Austin vs San Antonio...Which is the better place to live and work? (Waco: crime, houses)

[BluesConnect]

I'm still trying to decide where to move from Kerrville. I had been looking at Valley Mills near Waco, but the threads on Waco were pretty dismal and its too far from my son. My son lives in Austin, and wants me nearer to him, but I'm just not drawn to live in Austin or in any of the towns near there...I've spent the last few weekends in Austin with some friends driving around, looking at houses, going out to eat, shopping, etc., and it's just too frenzied a lifestyle for me. The traffic is my biggest complaint, plus the fact that I'm older now and most events and things to do seem geared toward the 20s crowd.So now I'm looking at San Antonio. It's crowded and hectic, too, but seems a better fit for me than Austin. Seems like I could find a nice quiet neighborhood or surburb to escape to after work and that there are still things and events for the older set that I would enjoy. My biggest complaint about San Antonio are the crime reports I see on tv. But I need to make up my mind pretty soon so I can set my goals. Any opinions on the subject of Austin vs San Antonio??

[Trainwreck20]

It is very difficult to compare the two cities unless you have some objectives. The weather is essentially the same. Austin probably has worse traffic, but depending on where you live, it might not be bad at all. SA is a larger city, so of course there is more crime, but that also is very location dependent (I assume) and may not be any higher per capita. What kind of work are you doing? Are there jobs in both towns?

[BluesConnect]

I've been out of the workforce now for about five years. I've got years of experience as both a paralegal and a legal secretary, so I shouldn't have a problem finding a good job anywhere I live. But I'm in my mid-50s, so the things I once enjoyed are not the same as what I enjoy doing now...working in the yard, visiting with friends, eating out and going to a show or art event. Crowds bother me and waiting in line in traffic is not my idea of the way to spend the rest of my life...

[Trainwreck20]

If you work in a local office of some sort (instead of downtown), I think you can find what you are looking for in either city. Personally (and, again, this is just me), if I didn't have to come into town to work, I would live out past Dripping Springs in Henley, or maybe out in Wimberley, or possibly out in Marble Falls or the Canyon Lake area. All those would be closer to your son in Austin, and you can get a little land/yard and a slower paced town.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by BluesConnect

But I'm in my mid-50s, so the things I once enjoyed are not the same as what I enjoy doing now...working in the yard, visiting with friends, eating out and going to a show or art event. Crowds bother me and waiting in line in traffic is not my idea of the way to spend the rest of my life...

Based on these sentences, I think you'd be a little happier in San Antonio. Austin is a younger, faster-paced city than San Antonio. San Antonio is slower-paced and more family-oriented than Austin.

There's traffic in both cities, but if you are strategic about where you live, it's easier to avoid it in San Antonio.

[BluesConnect]

Thanks for the ideas....I wish I could make the same amount of money in a small town that I can make in a city...

[CaliMami]

I am in the same dilema, I am visiting San Antonio next month for a week to see if I may consider relocating their. My daughter of course mentioned Austin but she is in her 20's and we in in our mid-fourties. My spouce is the bread winner in the family and so I am concerned about affordability and employement. What can you tell me about homes, and employment? Thanks for your feedback

Cali Mom

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by CaliMami

I am in the same dilema, I am visiting San Antonio next month for a week to see if I may consider relocating their. My daughter of course mentioned Austin but she is in her 20's and we in in our mid-fourties. My spouce is the bread winner in the family and so I am concerned about affordability and employement. What can you tell me about homes, and employment? Thanks for your feedback

Cali Mom

Impossible to answer without knowing what industry your husband works in and your estimated housing budget.

[Westerntraveler]

Id rather live in San Antone...may live there myself someday.....one of the big reasons why i want to go there is cuz it aint that far from the Coast and Corpus....im a coastal redfisherman.

[thenewtexan]

Have you considered one of the towns in the middle? Maybe New Braunfels or San Marcos? You'll have all the amenities of both cities nearby, with less crime and traffic than either city.