Thinking about relocating from NYC (Houston, Dallas: transplants, apartments, rent)
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Been living in NYC metro area since 1995. I love everything about NYC but cost of living is awful and not fan of cold weather. I'm single male gay 31 with job in Marketing. I think Houston would be more similar to NYC urban living BUT I have two good friends that live in Dallas and from research I've been doing seems Dallas has larger opportunities to meet other gay guys but I could be wrong? I don't think Austin would be my taste since not really into the Hipster scene. I lived in East Village for many years and have hung out in Williamsburg, BK so I know all about hipster culture. Besides Oaklawn and Uptown what are other good areas in Dallas to live that have urban feel with some walking or light rail access? I also love to go running so nearby jogging trail would be great. And Yes I know running is out for the summer months
I also want know about the hip areas for 30 something professionals for Houston area. Definitely not wanting to live in suburbia. Would love to get feedback from any NYC transplants. Again I know nothing will ever be NYC living but too me what's point of living there if I can't afford the city amenities. Seems both cities are better bang for money compared to NYC and would be nice to have a real size apartment.
I might have an opportunity to work remotely from my current job so interested in more about neighborhoods than being close to a job. Although I would like to know which city has more jobs in marketing in case I want try something new.
Been living in NYC metro area since 1995. I love everything about NYC but cost of living is awful and not fan of cold weather. I'm single male gay 31 with job in Marketing. I think Houston would be more similar to NYC urban living BUT I have two good friends that live in Dallas and from research I've been doing seems Dallas has larger opportunities to meet other gay guys but I could be wrong? I don't think Austin would be my taste since not really into the Hipster scene. I lived in East Village for many years and have hung out in Williamsburg, BK so I know all about hipster culture. Besides Oaklawn and Uptown what are other good areas in Dallas to live that have urban feel with some walking or light rail access? I also love to go running so nearby jogging trail would be great. And Yes I know running is out for the summer months
I also want know about the hip areas for 30 something professionals for Houston area. Definitely not wanting to live in suburbia. Would love to get feedback from any NYC transplants. Again I know nothing will ever be NYC living but too me what's point of living there if I can't afford the city amenities. Seems both cities are better bang for money compared to NYC and would be nice to have a real size apartment.
I might have an opportunity to work remotely from my current job so interested in more about neighborhoods than being close to a job. Although I would like to know which city has more jobs in marketing in case I want try something new.
Well in Austin's defense, not everyone here is a hipster. They are just plenty here lol. Anyways, have you ever checked out Montrose in Houston? Seems similar to what you are looking for.
No I haven't been to Houston yet but have been advised Montrose might be fun area. Austine101 what's your honest impression of Austin? Do lot people in their 30's and 40's live there or is it still primarily a college early 20's crowd? I should clarify I'm not just interested in gay nightlife. I was just curious how people compared the dating scene between all 3 cities?
My real motivations for moving is trying to move into a lower cost area that still has big city amenities with warm weather. I've been in Phoenix in dead of August and Miami in dead of July and the heat did not bother me so Houston's humidity and Dallas extreme heat do not intimidate me. I'm more interested on opinions of what city has healthier economy in advertising/marketing and more cultural/outdoor activities to do on weekends. I know a car is essential anywhere outside NYC but would be nice to live in neighborhood that you could walk to restaurants/movies with high single crowd to make friends/etc.
No I haven't been to Houston yet but have been advised Montrose might be fun area. Austine101 what's your honest impression of Austin? Do lot people in their 30's and 40's live there or is it still primarily a college early 20's crowd? I should clarify I'm not just interested in gay nightlife. I was just curious how people compared the dating scene between all 3 cities?
My real motivations for moving is trying to move into a lower cost area that still has big city amenities with warm weather. I've been in Phoenix in dead of August and Miami in dead of July and the heat did not bother me so Houston's humidity and Dallas extreme heat do not intimidate me. I'm more interested on opinions of what city has healthier economy in advertising/marketing and more cultural/outdoor activities to do on weekends. I know a car is essential anywhere outside NYC but would be nice to live in neighborhood that you could walk to restaurants/movies with high single crowd to make friends/etc.
Thanks again for the feedback
I've lived in Austin my entire life. It's a major city, not a college town as many people will try to say. UT is a city within a city. Austin is a youthful city, but the majority of the population is not early 20s.
Austin will have the largest singles crowd. Regarding the gay community, there is no "gay neighborhood" or village in Austin like there is Chelsea in Manhattan. Austin's gay population is sprinkled evenly across the city, with a higher concentration as you get to DT. Austin will also have the highest proportion of LGBT individuals of the major Texas cities.
Regarding cost, Austin will be the most expensive in Texas, particularly in housing/rent. This is especially true of Downtown. It's unfortunatley becoming something of a rich persons ghetto IMO. You can, however, find reasonably priced apartments on the east side. Regardless, it will be nowhere near NYC expensive.
Austin has a very unique, funky vibe. It's very laid back. The people here are very "jeans and flip flops" sitting in the grass listening to your favorite band type people. There's always something to do downtown or around downtown. Because most of our high rises are residential, there will be more people walking around downtown compared to the other Tx cities, but obviously nothing like NYC foot traffic.
The City of Austin's location creates an interesting diversity of land geography. Just west of DT will be very very hilly and honestly reminds me of a greener San Francisco. Mt. Bonnell overlooks DT from the west side as well. If you like jogging, biking, hiking, that sort of thing, you'll like that feature. There is also many of Texas' largest lakes right there within a couple of miles to the west as well and of course Town Lake ( renamed Lady Bird Lake after Lady Bird Johnston) runs right through downtown. You could do a variety of water sports right in front of the skyline. It's really a great city for outdoor activities.
Demographic wise, Austin differs from Dallas and Houston in that Austin will have a small (and shrinking) African American population. It also has the highest percentage of Asians of Texas's major cities that will be larger than the AA population in the next year or so, as it is our fastest growing demographic.
I think Austinite gives an accurate description. If you are talking walkability in Texas, you are talking neighborhoods not cities. There are walkable neighborhoods in all the major cities and I would add the King Willliam/Southtown section of San Antonio to your list - IMO the most architecturally attractive and probably the cheapest urbanish neighborhood in the state. But with the exception of downtown Austin, and maybe Uptown Dallas, there are not classically urban areas. They are all more urban villages with a a high street surrounded by housing. Montrose, the Heights, Rice Village in Houston, North Oak Cliff, Uptown, Oaklawn, parts of Lakewwod in Dallas, SoCo, Clarkesville, Hyde Park, North Loop, Central East Austin, North and West Campus, Old West Austin in Austin.
While a much smaller city, Austin still offers more walkable neighborhoods in its central part, and all of central Austin is bikeable: there are many bike lanes, and you will see more people walking and biking on the thoroughfares of Central Austin than you will in the equivalent Dallas and Houston neighborhoods. I am in my mid 40s, and the only places I ever feel old going out are on the drag - the commercial strip on the northern border of the UT campus and the five block strip of 6th street between Congress and 35, aka "dirty 6th," and even then not always.
The cores of all the big Texas cities are refreshingly unhomophobic, and you will see same sex couples holding hands in the gayborhoods of Dallas and Houston. - Oaklawn and Montrose respectively, and pretty much anywhere in Austin. Obviously you must go where the work is, but if you have options, I would say downtown Austin and immediately adjacent would be your best bet for walkability, nightlife, outdoor recreation. A one bedroom apartment in a brand new high-rise in downtown Austin would run you $1500 a month and up, but go one mile in any direction and you could find something decent for under $1000, and if you don't mind small and old (old in the sense of 1960s,70s, not charming early 20th century old - there is very little of that in Texas cities except for San Antonio and Galveston) much cheaper.Living in downtown Austin, you can walk to 4 grocery stores, 3 movie-houses, over 200 bars, clubs, restaurants and the Lady Bird Lake hike and bike trail, where you can go running, biking, paddle-boarding, kayaking all in the heart of the city - and in under 2 square miles. It ain't remotely Manhattan, but in terms of urban living, it is the closest you will find in the state of Texas.
The 30 something crowd that goes out in Austin and San Antonio will skew hipster. In Dallas it will skew 30K millionaire. In Houston, no dominant style. Dallas and Houston will have more amenities, Houston more than Dallas (in everything except high end chain retail where Dallas is queen): much better art galleries, pro sports etc, but you will be driving more. Good luck with your move.
Thanks guys this is very excellent information. I went to Dallas to visit my friends back in May so I think this Fall I'll do a combo trip to Austin/Houston to compare Montrose to downtown Austin. Is Austin's summer weather more similar to Dallas or Houston. I already know Dallas is more of a blistering intense heat while Houston is more humid what's Austin story and do they get Tornado's or just more thunderstorms? I would like to keep my rent under $1200 for 1BR or large studio so maybe I should look more to the east of DT Austin if I go that route. Also how expensive is the parking in the more urban areas of Austin?
Thanks guys this is very excellent information. I went to Dallas to visit my friends back in May so I think this Fall I'll do a combo trip to Austin/Houston to compare Montrose to downtown Austin. Is Austin's summer weather more similar to Dallas or Houston. I already know Dallas is more of a blistering intense heat while Houston is more humid what's Austin story and do they get Tornado's or just more thunderstorms? I would like to keep my rent under $1200 for 1BR or large studio so maybe I should look more to the east of DT Austin if I go that route. Also how expensive is the parking in the more urban areas of Austin?
I can tell you Houston's summers are much more miserable than Austin summers because of the humidity. Haven't spent enough time in Dallas to tell you about Dallas summers. Austin doesn't really ever get tornadoes like Dallas, but we do get bad thunderstorms every once in a while.
If you are going to check out Montrose, also drive through Midtown Houston. It's the 'hip' pedestrian area that's somewhat new. Younger crowd than me, but it may fit you fine:
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