Washington to Austin (Commerce: to rent, condo, violent crime)

[Evil_Cornflake]

Hi, I am getting transferred to Austin TX from Tacoma in Washington state. It is the same job and I will not be having a raise. My per annum salary is 75K. What is the cost of living like in Austin. Is it manageable, please help!!! How's the general life in Austin with regards to crime, nightlife and best areas to relocate.

[atxcio]

I'd say $75K is a pretty good living in Austin. Especially if you are single.

Do you plan to rent or buy? House or condo? About the only thing you can't do at that salary level is buy a home in the central area, where nightlife and activities are the best. But you can easily rent or buy a condo in some of the best central neighborhoods. Or you can buy a huge home in the 'burbs (but I strongly recommend against it if you are single and want nightlife!). If you are buying, though, don't forget the property taxes! Those are high.

Groceries, gas, restaurants should all be cheaper here. Owning a car in general here is cheaper.

[tibbar]

Years ago we were offered a job where you are and turned it down. While on a trip to check out the area we found everything was much higher there than here. We could get half the house for twice the money. Maybe things have changed but at the time we were certainly better off down here money wise. Have you looked at a city compare calculator?

[bgrn198]

Austin Chamber Of Commerce

GACC | The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce :: Austin, Texas

[CptnRn]

You just got a raise.

Dec. 2009 cost of living index in Austin: 87.8 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
Dec. 2009 cost of living index in Tacoma: 112.8 (more than average, U.S. average is 100)

Plus there is no state income tax in Austin.

Mean house prices and rent both appear to be higher in Austin, according to the City-Data statistics below. I'm not sure how they compare in size and quality but it is my impression that Austin is a newer city then Tacoma, i.e. it has had a lot of growth throughout its history so a lot of new houses constructed every year, which I suspect translates to the average age of the houses being younger.

Violent Crime is very low in Austin, property crimes are higher, but both are lower then in Tacoma.

Austin is not as scenic but has better weather, except for the hot summers. People spend a lot of time outdoors here, there are lots of outdoor festivals

TACOMA
Estimated median household income in 2008: $47,088 (it was $37,879 in 2000)
Tacoma: $47,088
Washington: $58,078

Estimated per capita income in 2008: $25,197

Tacoma city income, earnings, and wages data

Estimated median house or condo value in 2008: $260,900 (it was $123,400 in 2000)
Tacoma: $260,900
Washington: $308,100

Mean prices in 2008: All housing units: $309,283; Detached houses: $312,230; Townhouses or other attached units: $283,943; In 2-unit structures: $223,506; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $361,179; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $237,804; Occupied boats, RVs, vans, etc.: $54,759

Median gross rent in 2008: $777.
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2008: 16.7%
(13.4% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 30.5% for Black residents)

AUSTIN
Estimated median household income in 2008: $51,372 (it was $42,689 in 2000)
Austin: $51,372
Texas: $50,043

Estimated per capita income in 2008: $30,680

Austin city income, earnings, and wages data

Estimated median house or condo value in 2008: $210,600 (it was $120,800 in 2000)
Austin: $210,600
Texas: $126,800

Mean prices in 2008: All housing units: $274,373; Detached houses: $287,595; Townhouses or other attached units: $244,167; In 2-unit structures: $240,869; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $162,768; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $170,474; Mobile homes: $39,961; Occupied boats, RVs, vans, etc.: $58,740

Median gross rent in 2008: $892.
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2008: 17.0%
(10.9% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 30.5% for Black residents, 22.3% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 24.3% for other race residents)

More data here:

//www.city-data.com/city/Tacoma-Washington.html

//www.city-data.com/city/Austin-Texas.html

Austin has fantastic nightlife with lots of entertainment oppourtunities and a large live music scene.

Best areas to relocate will depend on where you work. Traffic is bad here, road construction has not kept up with growth, so in most cases you want to live on the same side of town as where you work. Since crime is low here there are few really bad areas to live, but there are some that are less desirable then others. Some people will tell you to avoid living East of I-35, but there are some excellent areas there as you get further North or South and even a few central. Some of the highest crime areas in Austin are considered some of the best places to live as well. Such as central and south central Austin.

2009 Crime Statisics now available

[Jennibc]

Austin is way more happening than Tacoma! Plus the weather is better. We moved here from Seattle just over a year ago and our quality of life is much better down here.

[Melissa78703]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

Austin is way more happening than Tacoma! Plus the weather is better. We moved here from Seattle just over a year ago and our quality of life is much better down here.

Having lived in the PNW for a year (hated it), I heartily concur! I got really sedentary living in the PNW. Austin is for people who are very mobile and active -- you have to like to get out and about, be it doing things outdoors (biking, water skiing, swimming, canoeing, rock climbing, hiking, etc.), enjoying the night life or just walking around from the coffee shop to the market to the boutiques.

But, that said, people from Washington state either really love Austin or hate Austin, there's never any in-between. I've known people from Seattle, Anchorage and Tacoma who miss the cold, rain and early nightfall and never adapt. Who knows? It really depends on your lifestyle and preferences.

[Evil_Cornflake]

Thanks to everyone for the information. This is great. Did I gather that South Austin is to be avoided if I am looking for a home? Thank you!!!

[love roses]

South Austin is a good area. I wouldn't avoid it.

[Jennibc]

We live SW and we love it. Just south of the city was out of our price range. We wanted a lower cost of living. If we'd moved to South Austin, we would be moving into housing prices similar to what we had in the Wedgwood neighborhood of Seattle. But South is kind of the "funky/artsy" area of Austin and it is priced accordingly.

If you go far south, the prices are much lower but the housing stock seems a bit run down. If you go even further south, there are new developments popping up that are reasonably priced but a trip to downtown will take a while.