Houston vs. Austin (moved from Houston) (Dallas, San Antonio: schools, living, restaurants)

[HonieB]

Anyone have any thoughts as to which is the better city to relocate to? Would be coming from Florida. We're a family of four (kids ages 5 and 1 1/2) and like to do outdoorsy things. We're looking to live in the 'burbs, but like to be close to a city with lots of culture.

[Bily Lovec]

austin.... if you're weird :-)

I would love to live in austin, but what I do for a living isnt done in austin, thats why Im in "H-town" which I love...

[RamblinKat]

I didn't like Austin at all. I felt it had the worst of both worlds in terms of the outdoors: desert ugly scrub oaks and cedars yet all the humidity in the world. I actually had to CARRY my dog on walks. I liked Houston. You get more for your money house-wise in Houston. I think Houston is very cultured and not just Texas culture. I get worn out when Texans get too wound up with Texas.

[atxcio]

You definitely can get more for your money in Houston. Austin is expensive, and the premium you pay is for "vibe" you may not even care about, or the pretty Hill Country you may not even use.

Humidity is much higher in Houston, but that also makes things green. Like the poster above, you might like it better there.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by RamblinKat

I felt it had the worst of both worlds in terms of the outdoors: desert ugly scrub oaks and cedars yet all the humidity in the world.

I think that disproves the theory that humidity makes everything more greener. There are scrub oaks as in the ones that burned during the wildfires in SoCal a few months ago? I thought it was the trees like in the Weather Channel documentary that could cause a wildfire in Austin. Oddly enough, San Antonio was a little dryer to me.

[hound 109]

I've lived in both. Houston is more humid (alot more humid). Austin is more expensive. Both are great. In order to offer real opinions you need to advise what you like & what you want.

(some people like humidity & expensive is relative....folks from Cal. think Austin is cheap.)

[raychelleeliz]

I'd go with Austin. =]

The music scene is amazing, the restaurants are to die for and the schools are great.

[TexasHorseLady]

I actually had to CARRY my dog on walks.

That may say more about your dog than about Austin - just ask all the dogs in the dog parks, on the trails, in the back yards of Austin and environs. (My two out here on the farm would be happy to be examples!)

I can't live in Houston - get even close and my sinuses close right up. My mother had the same problem, some 40-odd years ago. I think it's the humidity. Love some of its amenities, making it a great place to visit as long as I keep sinus drugs on hand!

The question is, of course, what are the OP's priorities.

[atxcio]

I've been thinking about the humidity complaints regarding Houston... and I think you would have to characterize it, humidity and all, as one of the "milder" climates in Texas. It never gets to the extremes in temperature that other places in TX get; Not often below 50, not often over 100...

I know it is characterized as sub-tropical climate, but is that also considered "mild"?

[TexasHorseLady]

Well, it might not be the humidity, but San Antonio doesn't do that to me nor did they to my Mom), nor does Dallas, and humidity DOES do it to me, so that was a guess on my part.