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I was just thinking about how these two towns compare.
Raleigh reminds me of Austin, but I can't put my finger on why.
They are similar in size.
Raleigh 400k city, 1.7 metro (including Durham)
Austin 760k city, 1.7 metro
Austin's skyline even resembled Raleigh before the building boom there in the past several years transformed the skyline. But I beleive Raleigh also could have skyling changing towers going up, correct me if I'm wrong there.
Both areas seem to be quickly rising up in the ranks.
I was just thinking about how these two towns compare.
Raleigh reminds me of Austin, but I can't put my finger on why.
They are similar in size.
Raleigh 400k city, 1.7 metro (including Durham)
Austin 760k city, 1.7 metro
Austin's skyline even resembled Raleigh before the building boom there in the past several years transformed the skyline. But I beleive Raleigh also could have skyling changing towers going up, correct me if I'm wrong there.
Both areas seem to be quickly rising up in the ranks.
Anyway, Any thoughts?
They are very similar. Both are college towns. Both are state capitals. Both metros have a quirky arts scene. Both are liberal cities. Both are generally large areas, but aren't the largest in the state. Both have an abundance of outdoor activities.
The biggest stand out difference is the culture. Raleigh is more Mid-Atlantic/Southeastern culture. While Austin is a mixture Southern/Southwest.
I think they are very different. Austin seems more lively. Raleigh doesn't feel like a city at all.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Austin (in some ways) feels more "city-like" than Charlotte (let alone Raleigh). University of Texas near downtown has helped Austin BIG TIME! I think UT's enrollment is close to 50,000. That's a nice boost to ANY downtown population if you ask me.
I think Austin in its feel could be similiar to Raleigh-Durham. The difference is that Raleigh-Durham is multi-modle where as Austin is the kingpin. As far as UT being downtown, NCSU is also downtown Raleigh, but NCSU is way smaller. The educational prestige I give Raleigh-Durham the nudge. Austin=one college 50k students, RDU= 3 colleges, and close to 60k students. Let's not even look at endowment. But perhaps this comparison is not bad. I do believe Austin could be more city like than Charlotte as well so it is more urban, IMO that RDU. But RDUs economic engine exists in its research at RTP and not necessarily in downtown. Austin has more CBD presence. I guess that's all I have for now. But I agree that Austin and Raleigh are similiar. Austin is bigger and more urban, Raleigh has several nodes so that should also be kept in mind.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Austin (in some ways) feels more "city-like" than Charlotte (let alone Raleigh). University of Texas near downtown has helped Austin BIG TIME! I think UT's enrollment is close to 50,000. That's a nice boost to ANY downtown population if you ask me.
Really? I never thought of Austin as being more "urban" than Charlotte. I agree about UT. I don't think place like The Drag (Guadalupe) would be what they are today without UT. Also, the campus is very urban for the most part and really, UT Campus is one of the most densely populated "neighborhoods" in Texas.
Oh and if you consider all of colleges in Austin, I believe it's somewhere around 80,000.
In addition to the similarities already mentioned, both economies are heavily dependent on technology industries. As for NCSU, it's the largest university that North Carolina has to offer. At over 30,000 students, it's even larger than UNC in Chapel Hill.
I had a temporary assignment in Texas 13 years ago and consider Raleigh my hometown. Even back when when I "lived" in Houston for 6 months, Austin was the only city in the state of Texas that I visited that "felt" familiar to me. For me, the two areas are built on very similar foundations. Culturally they are influenced by their respective states, regions and surroundings but many of the similarities are pretty striking. They each even have a signifcantly sized burb adjacent to it (Round Rock and Cary).
As for the "urbanity", just watch what happens in Raleigh in the coming few years. To imagine what will happen, carefully consider what has happened in the last few... it's an indicator.
In addition to the similarities already mentioned, both economies are heavily dependent on technology industries. As for NCSU, it's the largest university that North Carolina has to offer. At over 30,000 students, it's even larger than UNC in Chapel Hill.
I had a temporary assignment in Texas 13 years ago and consider Raleigh my hometown. Even back when when I "lived" in Houston for 6 months, Austin was the only city in the state of Texas that I visited that "felt" familiar to me. For me, the two areas are built on very similar foundations. Culturally they are influenced by their respective states, regions and surroundings but many of the similarities are pretty striking. They each even have a signifcantly sized burb adjacent to it (Round Rock and Cary).
As for the "urbanity", just watch what happens in Raleigh in the coming few years. To imagine what will happen, carefully consider what has happened in the last few... it's an indicator.
Thanks for the views, especially since oyou know both areas.
I think it is safe to say that Raleigh is definitely adding tons of residents, but IMO that still doesn't say anything about the urbanity changing. This growth could be in the suburban parts of Raleigh and in surrounding communities. Can you, as Raleigh citizen comment on this urban development. Not trying to be a smart but, but I am just wondering. I am not necessarily impressed by percentage growth because I don't think this tells the whole story. Other factors such as numerical growth and, for lack of a better term, development growth (i.e. infrastructure) is important. this is not knock on Raleigh, just trying to see evidence and data.
BTW, both of these areas are the fastest growing areas in the nation. Interesting indeed. Good comparison.
oh crap...I just wrote a really long response and accidentally deleted it while looking for a link to add to the post. It's too late now to recreate and I need to get to bed. I'll try tomorrow. In the meantime, here's at least the link I was going to paste in my response.
City of Raleigh | The Rebirth Of Downtown Raleigh (http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_306_210_0_43/http%3B/pt03/DIG_Web_Content/news/public/News-PubAff-The_Rebirth_Of_Downtown_-20080903-17104534.html - broken link)
Oh and if you consider all of colleges in Austin, I believe it's somewhere around 80,000.
I have heard that, in total, the number of college students in the Triangle area tops 100,000. This includes several smaller colleges in addition to the three major universities.
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