The Facts About Austin
Are you looking for sunshine? Austin averages 300 days per year. We also have a temperate climate with mild winter temperatures averaging from 42 to 62 degrees and summer averaging from 75 to 95 degrees. An average rainfall of 32.5 inches keeps Austin green, and snowfall is rare.
The city of Austin has 750k residents with a total of 1.5 million including the surrounding areas. This area has 4,224 square miles, so it’s almost like living out in the country. You can actually get around easily, even in downtown Austin. Let’s call it right-sized. Austin ranks 38th in size of major metropolitan areas, and it has one of the fastest growth rates in the country.
Austin has an ACCRA cost of living index of 97.1, making it more affordable than the national average. The 2006 unemployment rate was 4.1, and employment growth was 3.9% (highest of all Texas cities and one of the best job growth rates in the nation).
Homes are still affordable in Austin. Average home prices were $241k (Jan-May ’07), up from $226k for the same period in 2006. Yes, we’re bucking the national trend and still appreciating. You can find homes from the $100k range up to seven figures for the luxury market, and everywhere in between. See Neighborhood Overview for more details.
To find out what top national surveys have to say about Austin, see Austin’s Honor Roll.