Texas or bust (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio: sales, new home, college)

[MARK0909]

Hello,

Can someone describe the major differences between San Antonio, Houston and Austin.

Jobs/employment rate:

Weather:

Terrain:

People: (every city has a personality)

Traffic:

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I am from Atlanta (northern part).
Atlanta is great for jobs but one’s life is built around the traffic!!

I am in corporate sales and I wish to live in a city that is growing, great home appreciation, and a lot of great leisure activities minus the terrible traffic such as Atlanta.

I have read on some forums that S.A. is beautiful but the housing is higher than other Texas cities plus not much to do in the way of leasure.

Dallas, I have read, is boring and too materialistic (where is it not materialistic except for Cleveland?) and that the beaches near Houston are not that nice. Is that true?

Please give me frank and honest opinions.
I am newly single, 39, no children.


Thanks!

[Grimacus]

I havent moved yet, but decided San Antonio will be our new home this August. From my readings, which there are alot of other city vs city threads, I would say:
1. Jobs are alot more plentiful in Houston, pay seems to be 2-4 dollars more too for non-college grad. types.
2. Weather, Houston gets more rain, and it alot more humid, but has higher temps in the winter.
3. Heard people in SA are very laid back, Houston is very diverse, not sure on Austin.
4. SA and Austin is considered hill country and both have rivers and lakes surrounding them.
5. Heard every major city in Texas has traffic problems but heard Austin is the worst.

This is from what I read, im sure someone will know much more then me.
Here is a thread I started couple weeks ago...
//www.city-data.com/forum/texas...-question.html

[houstoner]

Originally Posted by MARK0909

Atlanta is great for jobs but one’s life is built around the traffic!!

Um, I wouldn't move to any city in Texas if I wanted to escape traffic. You'll be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, as they say.

[nrlatsha]

Originally Posted by houstoner

Um, I wouldn't move to any city in Texas if I wanted to escape traffic. You'll be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, as they say.

From the Forbes site:

1. Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Ana, Calif.
2. San Francisco, Oakland, Calif.
3. Washington, D.C.
4. Atlanta
5. Houston
6. Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Tex.
7. Chicago.
8. Detroit
9. Riverside, San Bernardino, Calif.
9. Orlando, Fla.
11. San Jose, Calif.
12. San Diego

I don't see SanAn on the list at all. I lived in DC for 4 years and the biggest reason I won't move back is the traffic. They tell you to keep water and food stored in your car, and believe me, you'll use it. I used to keep my car detailing stuff in the backseat and break it out when needed. The best one though was memorial day weekend, took me 4 hours to travel 6 miles (95).

I try to avoid traffic areas now like 10/410(N) 35/410(N) but I don't see much of a DC-problem here. I bi*ch sometimes, but then I remember the good times I had in DC. Like no traveling from 6-9 or 3-7.

[austindoxie1972]

You may want to try posting your question inside the individual city forums. I think you'll get some good responses. There is a great thread in Austin on "Ten Reasons NOT To Move to Austin." Hope this helps -- and good luck! Finally, if you move to one city and don't like it, you can always move to another.

[Lakewooder]

Dallas has a large light rail/subway system/commuter train that will double in size in 2-3 years. The hike and bike trail system is also more than doubling. And Downtown/Uptown is really taking off - so you need not worry about traffic here.