So why does Austin keep making top 10 lists? (best cities, low crime)

[Mack wild]

Ok so I have been researching Austin now for about 2 years roughly. What keeps bringing me back to it is it's consistantly high scores on best cities when compared to other cities on ALL fronts. Things like nightlife, cost of living, jobs and job growth, low crime ect. It just seems to rank in the top 10 in all categories while most other cities have strengths and minuses Austin seems to rank consistantly high in every single thinkable category outside of the weather and the traffic.

Those that live here though seem to either blindly promote it on this website, or they seem to say it's way overhyped. There are people on here who have been to OTHER cities outside of Texas (i realize its everyones current favorite city in Texas if your a Texas native) who claim that the only reason to come here is low housing costs and cost of living compared to other cities. They say it's way overhyped, that the nightlife is actually very contained and limited to a couple of streets, that there is no more community involvement with things like festivals and atmosphere than anywhere else -- and that basically this city is no more special than any other city with the added burden of dirty water, traffic that is too ridiculas for a city of that size, high parking costs to go anywhere, and weather that will own your soul.

So why then -- does this city consistantly always make top 10's in everything from the food to the people to the entertainment, to the culture to the nightlife to the music ect?? If its no more special than anywhere else? Is there some kind of business deal going on with the media or something?

[scongress1234]

Originally Posted by Mack wild

Ok so I have been researching Austin now for about 2 years roughly. What keeps bringing me back to it is it's consistantly high scores on best cities when compared to other cities on ALL fronts. Things like nightlife, cost of living, jobs and job growth, low crime ect. It just seems to rank in the top 10 in all categories while most other cities have strengths and minuses Austin seems to rank consistantly high in every single thinkable category outside of the weather and the traffic.

Those that live here though seem to either blindly promote it on this website, or they seem to say it's way overhyped. There are people on here who have been to OTHER cities outside of Texas (i realize its everyones current favorite city in Texas if your a Texas native) who claim that the only reason to come here is low housing costs and cost of living compared to other cities. They say it's way overhyped, that the nightlife is actually very contained and limited to a couple of streets, that there is no more community involvement with things like festivals and atmosphere than anywhere else -- and that basically this city is no more special than any other city with the added burden of dirty water, traffic that is too ridiculas for a city of that size, high parking costs to go anywhere, and weather that will own your soul.

So why then -- does this city consistantly always make top 10's in everything from the food to the people to the entertainment, to the culture to the nightlife to the music ect?? If its no more special than anywhere else? Is there some kind of business deal going on with the media or something?

Yes, it means that Austin is the best city in the USA. It has no problems you usually find with major cities....no crime, traffic-free streets, jobs that pay great, people friendly everywhere, fun things to do 24/7........kidding.....the business going on with the media is that top 10 lists are a marketing gimmick....I'm sure you know that we live in a branded, hyped society..and we hype our cities as well...no, it doesn't mean the city doesn't live up to a nice place, but it surely doesn't live up to perfection, or those lists......Austin actually has a higher crime rate than average, and some areas, in fact many, some even west of I-35, are very bad....the traffic is very dangerous in many areas, and absolutely impossible in most for bikes to navigate, let alone pedestrians....many new areas don't even have sidewalks to walk on.....lots of the music sounds the same, and is in a really small area of the city DT...most of the area is butt-ugly big-box sprawl......

That being said, it is a great place, if you realize that those things are true, and you take Austin for what its worth..just a fun, mid-sized college focused city.....

And yes, the business going on is that those top 10 lists are marketing gimmicks....I myself can submit a top 10 list, and prob get more hits for my website/magazine by doing that, than anything I could possibly do..
It simply sells mags and creates web hits..

[LookingtoLeave]

Originally Posted by scongress1234

And yes, the business going on is that those top 10 lists are marketing gimmicks....I myself can submit a top 10 list, and prob get more hits for my website/magazine by doing that, than anything I could possibly do..
It simply sells mags and creates web hits..

Who puts this list out? If it's a marketing gimmick meant to hype up Austin, it sounds like it's an Austin publication then. I see Top 10 lists on Forbes all the time and if my memory serves me correct, Austin was listed for Young Professionals and something else, which I unfortunately don't recall. Why would Forbes, or any 3rd party publication, hype up Austin for no reason?

[Mack wild]

Originally Posted by LookingtoLeave

Who puts this list out? If it's a marketing gimmick meant to hype up Austin, it sounds like it's an Austin publication then. I see Top 10 lists on Forbes all the time and if my memory serves me correct, Austin was listed for Young Professionals and something else, which I unfortunately don't recall. Why would Forbes, or any 3rd party publication, hype up Austin for no reason?

That's what I don't get. I mean there are several articles consistantly over the years that talk up Austin. It's not just Forbes, I've seen several others. In every one that I see Austin always seems to be near the top and the most balanced with rankings for individual categories. I don't know if the hype has just caught on such that these writers just make it a sexy pick and randomly come up with numbers or what they judge these things on, but if you listen to Scongress1234 or some of the others on here you would think it to be a huge conspiracy.

[PanTerra]

Mayby Austin really does deserve it. I've been to a lot of cities and I can believe it.

[jimmyjack]

Originally Posted by Mack wild

So why then -- does this city consistantly always make top 10's in everything from the food to the people to the entertainment, to the culture to the nightlife to the music ect?? If its no more special than anywhere else? Is there some kind of business deal going on with the media or something?

Maybe because so many folks across the nation are leading meaningless empty lives.

[texastea]

It may be what you said: its the sexy choice so put it on your list. Or it could be some hidden agenda like those People's Sexiest Man/Woman lists. Those at the top almost always have a movie coming out. One thing I've noticed about the Top Cities lists is they usually "spread the love" geographically.

[LookingtoLeave]

Originally Posted by texastea

It may be what you said: its the sexy choice so put it on your list. Or it could be some hidden agenda like those People's Sexiest Man/Woman lists. Those at the top almost always have a movie coming out. One thing I've noticed about the Top Cities lists is they usually "spread the love" geographically.

They do spread the love. I've noticed that alot. I think they may just chime in on up-and-coming cities and their strengths. While I realize Austin, along with most cities, have plenty of faults, I just don't think that means what is mentioned in those lists is entirely fabricated.

[Mack wild]

Originally Posted by jimmyjack

Maybe because so many folks across the nation are leading meaningless empty lives.

But what does that have to do with anything though?? What does Austin as a pick have to do with THAT?

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by texastea

It may be what you said: its the sexy choice so put it on your list. Or it could be some hidden agenda like those People's Sexiest Man/Woman lists. Those at the top almost always have a movie coming out. One thing I've noticed about the Top Cities lists is they usually "spread the love" geographically.

Texastea, I think you may be on to something. It made me think. Spreading the love geographically would make complete marketing sense for magazines, which depend on size of circulation to sell advertising.

The question of "why is it always Austin on the list?" then becomes: if the criteria are simply low unemployment, good economy/housing market and housing affordability, every major city in Texas would qualify. But you throw in any lifestyle criteria such as fitness, per capita education, crime, or outdoor activities... and Austin bubbles up to the top instantly. That makes sense only for region, though -- and by region, I'm mostly talking Texas, but it could also include the ArkLaTex & Oklahoma.

So... I don't suspect it's the local chamber of commerce secretly bribing the publishers, but it very well might be about magazine circulation and spreading the love geographically... however, where there is smoke there is fire, and as far as the region is concerned a typical "best place to live" criteria set would have Austin at the top.