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New to Central Texas? Find the Right Area for You

Whether it’s the weather, the job opportunities or the low sales tax, there are plenty of reasons people have been moving to Texas in recent years. And lately, there’s been no better place to call home in the Lone Star State than Central Texas.

Austin consistently tops lists of best places to live within Texas, while San Antonio is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. Even the small town community of San Marcos, Texas is having a moment, thanks to its proximity to Fort Hood and the high employment that comes with it. Needless to say, if you’re new to Central Texas, you’ll find the perfect place to call home once you figure out which vibrant and welcoming city is right for you. Here are a few things to consider!

Family Lifestyle

One of the most important things to consider is what your family needs most within your preferred lifestyle. If you’re already a parent or you’re planning to have children, you’ll want to look closely at which Texas school districts offer exemplary education. If you’re considering living in or near Austin, be sure to check out Earnes ISD and Lake Travis ISD in west Austin, or Leander ISD just north of Austin. For those of you searching for a home closer to San Antonio, Alamo Heights ISD and Northeast ISD consistently rank high throughout the state. As well as Boerne ISD, located in a charming yet growing small town community just a short drive north of San Antonio.

If kids aren’t part of the picture, you might want to consider more urban and centrally located options – like downtown Austin or the King William/South Town districts of San Antonio. These areas can offer easy access to shops, restaurants and bars, and hike/bike trails, allowing you to get out and enjoy the action of the city life. Quieter suburbs, such as Georgetown, Round Rock, New Braunfels and Helotes, are also exceptional options for those who like a slower pace of life. Whatever your interests are, there’s definitely a Texas neighborhood for you.

Commuting

This might not be a big deal for some people post-pandemic, but if you’re going to have a job that requires you to come to an office, you’ll need to consider your commute. That’s especially true in Austin, because roads haven’t really caught up to the city’s growth yet. The only major interstate that goes near downtown Austin is I-35, the main north-south highway in Texas, so you might want to try to live just west or east of the city – of course, depending on where your office is located. A variety of federal highways have been added, such as US-79, US-90, US-183 and US-290 to help commuters travel both in and out of the downtown Austin area.

In San Antonio, I-10, I-410 and I-35 serve the city, so traffic isn’t as big of an issue. However, San Antonio is very spread out, so you’ll still need to plan carefully. Because commuting is less trafficky, although sometimes just the same in time, maybe San Antonio residents live within the outskirt communities such as Live Oak, Sequin and Schertz, then drive to work within the larger San Antonio city limits.

Sports & Activities

If you’re a sports fan, San Antonio is home to the Spurs, the five-time winners of the NBA Championship. Both San Antonio and Austin have FC teams, as well as minor league baseball teams. Not to mention the university teams! Austin is home to the famous Longhorns of University of Texas, and San Antonio proudly supports the Roadrunners of University of Texas – San Antonio. Needless to say, if you like sports, San Antonio or Austin would be full of entertainment for even the most enthusiastic sports fans.

Not super into sports? History buffs will love San Antonio’s proximity to the Alamo and other World Heritage mission sites, while art lovers will appreciate Austin’s museums, galleries and street art. For shopping and restaurants, San Antonio’s Riverwalk and the Domain in Austin offer plenty to satisfy every interest and craving. For those craving a little bit of outdoor adventure, Central Texas is packed full of challenging trails, floatable rivers and pristine lakes.

Still undecided? Explore all of the spectacular Texas communities awaiting you in Austin and San Antonio using Independence Titles’ Area Profiles.

Regardless of which city intrigues you more, AwardWinningAgents.com makes it easy to find an Agent that will help guide you in the decision-making process of finding your ideal home and community throughout Central Texas.

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