You can travel the world far and wide, but you’ll never find another place quite like Austin, Texas. The Texas State Capital has some amazing qualities and is very LGBTQ inclined. Read this article for everything you need to know before moving to Austin.
Austin, TX (after Stephen F. Austin: “The Father of Texas”) received a name change that held strong to current times. Prior to being called “Austin” this area along the Colorado River was named Waterloo, which replaced Houston as the capital city of The Republic of Texas in 1839. Residents of Austin are known as Austinites.
Austin is 146 miles northwest of Houston, 182 miles south of Dallas, and 74 miles northeast of San Antonio. In July 2018, Austin proper had a population of 964,254 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. News ranked Austin as #1 in the Best Places to Live. Austin was deemed the fastest growing large city in the U.S., so it’s not surprising that the metro population is upwards of 2 Million.
Located in Central Texas, Austin is hot, hot, hot! On average, 116 days of the4 year have temperatures over 90 degrees, with almost three weeks of that being above 100! The flip side, though, is that Austin in the winter is nothing short of envious with mild, cool days.
The increase in population definitely affected the real estate market causing the median home sale price to also increase from $193K in 2010 to $318K in 2018. Median rent is $1,155.00 for a one bedroom (although you’ll pay closer to $2,000 or more for what is available or what actually meets your needs). The average commute time is almost 30 minutes. Most of the traveling is done by car, which means traffic is a literal nightmare if you’re not prepared.
Austin is comprised of 10 zip codes (78701, 78702, 78703, 78704, 78705, 78712, 78719, 78721, 78722, and 78723) and the truth is that the entire area is diverse and inclusive. Here is a closer look at neighborhoods in Austin, TX.
You can’t talk about Austin, Texas without mentioning their local motto, “Keep Austin Weird” or the fact that the city is arguably one of the gayest cities in America. In fact, gay bars were open in Austin before there was an official “gay movement” and the very first legal gay marriage in Texas occurred in Austin in 2015. Today, there are multiple LGBTQ+ organizations, institutions, and businesses housed in the Austin area. The Waterloo Counseling Center, Austin AIDs Project, OutYouth, Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and The Austin Gay and Lesbian Pride Foundation are a few of them. There is also a chapter of the Texas Gay Rodeo Association and multiple LGBT recreational sports leagues for your active gay friends.
One of the best things about the LGBTQ+ community in Austin is that they are not secluded to one area or a gay district. The culture is truly integrated in and around the town as a whole. That being said, there are some areas with more heavily an influence than others. 4th Street would be one of those areas.
Austin’s pride parade and festival is held annually at Fiesta Gardens and had over 400,000 attendees in 2019.
For those that prefer your festivals less mainstream and more queer, there is Queerbomb; voted the best queer party in Austin.
Outsider Fest, Transform Film Fest, The Republiq Fest, Austin Black Pride Celebration, and ALL GENDERS, LIFESTYLES AND IDENTITIES FILM FESTIVAL (AGLIFF) are other major LGBTQ events to attend.
In 2019, the Austin area had 21 high schools rank within the top 10% of the nation’s best schools. Austin is also known for the excellent higher education available through the 22 colleges and universities in the area which include University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University, Southwestern University, and St. Edward’s University.
If being in the center of it all is your thing, Downtown Austin is for you. Resident diversity is high in this area, along with an active nightlife, many restaurants, outdoor areas and businesses. The area is mostly condos with an upscale, urban vibe.
The median home value is $476,700 with a median rent of $1,847. 65% of the residents in 78701 rent.
Neighboring downtown, East Austin is rising in popularity with new businesses and restaurants. Single family homes and condos are available at a fraction of the cost of downtown.
The median home value is $297,700 and the median rent is $1,020. 53% of the residents in 78702 rent.
West of the downtown scene and nestled between the Mopac and Lake Austin is this area that attracts more and more people. Homes range in style from retro-rad to luxury-modern, with a few condos sprinkled in to make the area a mixture of urban and suburban.
The median home value is $767,400 with a median rent of $1,319. 48% of the residents in 78703 rent.
Austin has many arts and entertainment options that are beyond just LGBTQ friendly! Check out the following for a great gay time in Austin!
Austin’s Oldest Gay Bar is sure to be perfect for your next night on the town. Plus, it’s located near other establishments for easy hopping.
With the scorching heat of Austin summers, you’ll want to take a trip to the only clothing optional public park in Texas. Besides being free to sunbathe in your birthday suit, you’ll have access to Lake Travis. The total park measures 109 acres.
Whether you’re into orchestra, opera, ballet, world renown artists, eclectic musicians, or your toddler’s favorite character, you can catch them all at Long Center. In addition to world-class performances, Long Center also offers movies, festivals, and other events that put Austin culture on display.
Want to know more about Texas history? Stride over to Bullock Museum for a day of emerging into the story of The Lone Star State. With their artifacts, Imax experience theater, and interactive exhibitions, you’ll be sure to see history as more than just a date on a calendar.
Before moving, you definitely want to swing by the official website austintexas.gov to see information about it’s neighborhoods, libraries, communities, and how families can connect or engage in this big city. There, you can also find resources for health, public safety, business, development, government, and environmental needs.
Wanting to lock down employment before the big move? Austin’s biggest employers cover everything from technology, healthcare, education, and government. Big names like Apple, Dell Technologies, Ascension Seton, and St. David’s HealthCare all have headquarters in the area that employ 6,000 people or more. Other popular names like Amazon, AT&T, Charles Schwab, Facebook, Indeed, General Motors, Oracle Corp., and Whole Foods Market also have offices in Austin and employ between 2,000 and 5,999 people.
In order to get the whole picture of living in Austin, there are a few other things you need to know.
Austin, Texas is so great of a city that the full scope cannot possibly be captured in words. You have to experience it for yourself. Click here to connect with an Austin Gay Realtor for a no obligation conversation today!
