Phoenix vs. Austin

[jwb123]

We moved here from the Bothell/Mill Creek area last October, for basically the same reasons you sited, and we would include that it's almost impossible to live on one income (I stay home with the kids) in the NW.

Do compare TOTAL cost of housing. Texas has some of the highest property taxes, insurance rates, and untility costs in the country.

100% agree. We didn't do this. The taxes are a killer. HOWEVER, the "quality of life" here (We are in Round Rock) far outweighs the negative in the high tax cost.

but if you are looking to really reduce your mortgage payment, Austin is a better choice.

I still think Austin is the better choice, but I am not seeing a reduction in mortgage, over that in WA due to the issues cdelena brought up, above.

I don't find my utility bills to be alarmingly high yet, however, we haven't been here through the hottest hot of the summer - AND our utilities were out of Snohomish PUD back in WA - and PUD in WA translates to "Way too much money".

My husband is in the tech industry too, software design engineer - in test, now a test lead, and he had to take about a 15% paycut. Though, with the all over cost of living decrease (I saw gas for $1.99 today!) it hasn't been too much of an impact for us.

All and all, we made the right move for us.

[jwb123]

But, then I also noticed there is no State Income Tax.

but there isn't in WA either?

Personally, coming from Seattle - I couldn't stand to be landlocked like Pheonix is. Isn't it?

I believe we are 3 hours from the beach, here in Central Texas - aren't we?

[OnTheMoveGuy]

Originally Posted by cdelena

2005 stats show Texas as #12 highest residential electricity rates out of the 50 states, while Arizona is #23. Texas is #1 with highest average insurance rates while I don't see Arizona in the top 10 ranking. Schools vary greatly by area with better test results usually following better economics... both Texas and Arizona have relatively low state expenditures per student when viewed nation wide.

I have done my own research between the two areas and both are very equivelent. Car insurance is the same. Housing prices today are about the same. Electric here in PHX is very high! 1500sf home and summer it is almost $300 a month! 2 people in home and temp kept at 78-80.

Austin's elec might be more, but I don't see it getting to be more than Phx.

I think it is really up to what you like. Desert or lots of green. I will say that Austin has more flying bugs than Phoenix does. I can't stand bugs period. In Austin, in the summer, you can take a shower, get all dried off and walk outside and stand there for 5 minutes and you will be in a sweat bath feeling like you never dried off due to the humidity.

Austin has twisty winding roads and you will need a GPS to get around. Phoenix is on a grid. Everything is squared off making it very easy to find places.

Phoenix is almost always sunny. Austin is not. It can be cloudy for many days in a row producing a downer feeling.

Both states are border states though Texas borders are more open to letting everyone and anyone cross through!! So there you will find more deversity if that is what you want. On the other hand, if you're Mexican, either place will welcome you. I know Phoenix has more of the Mexican population than any other race.

Good luck in where ever you decide to move to!

[gdu]

Originally Posted by Phoenix vs. Austin

Hello. My wife and I are considering moving to either Phoenix or Austin. We currently live in Seattle. I'm a software engineer and my wife is finishing up law school. We have no children yet, but we're planning a family in the near future. The reason we're leaving Seattle is the miserable combination of the weather, home prices, and 45+ minute commute. The things we do love about Seattle is the vibrant city, culture, restaurants, and beautiful outdoor picturesque setting. We currently live in a suburb and deal with a long, disconnecting commute.

We're considering Phoenix and Austin because of the weather, cost of living, and strong job markets. We're looking for advice from people with personal experience of living in these two cities and why you would choose one verses the other. We understand there's lots of +/- of each city and both cities look appealing to us on paper. At this point, we're undecided 50/50 on either location.

Thank you in advance for any help.

I hope your wife plans on starting her own legal practice. If not, good luck getting hired without a degree from UT in this legal market. best of luck!

[woodinvilleguy]

Originally Posted by gdu

I hope your wife plans on starting her own legal practice. If not, good luck getting hired without a degree from UT in this legal market. best of luck!

sigh, I'm so sick of hearing this same stuff. I can point to a large percentage of people that I know hear that do not have UT degrees and actually have professional jobs. Real professional companies do not have the UT bias that people keep talking about.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by cdelena

Do compare TOTAL cost of housing. Texas has some of the highest property taxes, insurance rates, and untility costs in the country.

I agree you need to consider the whole picture, but you left out Texas has no State income tax, Arizona does. And Austin has lower utility rates then most of the rest of the state.

Phoenix was at the center of the real estate bubble, its economy has been devastated and the recovery is projected to be long,slow and drawn out.

I lived in Phoenix for a while and hated it, its dry, barren, brown and where do can find landscaping its all artificial and man made. Austin by contrast is lush, natural and green.

The Gulf Coast is 4 hours away realistically. We can make it from South Austin to Rockport on Aransas Bay in 3.5 hours typically.

You can drive from Phoenix to Puerto Penasco, mexico, on the baja gulf in about 3 to 3.5 hours.

[gdu]

Originally Posted by woodinvilleguy

sigh, I'm so sick of hearing this same stuff. I can point to a large percentage of people that I know hear that do not have UT degrees and actually have professional jobs. Real professional companies do not have the UT bias that people keep talking about.

Sorry if I wasn't specific enough. I am talking about attorney positions in Austin in 2009.

[Schmeckel]

Originally Posted by gigi927

It's Austin, hands down, for the following reasons:

1. Real estate: real estate is significantly cheaper in Austin. about 60 cents on the dollar compared to the nice parts of Phoenix/suburbs. Phoenix may seem cheaper coming from Seattle, but if you are looking to really reduce your mortgage payment, Austin is a better choice.

2. Weather: I think weather is better in Austin, but you have to like a little bit of a change of seasons. While it's humid here, it's nothing compared to other parts of the country, and there's nothing worse than a Phoenix summer where it's miserable to go out any time of day or night for 3 to 4 months. We get 30 inches of rain here a year, Phoenix gets 9 if they're lucky....something to think about coming from Seattle

3. Downtown: Austin has a downtown that is vibrant, is a destination, has great restaurants and nightlife, not to mention cool tourist sites (the capitol, etc.) Phoenix is really more of a town of suburbs. if you like going into a downtown type of area, austin is your best bet.

4. Dining: I think it's much better in Austin, and we're foodies from San Francisco. Even the dives are better!

5. Outdoor recreation: I posted on another thread about this - if you are an urban athlete, Austin's more of the place for you. Great jogging trails, Lake Travis, lots of biking, lots of places with tennis and actually some reasonably priced golf courses. If you are more of a 3 day hiker/camper type, Arizona is a better place.

6. Vibe: I like the vibe better in Austin - I find a lot of Phoenix to be very much like southern California - there is an emphasis on what car you drive, how blond your hair is, body image, etc. Austin is much more of a "come as you are" kind of place (hope it stays that way!).

7. Schools - we have found overall the public schools to be of a much higher quality here in Austin than in Phoenix. I have a special needs child and we have been incredibly impressed with the resources here. We had great services in Phoenix, but Austin has blown Phoenix away so far.


After living here for several months, I wish we had made the move sooner than we did. I would suggest you read in DETAIL all of the posts in both the Phoenix and Austin forums. There are no heated debates about why Austin sucks or why it doesn't, but you'll find quite a few of them in the Phoenix forum. Good luck with your decisions and let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you!

Yeah, but we got the mountains and Sheriff Joe!

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by woodinvilleguy
sigh, I'm so sick of hearing this same stuff. I can point to a large percentage of people that I know hear that do not have UT degrees and actually have professional jobs. Real professional companies do not have the UT bias that people keep talking about.

Originally Posted by gdu

Sorry if I wasn't specific enough. I am talking about attorney positions in Austin in 2009.

You don't consider attorney positions to be professional jobs?

I know of a considerable number of attorneys in Austin who did not go to UT. I do not believe there is a bias. It is simply hard to get a job in Austin fresh out of law school because the school produces far more graduates every year then the community can absorb.

[Austin Newby]

I spent almost 10 years in Phoenix and have been in the Austin area since July 2005.

Things I miss about Phoenix:

1) freeways and roads. It's easy to get around there.
2) grocery stores and drug stores on every corner (a lot less driving) and more competition
3) driving distance to mountains and snow but really mild winters
4) more job opportunities (for me through my current employer)
5) cheap property taxes
6) cheap homeowners insurance
7) no bad weather

Things I love about Austin:

1) more family stuff to do-- lots of musics/festivals/day trips-- huge plus for me
2) the lakes and scenery
3) people are friendly; not pretentious
4) close to the beach
5) great access to many good colleges (in-state tuition!!!)
6) a little humidity is good for the skin.

I have to say, if I have to move back to Phoenix to keep my job (or if my hubby is offered a job there), we wouldn't be too devastated with that move. We like both places; they are both different but honestly we were equally as happy in Phoenix as we are here in Austin.