Best city in Texas for quality of Life? (Houston, Dallas: home, construction)

[Lars]

I agree with imaterry that Houston is the best overall city in Texas, and it by far has the best nightlife, although that depends on your personal taste.

The best advice I can give you is to stay in California and look for a neighborhood that you can afford. I bought a house in Westchester three years ago, and the price was only double of what it would cost in an upscale neighborhood of Austin. I lived in Austin briefly twice in my life, and both times I could not wait to get out. I lived in Houston for four years while I was at Rice U and found Houston to be a much more livable city than Austin. I also prefer San Antonio to Austin, but if you are going to be at university for your MBA, then Austin will be tolerable. I did go back to Austin for my advanced degree, but as I said, I got out immediately afterwards. I do not think that Austin is the best place in Texas for non-students, and I went through severe culture shock moving from San Francisco, California to Austin. Live music is so far superior in San Francisco to Austin that it makes Austin's claims about being a music capital a huge joke. Austin is a music capital for one week of the year only, according to Sixty Minutes, but Austin thinks that that title applies for the whole year, demonstrating how simple minded many of its residents are. I can visit there only briefly.

[Austinite101]

Originally Posted by Lars

I agree with imaterry that Houston is the best overall city in Texas, and it by far has the best nightlife, although that depends on your personal taste.

The best advice I can give you is to stay in California and look for a neighborhood that you can afford. I bought a house in Westchester three years ago, and the price was only double of what it would cost in an upscale neighborhood of Austin. I lived in Austin briefly twice in my life, and both times I could not wait to get out. I lived in Houston for four years while I was at Rice U and found Houston to be a much more livable city than Austin. I also prefer San Antonio to Austin, but if you are going to be at university for your MBA, then Austin will be tolerable. I did go back to Austin for my advanced degree, but as I said, I got out immediately afterwards. I do not think that Austin is the best place in Texas for non-students, and I went through severe culture shock moving from San Francisco, California to Austin. Live music is so far superior in San Francisco to Austin that it makes Austin's claims about being a music capital a huge joke. Austin is a music capital for one week of the year only, according to Sixty Minutes, but Austin thinks that that title applies for the whole year, demonstrating how simple minded many of its residents are. I can visit there only briefly.

I find Austin a better fit for me compared to the other Texas cities. Glad to hear your opinion

[TVC15]

Originally Posted by Lars

I agree with imaterry that Houston is the best overall city in Texas, and it by far has the best nightlife, although that depends on your personal taste.

The best advice I can give you is to stay in California and look for a neighborhood that you can afford. I bought a house in Westchester three years ago, and the price was only double of what it would cost in an upscale neighborhood of Austin. I lived in Austin briefly twice in my life, and both times I could not wait to get out. I lived in Houston for four years while I was at Rice U and found Houston to be a much more livable city than Austin. I also prefer San Antonio to Austin, but if you are going to be at university for your MBA, then Austin will be tolerable. I did go back to Austin for my advanced degree, but as I said, I got out immediately afterwards. I do not think that Austin is the best place in Texas for non-students, and I went through severe culture shock moving from San Francisco, California to Austin. Live music is so far superior in San Francisco to Austin that it makes Austin's claims about being a music capital a huge joke. Austin is a music capital for one week of the year only, according to Sixty Minutes, but Austin thinks that that title applies for the whole year, demonstrating how simple minded many of its residents are. I can visit there only briefly.

Nice post and I completely agree with all points about living in Austin as a non-student. I also could not wait to get out of there. I moved from Houston to Austin...talk about a culture shock! I also lived in Dallas and found it to be OK. IMO Houston by far is the best city in Texas. It offers much more than any other city in the state as far as good career opportunities and diversity go.

[imaterry78259]

Originally Posted by AK123

Houston hasn't had a real hurricane in a very long time. Since the 80's I think. And you'll be dealing with bugs and other creatures everywhere in Texas. Sounds like Houston and Dallas are already out for you, so why did you ask?

San Antonio probably has less nightlife and tech jobs than Austin. But much of the nightlife in Austin is geared toward the college scene.

San Antonio has more bars than any city in Texas and they are spread out throughout the city and the hill country area. SA is booming, I would place my bets there or in Houston

[imaterry78259]

Overall Houston is the best city in Texas

[kingdomcome1]

Originally Posted by mixxalot

I am curious to find out which major area in Texas: Austin, Dallas, San Antonio or Houston have the best quality of life, lowest pollution/traffic, nicest people and best place for single professionals to live as well as business market for upward mobile professionals? I live in southern California and cannot afford a home here so have considered Texas due to much lower real estate prices.

Fort Worth.....

[Austinite101]

These are subjective traits. Minus the lowest pollution part -Austin wins that one.
For the rest, its a matter of taste.

[imaterry78259]

Austin is just one huge overrated city that does not live up to the hype

[Austinite101]

Originally Posted by imaterry78259

Austin is just one huge overrated city that does not live up to the hype

Like I said, subjective.

[HtownLove]

Originally Posted by TVC15

Nice post and I completely agree with all points about living in Austin as a non-student. I also could not wait to get out of there. I moved from Houston to Austin...talk about a culture shock! I also lived in Dallas and found it to be OK. IMO Houston by far is the best city in Texas. It offers much more than any other city in the state as far as good career opportunities and diversity go.

Ditto for me too.

when Austin develops the diversity of Houston it will be a much suited city to my tastes.

I like being in a well rounded city that has a plethora of culture and restaurants from a variety of places. When people have to go to Houston for their (enter fix here) it shows that Austin has not matured yet into a complete city.

Houston and DFW supermarkets alone put these two metros far ahead of Austin.