poor and
pay the rich. Guess which parties have been in power in both states
for quite some time?
3) Scenery, Travel and Landscape: Oregon wins hands down. The
most beautiful mountains on the planet, and a very pretty coastline
dotted with beaches. On a weekend, you can drive to either in a couple
of hours. Drive north to Seattle in three hours, Vancouver, BC in six.
Two of the prettiest cities on earth. San Francisco is also doable
by road and the interstate that takes you to these places is nicely
built with no potholes. Texas is big, which makes it difficult to go
on road trips. Dallas and Houston are flat, and mostly urban sprawl.
Texas beaches are low-end, dirty and mountains do not exist.
Austin has very few direct flights to anywhere in case you want to fly.
4) Food: Restaurants in Austin are better in terms of the quality
of cooking. The "laid back" attitude means that people like their food
well cooked. A good reason to move here. The variety of cuisine can
be restrictive, every other place seems to be barbecue and tex/mex.
Microbreweries, wine and organic seem to be present in Austin, but
Portland has more. Portland has a good visual arts community and
much Jazz. Austin has more live music.
5) Weather: Austin is very hot in Summer, but way better than other
places in Texas. Portland weather can get depressing in winter.
Take your pick, I would lean on the side of Austin.
6) People and Attitudes: Portland has very friendly and open people.
Any kind of prejudice (racial, sexual, political) is hard to come by. Austin is
called liberal for Texas, but on an absolute scale, it is still conservative
for an outsider. Apparently, there is a restaurant on the east side where
black and white people eat on separate sides. Portland is environmentally
conscious, recycling and public transport are big. Austin has many SUVs,
hummers and trucks and recycling is more prevalent in the metro and
you may not find any in the suburbs. If you drive an hour out of Portland
and find a restaurant to eat, you might be greeted by a hippie couple
advising you on the benefits of organic food. In Austin, you will probably
find a steak and potatoes place. Portland has many religions and not
many people seem to be wearing their religion on their sleeves. In Austin,
you will still find people approaching you solely to get you to go to their
church. Please note that these are my observations and I am not being
judgmental, every place has a culture and you have to pick the one
you like.
7) Traffic and Drivers: Portland has less traffic, planned highways, a
functional public transportation system and very courteous drivers.
Austin has none of the above.
In summary, I would move back to Portland if the job market was better
and the weather was not so bad in winter. If you are looking for a liberal,
cultured place that has good job opportunities and weather, just go to
California. To make a confession, I might do so very soon.
Very nice posts. I moved to Austin from Portland earlier this year and
here are some of the things I feel deserve comparison:
1) Jobs and Career: Austin wins hands down, many companies to
choose from, vibrant and growing economy and a top-ranked
university in town, in case you want to pursue a degree on the side.
The only university of International repute in the PNW is UW in Seattle,
and the job market in Portland is BAD.
2) Real estate and taxes: Oregon has a high state income tax,
no sales tax and a low property tax. In other words, the system is
designed to take low income and middle class people and allow them
to buy things of daily necessity tax-free and allow them to afford a
home. The rich pay more tax, life is more affordable for the poor and
middle class. Texas has no income tax, a reasonably high sales tax and
an atrociously high property tax. The tax code was written by
Mr. Robbing Hood (evil twin of another famous guy) to rob the poor and
pay the rich. Guess which parties have been in power in both states
for quite some time?
3) Scenery, Travel and Landscape: Oregon wins hands down. The
most beautiful mountains on the planet, and a very pretty coastline
dotted with beaches. On a weekend, you can drive to either in a couple
of hours. Drive north to Seattle in three hours, Vancouver, BC in six.
Two of the prettiest cities on earth. San Francisco is also doable
by road and the interstate that takes you to these places is nicely
built with no potholes. Texas is big, which makes it difficult to go
on road trips. Dallas and Houston are flat, and mostly urban sprawl.
Texas beaches are low-end, dirty and mountains do not exist.
Austin has very few direct flights to anywhere in case you want to fly.
4) Food: Restaurants in Austin are better in terms of the quality
of cooking. The "laid back" attitude means that people like their food
well cooked. A good reason to move here. The variety of cuisine can
be restrictive, every other place seems to be barbecue and tex/mex.
Microbreweries, wine and organic seem to be present in Austin, but
Portland has more. Portland has a good visual arts community and
much Jazz. Austin has more live music.
5) Weather: Austin is very hot in Summer, but way better than other
places in Texas. Portland weather can get depressing in winter.
Take your pick, I would lean on the side of Austin.
6) People and Attitudes: Portland has very friendly and open people.
Any kind of prejudice (racial, sexual, political) is hard to come by. Austin is
called liberal for Texas, but on an absolute scale, it is still conservative
for an outsider. Apparently, there is a restaurant on the east side where
black and white people eat on separate sides. Portland is environmentally
conscious, recycling and public transport are big. Austin has many SUVs,
hummers and trucks and recycling is more prevalent in the metro and
you may not find any in the suburbs. If you drive an hour out of Portland
and find a restaurant to eat, you might be greeted by a hippie couple
advising you on the benefits of organic food. In Austin, you will probably
find a steak and potatoes place. Portland has many religions and not
many people seem to be wearing their religion on their sleeves. In Austin,
you will still find people approaching you solely to get you to go to their
church. Please note that these are my observations and I am not being
judgmental, every place has a culture and you have to pick the one
you like.
7) Traffic and Drivers: Portland has less traffic, planned highways, a
functional public transportation system and very courteous drivers.
Austin has none of the above.
In summary, I would move back to Portland if the job market was better
and the weather was not so bad in winter. If you are looking for a liberal,
cultured place that has good job opportunities and weather, just go to
California. To make a confession, I might do so very soon.
Have you ever lived in California?? The job market does not support the cost of housing. If you want to pay over 1/2 million $$ for a 1600 SF home inland, and can put up with illegals living in the hills behind your house, that's CA.
I could go on....
Have you ever lived in California?? The job market does not support the cost of housing. If you want to pay over 1/2 million $$ for a 1600 SF home inland, and can put up with illegals living in the hills behind your house, that's CA.
I could go on....
This is a good discussion to have, perhaps in a separate thread? I too could
go on and on.
California is definitely more expensive, but you can also make a lot more
money in startups (in the high-tech field), because the culture supports
new ideas in business. In Austin, money buys you more, but
you have to ask yourself if you really need a Mcmansion with a 3-car
garage and four SUVs parked in the driveway. I came to the conclusion
that I don't. Before coming to Texas, I had no idea that a couple with
two cats need a 5 bedroom, 4000 sq. ft. house as a basic necessity,
but believe me when I say that I have met a few such people in Austin.
I don't know if there is a hill in the back with illegals, but
I guess I will miss the 0.5 acre backyard in which I could have played
football on weekends!
I guess, we all have expectations on what we really want to have in life,
and in Texas, these expectations seem to be a bit on the bigger side.
This probably explains the urban sprawl we all love to hate.
Boy do I have to agree on that one. And it really surprises me when I watch "House Hunters" and a couple with no kids and no pets needs a 4,000 sq. ft. home with 4 car garage, massive kitchen. I guess if you never want to see your spouse, thats a good idea
Thanks very much for all the thoughts. We decided to look at several cities now besides Portland, just so whatever decision we finally make, it's not made in isolation. Thanks again!
Very nice posts. I moved to Austin from Portland earlier this year and
here are some of the things I feel deserve comparison:
1) Jobs and Career: Austin wins hands down, many companies to
choose from, vibrant and growing economy and a top-ranked
university in town, in case you want to pursue a degree on the side.
The only university of International repute in the PNW is UW in Seattle,
and the job market in Portland is BAD.
2) Real estate and taxes: Oregon has a high state income tax,
no sales tax and a low property tax. In other words, the system is
designed to take low income and middle class people and allow them
to buy things of daily necessity tax-free and allow them to afford a
home. The rich pay more tax, life is more affordable for the poor and
middle class. Texas has no income tax, a reasonably high sales tax and
an atrociously high property tax. The tax code was written by
Mr. Robbing Hood (evil twin of another famous guy) to rob the poor and
pay the rich. Guess which parties have been in power in both states
for quite some time?
3) Scenery, Travel and Landscape: Oregon wins hands down. The
most beautiful mountains on the planet, and a very pretty coastline
dotted with beaches. On a weekend, you can drive to either in a couple
of hours. Drive north to Seattle in three hours, Vancouver, BC in six.
Two of the prettiest cities on earth. San Francisco is also doable
by road and the interstate that takes you to these places is nicely
built with no potholes. Texas is big, which makes it difficult to go
on road trips. Dallas and Houston are flat, and mostly urban sprawl.
Texas beaches are low-end, dirty and mountains do not exist.
Austin has very few direct flights to anywhere in case you want to fly.
4) Food: Restaurants in Austin are better in terms of the quality
of cooking. The "laid back" attitude means that people like their food
well cooked. A good reason to move here. The variety of cuisine can
be restrictive, every other place seems to be barbecue and tex/mex.
Microbreweries, wine and organic seem to be present in Austin, but
Portland has more. Portland has a good visual arts community and
much Jazz. Austin has more live music.
5) Weather: Austin is very hot in Summer, but way better than other
places in Texas. Portland weather can get depressing in winter.
Take your pick, I would lean on the side of Austin.
6) People and Attitudes: Portland has very friendly and open people.
Any kind of prejudice (racial, sexual, political) is hard to come by. Austin is
called liberal for Texas, but on an absolute scale, it is still conservative
for an outsider. Apparently, there is a restaurant on the east side where
black and white people eat on separate sides. Portland is environmentally
conscious, recycling and public transport are big. Austin has many SUVs,
hummers and trucks and recycling is more prevalent in the metro and
you may not find any in the suburbs. If you drive an hour out of Portland
and find a restaurant to eat, you might be greeted by a hippie couple
advising you on the benefits of organic food. In Austin, you will probably
find a steak and potatoes place. Portland has many religions and not
many people seem to be wearing their religion on their sleeves. In Austin,
you will still find people approaching you solely to get you to go to their
church. Please note that these are my observations and I am not being
judgmental, every place has a culture and you have to pick the one
you like.
7) Traffic and Drivers: Portland has less traffic, planned highways, a
functional public transportation system and very courteous drivers.
Austin has none of the above.
In summary, I would move back to Portland if the job market was better
and the weather was not so bad in winter. If you are looking for a liberal,
cultured place that has good job opportunities and weather, just go to
California. To make a confession, I might do so very soon.
Spot on. I grew up in Austin, go back there monthly for elderly parents, and spent the last 12 years in Oregon, leaving last year for a better job and less rain in NC (mistake, by the way.). You've nailed the comparisons perfectly.
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And it really surprises me when I watch "House Hunters" and a couple with no kids and no pets needs a 4,000 sq. ft. home with 4 car garage, massive kitchen. I guess if you never want to see your spouse, thats a good idea 
