[Forbes] Top Cities for Graduates - Three Texas Cities Sweep List (best cities, cheap house)

[Kofi713]

Houston, Dallas, and Austin:

The Class of 2008 would be smart to head to Texas.

Houston, Dallas, and Austin nabbed the top three spots on our list of best cities for recent college grads. Spurred by low costs of living and booming energy and tech industries, these metro areas have a lot to offer new professionals seeking a home.

This includes high starting salaries. At $44,100, Houston's average starting salary for those with bachelor's degrees is the second-highest in the nation, behind only San Francisco, No. 10 on our list. The average starting salary in Dallas is $41,000; in Austin it's $38,700.

Article: Best Cities For Recent College Grads - Forbes.com

Slide Show: In Depth: Best Cities For Recent College Grads - Forbes.com

I'm pretty sure San Francisco and Houston don't have the same skyline .

[txgal78]

Gotta agree - low cost of living, good jobs, and tons of stuff to do!

[the_pines]

Texas is going to end up being the most powerful state in the country if the nation is still around in fifty years. I wouldn't doubt it if a couple more big cities spring up in Texas. The place is huge. Overall its going to make New York look small. It would definitely pass California in population and clout since California is not going to be able to grow much more or sustain its prices. I hope it blasts right past California in everything since Texans have shown that they have enough sense to keep prices from going way overboard.

[case44]

Originally Posted by Kofi713

Houston, Dallas, and Austin:



Article: Best Cities For Recent College Grads - Forbes.com

Slide Show: In Depth: Best Cities For Recent College Grads - Forbes.com

It's no surprise at all. I've always said that this is by design. Many folks are still moving to Texas for a lot of different reasons. We're still turning dirt, and we're still drawing plans. It's just no big surprise. And there will be so much more left to be done. It is going to be exciting.

[Kofi713]

Originally Posted by the_pines

Texas is going to end up being the most powerful state in the country if the nation is still around in fifty years. I wouldn't doubt it if a couple more big cities spring up in Texas. The place is huge. Overall its going to make New York look small. It would definitely pass California in population and clout since California is not going to be able to grow much more or sustain its prices. I hope it blasts right past California in everything since Texans have shown that they have enough sense to keep prices from going way overboard.

Texas is already number two in the nation, in terms of GDP. It now has a trillion dollar economy like California . I think it already makes New York look small, since it already has about six million more people than it .

Also, as for cities in Texas that I think could spring up with newcomers, these top my list (in this order): McAllen (basically the entire Rio Grande Valley, which is over one million already), Midland-Odessa, Tyler, Lubbock, and Longview-Marshall. Amarillo and El Paso will experience minimal growth.

Originally Posted by case44

It's no surprise at all. I've always said that this is by design. Many folks are still moving to Texas for a lot of different reasons. We're still turning dirt, and we're still drawing plans. It's just no big surprise. And there will be so much more left to be done. It is going to be exciting.

And that is why I am glad I'm young. Hopefully I get to see a lot of the results.

[sav858]

IMO Texas seems like a state that is built around cheap energy. So I think it will be interesting to see how those low density, sprawling cities react, especially considering Houston already has the most expensive commute in the nation and Dallas having the 7th most expensive. And that study was done before the recent run up in gas prices. Cheap gas allows cities to sprawl and sprawl = cheap houses, so I don't really see how the general model for growth in TX is sustainable for much longer given today's current oil prices. Also I would imagine having to cool and heat those large TX homes will not be very cheap either.

[Kofi713]

Originally Posted by sav858

IMO Texas seems like a state that is built around cheap energy. So I think it will be interesting to see how those low density, sprawling cities react, especially considering Houston already has the most expensive commute in the nation and Dallas having the 7th most expensive. And that study was done before the recent run up in gas prices. Cheap gas allows cities to sprawl and sprawl = cheap houses, so I don't really see how the general model for growth in TX is sustainable for much longer given today's current oil prices. Also I would imagine having to cool and heat those large TX homes will not be very cheap either.

Hmm..no different than California almost. Much higher gas prices and much high home prices (basically everything is more expensive).

But Texas is not built around cheap industry. Houston and Dallas are changing and adding more and more options for rail. Just last week, Houston broke ground on the first of five new light rail lines (totaling 40 miles) that will be complete by 2012. This is in addition to the rail line Houston already has.

METRO - Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Houston, Texas

Dallas is about to soon complete the Green Line, which is doubling the size of its rail system from 45 miles to about 90 miles.

DART.org - Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Austin is set to complete its rail line (28 miles) by the Fall of this year.

http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/

San Antonio is the only one that isn't doing much except some proposals (from what I remember). There is a joint Austin-San Antonio commuter rail line in the works (look up ASA Rail).

[uglyblackjohn]

As Texas grows, it will run into many of the same problems that seem to have slowed growth in California. As the demand for the more desirable areas of the state increases so will the prices. I think East-Tex and South East-Tex will have a more sustainable growth because of the accessability of water. Many people seem to move to the state out of necessity or convienience and not because it's their first choice. California will still have it's "sex-appeal" and continue to be a very important state.

[2Adam29]

Congrats to TEXAS! good to hear!

[bennyboo<3seattle<3]

yay seattle got in it still and congrats texas im proud of ye ;P