Can't decide Austin or El Paso - PLEASE HELP!! (Houston: median income, to live)

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by pfc

Thanks for all the replies! I'm not too worried about the summers, since I've lived in Florida for 4 years. I've heard about the bad traffic as well. Mistabinks I completely agree with you, I know that 30% will go a long way. I also like to travel a lot, so I guess being in Austin I would be better connected to flights. The problem is deep inside I really want to be in Austin, but am having a hard time talking myself out of the extra cash in El Paso.

For a capital city, Austin Bergstrom has truly lousy connections, and I'd pick El Paso's airport over it any day. Even much smaller Midland International with only 3-4 carriers is a much better airport than Austin's. I have never been able to figure out why Bergstrom isn't any better than it is, considering where it is. Austin has a lot of great things about it, but the airport (from my experience in the past) isn't one of them. I haven't flown in a few years, and it may have improved since then, but at that time, I would have picked either of the other two (Midland or El Paso) over Bergstrom. It's really a personal bias on my part--I have just never really liked Bergstrom.

If you really want to be in Austin, though, I guess therein lies your answer....money notwithstanding.

I love both areas, and each has something to offer that the other does not.

[El Passeaux]

I spent 3 years in El Paso and loved it. I grew up in the northeast. If you dont mind driving 8-12 hours you can get to a lot of cities from El Paso. Albuquerque 4 hrs, Denver 9, Phoenix 6, San Diego 10, Vegas 11, LA 12, Dallas 10, Houston 12, San Antonio 8.

[Smooth from ELP]

I have lived in Austin close to 10 years now. As much I love El Paso (my hometown) I believe that you will have more jobs to choose from in Austin if the current one goes bad for you. I dont know what you do but it is rare to get a high paying job (thank you Paso Del Norte Group...you band of slumlords) in El Paso.

If the weather and the traffic does not bother you then I highly recommend Austin.

[pfc]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

For a capital city, Austin Bergstrom has truly lousy connections, and I'd pick El Paso's airport over it any day. Even much smaller Midland International with only 3-4 carriers is a much better airport than Austin's. I have never been able to figure out why Bergstrom isn't any better than it is, considering where it is. Austin has a lot of great things about it, but the airport (from my experience in the past) isn't one of them. I haven't flown in a few years, and it may have improved since then, but at that time, I would have picked either of the other two (Midland or El Paso) over Bergstrom. It's really a personal bias on my part--I have just never really liked Bergstrom.

If you really want to be in Austin, though, I guess therein lies your answer....money notwithstanding.

I love both areas, and each has something to offer that the other does not.

Cathy thanks for your reply. I don't know about the airports... I looked up a list of direct flights from Austin
Austin-Bergstrom Nonstop Service From Austin

and from El Paso
Non-stop flights from El Paso TX ELP, direct flights from El Paso TX

and it according to these there's about 3 times more direct flights out of Austin than out of El Paso

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by pfc

Cathy thanks for your reply. I don't know about the airports... I looked up a list of direct flights from Austin
Austin-Bergstrom Nonstop Service From Austin

and from El Paso
Non-stop flights from El Paso TX ELP, direct flights from El Paso TX

and it according to these there's about 3 times more direct flights out of Austin than out of El Paso

Then Bergstrom has improved over the last few years.

It also depends on where you want to fly, too. Anyway, good luck in making whatever decision--the cities are so very different from each other, especially weather-wise.

[OA 5599]

Go where you will be happier. What good will the extra money be if you aren't happy? You said both offers are high-paying. so it is not like you would be living in poverty in Austin. Chances are you know the answer to your question already.

[pfc]

Originally Posted by OA 5599

Go where you will be happier. What good will the extra money be if you aren't happy? You said both offers are high-paying. so it is not like you would be living in poverty in Austin. Chances are you know the answer to your question already.

I think you hit it right in the nail... Thanks!

[pfc]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

Then Bergstrom has improved over the last few years.

It also depends on where you want to fly, too. Anyway, good luck in making whatever decision--the cities are so very different from each other, especially weather-wise.

Cathy what's so different about the weather? EP is dryer while Austin is more humid?

thanks!

[malamute]

Originally Posted by pfc

Malamute thanks for you reply. What's the main difference in weather between El Paso and Austin. Is El Paso dryer during the summers?

El Paso is much less humid in the summers. If you like being outdoors a lot year round, I think El Paso beats just about everywhere. Not too hot in the summer, not too cold in the winter -- a very short winter but still some winter for those who like 4 seasons.

I think in Austin you would have to have refrigerated air conditioning which makes for a big electric bill plus I think those are very uncomfortable. When it's 95 degrees in Austin, it would feel like 105 because of the humidity, but when it's 95 degrees in El Paso it would feel like 85 degrees in other places with moderate humidity.

I don't use air conditioners because to me the breezes, open windows and ceiling fans make it comfortable enough in the summer and many people use the swamp coolers which lower the temperature a little and add humidity which sometimes helps when it's scorching dry.

El Paso isn't really a rat race kind of city, it's laid back. One thing I think that helps El Paso is that there aren't any vast areas where it's nothing but buildings after buildings - except a bit in the East side. Much of El Paso is just strips of city wrapped around the mountain and you can see empty space.

The only thing is if you like it green and need to be around many lakes, then Austin would be better.

[martinRod]

Originally Posted by pfc

My wife and I will be moving to either one of these 2 cities soon. We are in our early thirties, no kids yet. (but planning on it very soon). We have high paying job offers in both cities, but significantly more in El Paso (30-40% more). We have been to both cities and while El Paso seemed like a decent city, we fell in love with Austin and everything it has to offer (music, sports, lakes, etc). Would you sacrifice extra-income to live in Austin?

My dear friend, I live here in El Paso, when I move out of here back to the North, I am not going to look back. I have a good job here but it doesn't weight out all this people that drives like crazy, do not have insurance, they think they are better than the rest of americans and great mayority has some kind of entanglement with law enforcement or such.
Is suppose to be the 4th poorest city in the US but can you explain me how come everybody carries hundreds of dollars in their pockets?
regards,
m
If i was you, i will go to Austin, I've been there, love the city.