Austin vs Cary, NC - need your advice (Round Rock, Leander: chapel, public schools)

[ronniet]

Hi All,

My family (wife, 4 yr old son, dog and I) presently live in San Francisco.

We are looking to move to a smaller, less expensive city in the country with good school, great medical facilities, good culture and weather.

We have shortlisted it down to two cities - Austin, TX and Cary, NC.

I would really like your feedback and inputs, especially from anyone who might have lived in both places.

I thank you for your time.

Ronnie

[feconi]

I haven't lived in both but I've spent a lot of time in the Raleigh-Durham area. I would compare the entire metro areas here since Cary is a suburb of 140k whereas Austin is a city of 800k.

Neither metro area will have good culture to you coming from SF. Austin has an active arts scene but lacks somewhat in museums and other civic amenities for a city its size.

You can find great schools in both Cary and in the right areas of Austin.

Raleigh-Durham has more mild weather than Austin. Austin's summers are very hot.

Austin has much worse traffic than Raleigh, so commuting will probably be more of an issue if you choose Austin.

I think both places are great. Both are "high-tech" cities. Raleigh-Durham feels smaller and has more trees. Austin has more personality and better recreational options.

Overall I slightly prefer Austin, but I could be equally happy in Raleigh (or Cary).

[ronniet]

Hi, thanks for your reply....

we do realize that we will be giving up on a lot of the cultural and recreational activities moving from SF, but SF is becoming too expensive to live in!

Our primary criteria would be to find a place that's ideal for families and has great schools and affordable housing.

I know that Cary has some really top notch schools (but it has also led to over crowding). Are there equally good schools in Austin and more importantly, is housing affordable in those areas?

[bluebluegreen]

I am considering moving to Austin and know the Cary/Carrboro/ Chapel Hill area very well. I think for someone with a family the sheer "green" beauty (summer in NC is just amazing) of the Cary area would be hard to pass up. I've heard great things about people in Austin, but I think it would be tough for any environment to be more welcoming, open-minded, etc than that part of North Carolina.

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by bluebluegreen

I've heard great things about people in Austin, but I think it would be tough for any environment to be more welcoming, open-minded, etc than that part of North Carolina.

Although I have never been to Cary, I know people who live there (work for SAS). Austin is justly noted for being welcoming, open-minded as most of Texas is. Equal to (or more or less?) than Cary - I can't say. But much of Austin's growth is due to newcomers from all over.

[cBach]

I've been to the Cary area and I don't think someone from SF would particularly like it. The scenery is beautiful, but so is Hill Country. As far as the weather, their summer is milder but their winter is colder with snow every year. Compared to SF weather, you will find both cities extreme.

[Mom2Feebs]

I love Cary and the whole Research Triangle area, but this just seems like an economic no-brainer to me. Austin.

Originally Posted by bluebluegreen

I've heard great things about people in Austin, but I think it would be tough for any environment to be more welcoming, open-minded, etc than that part of North Carolina.

I'm guessing you've never actually been to Austin?

[feconi]

Originally Posted by ronniet

I know that Cary has some really top notch schools (but it has also led to over crowding). Are there equally good schools in Austin and more importantly, is housing affordable in those areas?

There are some top notch public schools in northwest Austin and its suburbs (specifically in Round Rock and Leander ISDs). There is probably more variation in the quality of the schools in these (large) districts compared to Cary, but the better crop of schools in Round Rock and Leander are probably right on par with what you'd find in Cary.

Housing in those areas is cheap relative to what you might pay to live in other great districts such as Eanes ISD.

[feconi]

Originally Posted by bluebluegreen

I am considering moving to Austin and know the Cary/Carrboro/ Chapel Hill area very well. I think for someone with a family the sheer "green" beauty (summer in NC is just amazing) of the Cary area would be hard to pass up. I've heard great things about people in Austin, but I think it would be tough for any environment to be more welcoming, open-minded, etc than that part of North Carolina.

I would say Austin is at least as "open-minded" as Raleigh-Durham. Having spent lots of time both places, I would apply that label to Austin before Raleigh.

As for the beauty of the two areas, I would say it is a close call. I love the tree cover in NC, but I also love the big hills and lakes in Austin.

[eepstein]

No comparison between the two. Raleigh/Durham area would win hands down. Better climate, closer to mountains, closer to many big cities, larger high tech concentrations, lower housing costs, better nightlife, tons of forested areas, better airlines service, less overall congestion, and best of ALL, it's NOT in Texas (a reason that could easily stand by itself).

Originally Posted by ronniet

Hi All,

My family (wife, 4 yr old son, dog and I) presently live in San Francisco.

We are looking to move to a smaller, less expensive city in the country with good school, great medical facilities, good culture and weather.

We have shortlisted it down to two cities - Austin, TX and Cary, NC.

I would really like your feedback and inputs, especially from anyone who might have lived in both places.

I thank you for your time.

Ronnie