I've lived in the Austin area for 32 years and I am so done, but I'm stuck because of all the nearby family I have, my parents live nearby plus all my inlaws.
What I really hate are all the non-stop positive articles about this being a great place. Just came across one again this morning.
Austin has solidified its place as "the hometown of the American dream" following another year of success in the economic, educational, and tech industry sectors, according to a prestigious report by Canada-based real estate and tourism marketing advisors Resonance Consultancy.
austin.culturemap.com
This place is not even close to being one of the 50 best cities in the world. I am not sure what they are talking about. I've had the good fortune to travel around the US and the world quite a bit, this place is not even in the top 100. The infrastructure has not changed that much since I moved here in January of 1992, yet there are now literally 3 times as many people. We are so far behind. And it's so expensive now to live here. And the extortion property taxes. And we have a homeless situation on par with LA, SF, Portland and Seattle. Not to mention all the tech bros moving here from Silicon Valley.
I've moved about as far out as I possibly can while still being in the catchment area of a highly rated suburban school district. If I didn't have this consideration it would be even farther.
Austin sucks, there I said it.