Austin Ranked as No. 1 City to Live in the U.S.
Citing its exploding population and many desirable qualities, U.S. News & World Report ranked Austin as the best place to live in the U.S.
Analyzing the most populous U.S. metro areas, the U.S. News report ranks cities according to value, desirability, job market, and quality of life. Austin nabbed the No. 1 spot due to its strong "net migration"—that is, the number of people moving to the area—and desirability. The report says about 50 people move to Austin every day.
Getting slightly lower scores are Austin's job market, value, and quality of life. The city has a higher than average commute and traffic congestion, and temperatures can get hot in the summer. Austin's median home price is higher than the national average, however you can save some money due to the city's lack of personal or corporate income tax and a low state and local tax rate.
But overall, the report points to Austin's strong music scene with several major music festivals, access to outdoor recreation, and generally mild weather outside the summer as reasons people are moving to Austin in droves—and, after this ranking, that's bound to continue.
Source:
100 Best Places to Live in the USA [U.S. News & World Report]