Austin Newcomers Guide


Austin offers the most progressively laid-back living in all of Texas, and, as you surely know, Texas is big. The accolades for Austin are just as big. It’s been called the "Best Place for Business and Careers", the "Best City for Relocating Families", the "11th Best City for Singles" and the "Live Music Capital of the World". Austin is the capital of Texas and the county seat of Travis County.

It is the fourth-largest city in Texas and a popular relocation city due to the many jobs, fine universities, and culture. It has a population of some 1.7 million people and an area over 271.8 square miles. It is the 15th largest city in the United States and the 35th-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. It has averaged 3.4 percent growth annually since 2000. People move to Austin every day of the year. Austin ranks fourth in the top fifty U.S. metros for net migration as a percent of total population (16%).

Austin Neighborhoods


Austin has several affordable, diverse neighborhoods, from hill country estates to urban lofts.

Just minutes from downtown Austin, Central Austin is king of location. Dense with things to do and see, residents have easy access to work, entertainment and recreation. Central Austin has live music and great restaurants on 6th Street, the University of Texas, the Austin Children's Museum, the Texas State Capitol, Central Market, The Town Lake hike and bike trail, and the Whole Foods flagship store.

East Austin experienced a construction surge recently, investing in roads, homes, and business. The area has great restaurants, businesses and attractions like Hoover’s, Eastside Café, Juan in a Million, Nuevo Leon, Boggy Creek Farm, Big Red Sun, French Legation Museum, Huston-Tillotson College, and Texas State Cemetery

North Central Austin is home to new development and retail. In 2007, the high-end Domain shopping center and residential area opened in 2007. Another new shopping center, Arbor Walk, is south on Mo-Pac. IBM, the University of Texas JJ Pickle Research Campus, and the Texas Culinary Academy are at home in North Central Austin.

Northwest Austin is home to the Texas Instruments, Arboretum, Gateway Market, St. Edward’s Park, Motorola, and Motive. It’s a hi-tech suburban zone with golf course living and great shopping.

South Austin’s slogan "Keep Austin Weird" says it all. This is the eccentric, open, arty area that made Austin famous. You don’t have to be weird to live here, but it helps. The SoCo district has cool bars, funky shops, and more great restaurants.

Southeast Austin includes affordable college apartments and housing, as well as rural towns just outside the Austin city limits. The Pleasant Valley District Park, the Colorado River Greenbelt, and Austin's Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail are here.

At the southeast corner of West Austin is the famous Zilker Park, with its popular train, and Barton Springs, home to a chilly natural spring. This area is also noted for fine school districts. Round Rock is home to Dell and is one of the fastest growing areas in Texas.

Austin has housing available in all price ranges and jobs for all backgrounds. The city is known for excellent education at all levels. The weather is temperate, especially for Texas. Outdoor recreation is popular most of the year. People move to Austin for a reason. It’s that nice.

Austin Area Jobs


Businesses headquarter themselves in Austin because it has an excellent workforce. This could be a chicken/egg situation, but whether the jobs bring the workers or the workers bring the companies, there are wonderful opportunities in Austin. There are many universities and schools, large hi-tech firms, plus the development and research centers of “Silicon Hills”.

Additionally, there are countless service and administration jobs in every corner of the city. The central-Texas location makes it a center of land and air transportation. It is on the NAFTA corridor and within 3 hours of Dallas and Houston.

One thing Austin doesn’t lack is opportunity for employment. Find yourself in Austin and you’re likely to find work, whatever your field.

Best Time to Visit Austin


The best time to visit Austin is anytime. It really depends on what you plan to do and the goal of your trip. The weather is fine from spring to fall with only a mild winter. The summer isn’t as oppressive as one might imagine from a Texas summer, with an average around 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Jobs are always hiring. The music never stops. The weirdness knows no season. There are lots of great seasonal activities, so plan your trip around one of those if you like. Otherwise, it’s hard to pick a bad time to visit Austin.

Austin Area Attractions


Here’s a list of just a few of the many, many things to do in Austin.

∙ Rock on down to 6th Street to enjoy the world-famous live music and terrific restaurants.
∙ Soak up some Texas history at the State Capitol Building. Here you’ll find plenty of lore and legend.
∙ The family friendly Austin Zoo attracts 200,000 visitors yearly. It focuses on children and their enjoyment. The kids would also love the Austin Children’s Museum.
∙ Take a ride on the Austin Steam Train through the scenic Hill Country region. While in Hill Country, visit the Longhorn Caverns.
∙ The Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Colony is home to the largest North American urban bat colony. The kid’s will love it. So will you.
∙ The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has natural habitats, gardens, butterfly gardens, and trails to explore. Don’t miss this magnificent attraction.

Austin’s Noteworthy Events


∙ South by Southwest (SXSW) ∙ This is the largest annual film, music, and interactive event. Parties, free-stuff, extra weirdness!
∙ The Zilker Kite Festival is fun for the whole family, whether you watch or enter the contest.
∙ Carnaval is a Brasileiro style party with costumes, music, and mamba.
∙ The Austin Fine Arts Festival is one of the biggest parties of the year.
∙ Plus numerous 5 and 10K races, bike rides, hikes, and dozens of year round festivals.

Tips for Moving to Austin


When moving to the Austin area, be sure to consider everything in advance. The cheapest mover may not be the best mover for you. You want a mover that is responsible and conscientious, but that’s not all you need to think about.

Make sure the company you hire services the correct location. There are movers who work Central Austin, East Austin, or Northwest Austin only. Austin Moving can find the right moving company for your location. Also, be certain the moving company offers all the services you require, like storage. Find out if Austin moving and storage facilities will be available when you arrive.

Always obtain a complete, written moving company quote up front. Beware of any Austin company that resists giving a firm moving estimate. You may be in for an unexpected surprise. Discuss special needs and any fragile items. Mention anything you believe needs special treatment by the Austin moving company.

Don’t let your move to Austin frighten you. Although there’s always a little uncertainty with any relocation, Austin is the kind of town where you can fit right in, whatever your shape. It’s virtually plug and play.