A guide by the best movers in Austin

People often move to Austin for its employment opportunities and low cost of living. The city has a thriving economy, with businesses in various industries, from technology to healthcare, expanding their operations here. Austin also has a diverse landscape, with rolling hills, volcanoes, and rivers. This natural beauty is one of the many reasons people love living in Austin.

It is also home to some of the best schools in Texas and has various cultural events. There are numerous museums, theaters, and music venues throughout the city. And with year-round outdoor activities available, such as cycling, hiking, and swimming, Austin is perfect for those who love spending time outdoors.

So, if you’re thinking of relocating to Austin, it’s best to contact movers in Austin early to get the moving process as smooth as possible.

Cost of Living

Austin is a rapidly growing city that has gained a reputation for being a great place to live. The cost of living in Austin is low compared to other popular cities around the country. The state’s no-personal and no-corporate income tax mandate attracts many young professionals.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the gross domestic product (GDP) has reached $1.3 billion in 2019. Austin continues to exhibit strong economic indicators despite the impact of the pandemic. The Austin Business-Cycle Index recorded by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. The index rose 13.1 percent in October, following a steady increase since 2020.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also reported that as of October 2021, the consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) for the South region rose 0.7% for all items. Food items increased 1.1%, while energy rose 5.1%. All other items escalated 0.7% in the same month.

Housing still takes the largest portion of annual expenditures among South residents with 34.1% ($19,029) followed by transportation at 17.5% ($9,745), and food at 11.6% ($6,477). Healthcare and personal insurance follow at 9.1% ($5,098) and 11.8% ($6,591), respectively. All other items constitute 15.9% at $8,857. 

Local Economy

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the gross domestic product (GDP) has reached $1.3 billion in 2019. Austin continues to exhibit strong economic indicators despite the impact of the pandemic, as reflected in the Austin Business-Cycle Index recorded by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. The index rose 13.1 percent in October, following a steady increase since 2020.

The Dallas Fed also observed the city’s unemployment rate well below Texas’ jobless rate in October 2021. This is aided by a 7.8% growth in the metro labor force, higher than the country’s 0.3% rise in employment data.

Consumer spending in Austin dipped slightly in early November 2021 but found its upward momentum by the middle of the month, thanks to stronger credit and debit card spending in Travis County. 

With a significant reduction in hospital cases with COVID-19 to only 122 in Austin in November 2021, analysts expect business activity to further rebound in the coming months.

The largest employers in Austin are Apple, Ascension Seton, Dell Technologies, IBM, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, St. David’s HealthCare Partnership and University of Texas at Austin. Government institutions such as Austin ISD, Round Rock, ISD, State of Texas and City of Austin also contribute to the labor force.

Housing Market

The Texas Real Estate Research Center of Texas A&M University reported 40,326 home sales in Austin in 2020 with an average price of $437,432 for 4,550 total listings.

Home sales started to rebound in June 2020 during the pandemic with 4,025 sales that were sustained until October 2021 with 3,250 sales. An average price of $565,134 was recorded for 3,475 listings in the same month.

Job Market

The Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area employment numbers reached 1.3 million in October 2021. Unemployment rate was 3.4% in October, the lowest since March 2020.

Total non-farm employment is highest in the leisure and hospitality industry at 23.9%, followed by the professional and business services industry at 22.9%. Trade, transportation, and utilities trails at 12.1%.

The average hourly wage for all occupations in the South is at $27.80, which is 0.73 higher than the national average. Human resource managers average $60.36 per hour while accountants and auditors take $37.28 per hour, followed by registered nurses who receive $35.23.

Tax Rates

The Austin Chamber of Commerce reports that Texas levies taxes on sales of tangible personal property and some services. Additionally, some counties such as Travis and Williamson have a combined state and local rate equal to 8.25%.

Residents enjoy zero-tax policies on groceries and prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medicines.

Weather 

Austin’s humid subtropical climate brings in long and hot summers. Summer temperatures reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) between July and August. However, Austinites have learned to enjoy the sunny weather through swimming or hiking. 

Austin winters are somewhat mild, with some snow during December. The change from fall to winter can lead to rapidly changing conditions on certain days. When the heavy wind comes from the west or southwest, temperatures will drop quickly because the winds bring cold air from the Rocky Mountains. Winter in Austin offers many opportunities to enjoy different experiences, such as exploring widely available Christmas activities, attending an outdoor ice skating rink, or skiing at Mount Bonnell.

Traffic and Transportation

Austin is a rapidly growing city, and with that growth comes challenges related to traffic and transportation. The City of Austin has put in place many initiatives to address these issues, including a citywide network of bike lanes and trails and an extensive public transportation system, including buses and light rail.

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority manages bus services at over 2,300 bus stops and 17 park-and-ride facilities.

In terms of air travel, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport recorded a 190.2% year-over-year increase in passenger traffic in September 2021. Some of the airlines it caters to include Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and JetBlue Airways.

Schools and Universities 

The University of Texas at Austin, one of the largest schools in the nation, consistently ranks high in top colleges and universities in the country. There are other four-year institutions, including Texas State University, St. Edward’s University, Art Institute of Austin, and Texas A&M. Two-year institutions include Austin Community College, Temple College and Central Texas College.

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) operates 125 diverse school communities: elementary, middle, high, early college, academy, magnet, alternative and community schools. Hispanic students make up 55% of the entire student population. The city boasts a 92.3% graduation rate and 1043 composite SAT/ACT scores exceeding the state average.

Peace and Order

According to the FBI, Austin ranked 73rd in terms of the highest Violent Crime rate in the country in 2019, with 414 incidents per 100,000 residents. It also ranked 59th for Property Crime rate in the country, with 3,189.7 incidents per 100,000 residents. 

The Texas Department of Public Safety also reported total crimes in Austin at 40,993 in 2020, up by 400 cases from the previous year.

Utility Providers

Energy providers are led by publicly-owned Austin Energy that serves Austin and several other smaller municipalities in Travis and Williamson Counties and Oncor Electric Delivery Co. that serves deregulated areas across the state, including Round Rock, Taylor and Elgin, Pflugerville and North Austin.

The largest municipal supplier is the City of Austin Water Utility supplies close to 3 billion gallons of water every year. Forbes Magazine named Austin one of the “Best Cities for Clean Drinking Water” awardees.

Austin also boasts of having one of the world’s most advanced telecommunications networks. Customers also enjoy fiber-optic connections by AT&T, CenturyLink, and Grande Communications.

Atmos Energy, CenterPoint and Texas Gas Service (TGS) are the major natural gas providers.

Pros and Cons of Living in Austin

Pros

• Home to some of the largest global companies such as Apple, Dell Technologies, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Accenture, Amazon, AT&T, Charles Schwab, General Motors, Intel, Keller Williams Realty, Oracle Corp., Visa, Whole Foods Market, 3M, Bank of America, BAE Systems, Deloitte, Meta and Google.
• Highly rated elementary and secondary schools and home to 180,000 college and university students
• Excellent weather with summer from 70 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and winter from 40 degrees to 70 degrees Fahrenheit 
• Outstanding environmental programs such as emission reduction measures
• Very affordable gasoline prices
• Diverse population
• World-famous music, arts and entertainment events
• No income tax
• Exciting opportunities in the tech sector

Cons

• Heavy traffic
• High competition for single-family and multi-family housing supply

Making the moving process to Austin easier

Relocating to Austin is a big decision you’ll take. Some people choose to move their belongings on their own while others leave everything up to a reliable moving company instead.

And it can be very helpful to have a “personal move concierge” that makes the process as seamless as possible. Service providers that offer this may include those that help you with packing and storage solutions even on long distance moves. Austin movers can provide you with a stress-free experience from packing services to unloading your belongings.

Hiring local movers in Austin

Several benefits come with the relocation process being taken care of professionally by working with Austin movers near you. Some of the factors that you need to consider when hiring include speed of the moving services, cost and straightforward pricing for transparency, reputation, special offers, and even industry awards.

Tip: Here’s a packing checklist for starters. Additionally, if you’re moving to Austin from out of state, you might want to consider renting a storage unit for your larger items like furniture and appliances. This way, when you finally get into your new home, everything will be ready for you, and there won’t be any surprises when it comes time to unpack.

Frequently Asked Questions about Austin answered by professional Austin movers

1. Why is Austin a great place for recent college grads with tech-related degrees?

   The city is home to many tech companies. The average occupational hourly wages for computer-related professions is $44.80, while those in engineering receive $43.31.

2. What are some of the famous festivals celebrated in Austin?

   There are plenty of music festivals such as ACL Music Festival, Austin Reggae Festival and South by Southwest (SXSW). Austinites and tourists also attend the Austin Film Festival, Art City Austin and the Moontower Comedy Festival.

3. What are some of the best tourist attractions in the city?

   Many locals and visitors frequent Barton Springs, Lady Bird Lake, Zilker Botanical Gardens and more than 50 golf courses. The Austin Museum of Art and the Austin Nature and Science Center are also popular.

4. Why do many tourists flock to Ann Richards Congress Bridge at night?

   That’s because the city is home to the largest bat colony in North America. The bridge’s design makes it a perfect hub for Mexican Free-Tailed Bats. They stay in the city from March to October.

5. How can I make my move to Austin as easy as possible?

   If you’re planning to move, it’s essential to work with a full service moving company that will help you pack, transport and unload your belongings to your new house. Austin movers are eager to provide you with a free quote or free estimate.

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Enjoy a streamlined relocation with expert moving teams no matter where you live with Heavenly Moving and Storage. Book your move knowing you have the full support of the only moving company in Austin on ABJ’s 2021 Best Places to Work and Best of the Best Moving Company Finalist. Get your free quote today or call us at 512-340-0551.