What City Is The Next Austin? (San Antonio, Fort Worth: crime, neighborhoods, good schools)

[lukec]

I'm a Bostonian, who has spent some time in Austin. The things that appeal to me about Austin is the old school stuff. I think I would have loved Austin ten or twenty years ago. Now, it feels a little too young, a little too Eastern and a little too politically correct for me. I hear a lot of people lament the loss of old Austin and wonder if there are cities and towns beneath the radar that have that feel.

(Personally, I want the energy and openess of a vibrant, growing city. I want a taste of old Texas, and not a bunch of transplanted Cali and NY neighborhoods. I get along with everyone. I don't care for uptight, dull, and self-righteous people, but I'm not a hippie, a liberal or metrosexual. I'm sick and tired of political correctness, "tolerant and diverse people" who aren't tolerant or diverse, identity politics, and the government economy. I'm also a little too old for college kids and hipster culture. But I love places with eclectic mixes of people, good bars, grounded cops and a live and let live attitude. A place with a thriving private economy, where you dont have to be a minority, perform oral sex on a politician, or be a fifth generation townie to get a job. And... a lots of good bars.)

[Venusian_Artist]

Fort Worth.

[gpurcell]

Nashville, maybe.

[cBach]

Nashville for sure.

I'd say New Orleans but there is nepotism there so tough to get jobs. But it has all of the good of Austin (except a vibrant economy and the dry weather) but none of the bad (hipsters, traffic, etc...) People aren't dull there at all, but they aren't hip either. They're just cool, and the food is awesome, not to mention there is a professional sports team (Saints). They are live and let live, but the cops are not grounded (they are really high on themselves). I'd say New Orleans meets your requirements 7/10 or so, Nashville 8/10, Austin 6/10 (with old school Austin as benchmark 10/10).

[ktulu7]

Originally Posted by cBach

Nashville for sure.

I'd say New Orleans but there is nepotism there so tough to get jobs. But it has all of the good of Austin (except a vibrant economy and the dry weather) but none of the bad (hipsters, traffic, etc...) People aren't dull there at all, but they aren't hip either. They're just cool, and the food is awesome, not to mention there is a professional sports team (Saints). They are live and let live, but the cops are not grounded (they are really high on themselves). I'd say New Orleans meets your requirements 7/10 or so, Nashville 8/10, Austin 6/10 (with old school Austin as benchmark 10/10).

Being from Louisiana and born in New Orleans, I can somewhat agree on this. However, like anywhere else, it depends on where in the N.O. metro area you wanna be. The Northshore (north of Lake Pontchartrain) will have more hipsters than the Southshore, but it's nice and has good schools. The thing you have to remember about New Orleans though, is that it has a horrible crime problem and is very dirty, not to mention the rough traffic. It's certainly unique though, and has that live-and-let-live attitude you allude to. Forget Mardi Gras, go during a non-holiday time and see how folks really live there. You forgot to mention the Hornets too though, so N.O.'s got 2 major league sports teams! The AAA Zephyrs baseball team is fun as heck to go watch too!

I recently moved to San Antonio though and would say San Antonio has a chance to be a destination city for lots of folks. It's still got its old "Texan" culture, plus the hispanic "Tejano" culture, intertwined with contemporary American culture, which I like. It's a big city with kinda small town folks. I know that turns some people off, but I find it attractive. However, though the folks seem more like small town folks, the infrastructure here is pretty good, instead of being behind the metro area's growth rate. Plus, it's got some unique architecture and parts of the metro area are in the scenic Hill Country. I'm impressed with the Alamo City and recommend at least a visit to it!

[Gorfml]

buda...right next to it...

[ImOnFiya]

None. There is only one Austin. It is what it is.

[atxcio]

San Marcos?

[gpurcell]

Originally Posted by cBach

Nashville for sure.

I'd say New Orleans but there is nepotism there so tough to get jobs. But it has all of the good of Austin (except a vibrant economy and the dry weather) but none of the bad (hipsters, traffic, etc...) People aren't dull there at all, but they aren't hip either. They're just cool, and the food is awesome, not to mention there is a professional sports team (Saints). They are live and let live, but the cops are not grounded (they are really high on themselves). I'd say New Orleans meets your requirements 7/10 or so, Nashville 8/10, Austin 6/10 (with old school Austin as benchmark 10/10).

My family is from New Orleans going way, way, way back. I think you drastically underestimate the systemic corruption and social malaise that grips the city. I'll take the bad of Austin over the bad of New Orleans any day of the week.

[love roses]

I'd say Ft. Worth, with Marfa a close second. I keep seeing blurbs here and there in the paper and online about how people from Austin make weekend escapes or even move from Austin to Marfa.