Boy am I glad I moved to Houston. (Dallas, San Antonio: home, neighborhoods)

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Yes I agree with this too, Houston does have a large population of people with homes and cars but it also has a lot of suburban poverty.

Same as with any city.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by PedroMartinez

Same as with any city.

Well yes, but I wasn't saying that it makes it unique in this regard.

[radiolibre99]

For many people Austin is just too hippie and weird(hence the logo) especially by Texas standards.

I really don't think that other Texans hate on Austin because it's too "weird". Sure people say that but I believe that what they really mean is that the "weirdness" is just annoying quirky. At least that is how I always looked at it. It is an eclectic city with a vastly over inflated perception of itself that thinks it's this super creative, uber-individualistic city that is just different. No, it's not. Its fun and it has a great environment for people wanting to escape the humdrum of Texas burbs but it's more of an annoyingly quirky hipster or geek.

I prefer the professional cities of Dallas and Houston.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

I really don't think that other Texans hate on Austin because it's too "weird". Sure people say that but I believe that what they really mean is that the "weirdness" is just annoying quirky. At least that is how I always looked at it. It is an eclectic city with a vastly over inflated perception of itself that thinks it's this super creative, uber-individualistic city that is just different. No, it's not. Its fun and it has a great environment for people wanting to escape the humdrum of Texas burbs but it's more of an annoyingly quirky hipster or geek.

I prefer the professional cities of Dallas and Houston.

Austin definitely has a professional side (lots of law firms, and the state government of course), just like Houston and Dallas also have quirky, hipster, geek sides.

I think the problem with Austin is that it is a little insular locally, rather full of itself, and just generally overrated/overhyped. People (whether it's locals or national article writers) tend to exaggerate the positive, and play down or ignore the negative. With the other Texas cities, this last part especially isn't the case. It's something that seems to be unique to Austin.

//www.city-data.com/forum/texas...as-austin.html

Urban Dictionary: Austitude

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by AK123

Austin definitely has a professional side (lots of law firms, and the state government of course), just like Houston and Dallas also have quirky, hipster, geek sides.

I think the problem with Austin is that it is a little insular locally, rather full of itself, and just generally overrated/overhyped. People (whether it's locals or national article writers) tend to exaggerate the positive, and play down or ignore the negative. With the other Texas cities, this last part especially isn't the case. It's something that seems to be unique to Austin.

//www.city-data.com/forum/texas...as-austin.html

Urban Dictionary: Austitude

I totally agree and wasn't downplaying the fact that Austin has professionals. I was just saying that the professional button down culture of Houston is more prevalent than in Austin which has a slightly more relaxed streak.

But yes, Austin is WAY over-hyped. It's a phenomenal city. I love it. I love visiting and having a good time and dig the more laid back relaxed lifestyle there than in Houston but Austinites really think their city is somehow up there with LA or San Jose/SF with this eclectic, techy, arsty, music and film vibe. It certainly is for Texas but c'mon, they need to get out of Austin more.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

I totally agree and wasn't downplaying the fact that Austin has professionals. I was just saying that the professional button down culture of Houston is more prevalent than in Austin which has a slightly more relaxed streak.

True.
On the relaxed scale, I'd go with Austin>Houston>Dallas.

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

But yes, Austin is WAY over-hyped. It's a phenomenal city. I love it. I love visiting and having a good time and dig the more laid back relaxed lifestyle there than in Houston but Austinites really think their city is somehow up there with LA or San Jose/SF with this eclectic, techy, arsty, music and film vibe. It certainly is for Texas but c'mon, they need to get out of Austin more.

I think it's nice, but hardly phenomenal. Maybe it's a better place to visit than to live?
Not sure it's widespread there that they think it's "up there with LA or SF"... none of my friends think that at all. But many Austinites -- though not all -- have very outdated, negative, and insular views of Houston and Dallas in comparison, for sure.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by AK123

True.
On the relaxed scale, I'd go with Austin>Houston>Dallas.



I think it's nice, but hardly phenomenal. Maybe it's a better place to visit than to live?
Not sure it's widespread there that they think it's "up there with LA or SF"... none of my friends think that at all. But many Austinites -- though not all -- have very outdated, negative, and insular views of Houston and Dallas in comparison, for sure.

That's because a lot of them probably grew up on the outskirts of Houston, outer loop burbs or are from small town TX and have never spent a lot of time in the loop to see just how cosmo Houston really is. They just assume it's all like North Austin; stip mall after strip mall of the same stores alonside cookie-cutter master planned communities. They also think it's urban sprawl to all hell or a giant ghetto.

Houston is not a perfect city by a long mile. It has it's unsightly areas, there is urban sprawl and the city is not know for it's aesthetic beauty but it's still a vibrant, eclectic and exciting city. It's a city where you sense that you can stake your claim if you're motivated enough. That says a lot in comparison to the rest of the country.

Also I'd take the area around Rice, Museum, and Upper Kirby, that whole stretch over UT-Austin's drag any day of the week.

[Johnhw2]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

That sounds more like LA. Houston has size able middle class, a tiny upper middle class and then a slew of wealthy people. But yes it does have a big working class population too.

Define upper middle class for me but assuming you are not out in left field on it, Houston definately has a huge upper middle class.

[bronstew]

I, too, moved to Houston from Austin many years ago and thankful every day that I did. Austin is a nice place to go and play, but that's it. The hipster snobbishness I cannot abide. I love Houston because it never pretends to be what it's not. I have fallen in love with this city with its lush green avenues, world class museums, mind-blowingly delicious food, fabulous diversity--but above all, because it is what it is and never pretends to be more. Very happy here. Austin can suck it.

[OducksFTW!]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

I totally agree and wasn't downplaying the fact that Austin has professionals. I was just saying that the professional button down culture of Houston is more prevalent than in Austin which has a slightly more relaxed streak.

But yes, Austin is WAY over-hyped. It's a phenomenal city. I love it. I love visiting and having a good time and dig the more laid back relaxed lifestyle there than in Houston but Austinites really think their city is somehow up there with LA or San Jose/SF with this eclectic, techy, arsty, music and film vibe. It certainly is for Texas but c'mon, they need to get out of Austin more.

Austin does have industry, it isn't just some quirky hipster city with transients and oddballs. I know several Computer/Electrical Engineers that were interviewed and offered jobs(myself included) in its vastly growing semiconductor/technology industry. Many big name companies are there which I was surprised to learn. Heck I know some of them took jobs, largely because of the city itself. Took paycuts to move there and turned down larger pay at an Oil&Gas company.

Austin would be a great place to live, and I've met many people that have moved there, there are jobs(albeit not as many as Houston) and the cost of living isn't like LA or NYC high. People live there and are actually moving there(again not on the scale as Houston but still happening).

And of course the city is WAY more geographically interesting than Houston, it does have great music/film/ and art scenes. Sixth street is pretty awesome as well. But it isn't up there with SF/San Jose or LA, but it comes fairly close.

Austin is just the new hip city that young folks in the south/southwest part of the country seem to want to come to. So there is going to be an attitude about it whenever outsiders pour in. For Texas Austin is as "cool" and "fun" as its going to get.

All these perceptions are from a 24 year old so opinions may vary based on that.