Are you looking to settle down or itching for a change of scenery? You might want to make your way down to Austin.
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U.S. News & World Report just released their 2017 list of Best Places to Live In, which ranks the United States' 100 largest metropolitan areas. The results are in, and Austin, Texas ranked number one on this year's roster.
Austin was awarded the top spot based on a few different factors. The job market in the area grew over the last year, and costs are lower in Austin compared to other big cities, which makes it especially attractive to tech companies. Move over, Seattle! The unemployment rate of Austin is also currently lower than the national average.
Quality of life in Austin scored pretty high, too. It's measured by crime rates, availability of healthcare, educational opportunities and commute time. Austin boasts a below-average crime rate which has been steadily declining in recent years. Many of the schools in Austin are even recognized on the U.S. News & World Report's Best High School list. There's no shortage of exceptional universities or colleges, too.
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Thanks to the pleasant climate, growing job market and fun-loving culture, Austin is now officially one of the fastest growing cities in the top 100 metropolitan areas. Dubbed the "Live Music Capital of the World," there's no shortage of culture to soak up.
The Best Places to Live In list considers many different factors when ranking cities, including information from the United States Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Labor. The list considers job market, quality of life, affordability and "net migration," which helps to discern whether people are moving to the area or not. Austin measures up with a 7.8 rating out of 10.
