Austin, The Live Music Capital of the World

"There's a freedom you begin to feel the closer you get to Austin"
--Willie Nelson

On Everbody's Top-Ten List

Why is Austin such a cool place to live? It's an intermediate size city; big, but not too big and culturally rich-the population is diverse and highly educated. Austin has made so many top ten lists it'll make your head spin. These include second on CNN Money's 'Top 10 Best Big Cities in the Country,' #1 on Moviemaker Magazine's 'Best Places to Live for Moviemakers,' and #8 on Reader's Digest's 'America's Cleanest Cities.' Forbe's is big on Austin: Forbes.com ranks Austin #1 on its list of Places Your Money Goes Farthest, #2 for "Top 10 Cities To Buy A Home," #3 on "Top 10 Cities for Jobs," #1 on "America's Fastest-Growing Metros", #4 on its "Top 10 Best Cities for Home Sellers" and #3 on the list of "Top 10 Recession Proof Cities." Also, Forbes.com ranked Austin the 5th Best City in America for Couples. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Austin-Round Rock area is the nation's 5th fastest growing metro area. Yahoo Finance and Entrepreneur.com rank Austin as the #1 Place in America to Buy a Home. Austin is #6 on Kiplinger's Personal Finance's list of top 10 cities in which to live, work and play. As of 2008, PMI Mortgage Insurance Company ranked the nation's 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas according to their risk of declining in home prices during the next two years. PMI identified Austin-Round Rock as a top-pick , as it has been determined to have less than a 1% risk factor.

Music, Art, & Film Mecca

The music & arts community is friendly and welcoming. It's a supportive community and a magnet for creative people from around the world. The SIMS Foundation, The Austin Music Foundation, The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians and Music and Entertainment television station METV are examples of the nurturing nature of the Austin music community. Recording artists such as Willie Nelson, Spoon, The Dixie Chicks, Alejandro Escovedo, Patty Griffin, Eliza Gilkyson, Jimmie Vaughan, Shawn Colvin, Ian McLagan, Bob Schneider, Los Lonely Boys, Reckless Kelly and The Band of Heathens all call Austin home. What else? The hugely successful indie music, film & interactive festival South By Southwest, PBS's long-running television show Austin City Limits, and it's awesome outdoor cousin Austin City Limits Music Festival, high-quality radio station's KGSR and KUT , plus live music at 200 venues on any given evening. The film industry is also on a roll here. Directors such as Robert Rodriguez and Richard Linklater are stirring things up at Austin Studios and there are several internationally renowned film festivals. The Long Center for the Performing Arts, The Blanton Museum of Art, Austin Museum of Art , Austin Lyric Opera, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, The Paramount and State Theaters, Zachary Scott Theater and The Dougherty Arts Center are among many places that have terrific art, music and theater related programs for adults and kids alike.

Family Friendly

The Austin area is an ideal place to raise a family. Area school districts such as Eanes, Lake Travis and Dripping Springs are among the best in the state and include many Blue Ribbon and Exemplary-rated schools that rival expensive private schools. The University of Texas at Austin, Southwestern University and St Edward's University are award-winning universities in the Austin area. UT Austin is one of the finest, most affordable universities in the United States. In 2004, The Princeton Review ranked UT Austin in The Top 10 'Best Value' Colleges in the US.

Gorgeous Surroundings

The New York Times ranked the Texas Hill Country #1 for "Best Places to Go This Summer." Barton Springs, Enchanted Rock , Krause Springs and Hamilton Pool reflect the Hill Country's subtle, rugged beauty. Orbitz ranked Texas Hill Country wineries the #2 wine destination in the nation —second only to Napa.