Boston vs. Austin: Which is Better? | Compare Two Cities | Lakeside (2024)

FAQs

Is Austin bigger than Boston? ›

While the metro area of Boston is similar in size to Austin at 4,500 sq. miles, the population density in the metro area is nearly double. The entire Boston metro population is over 4.9 million people resulting in a significantly higher density.

The cost of living in Boston, MA is 40.4% higher than in Austin, TX. You would have to earn a salary of $84,218 to maintain your current standard of living.

City of Austin

U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, has named Austin one of the 2024-2025 Best Places to Live in the nation. Austin ranked No. 9 in the general rankings.

Twin city: Phoenix, Arizona

Also the capital of its state, Phoenix shares Austin's outdoorsy lifestyle and appreciation for nightlife. Those who appreciate Austin's warm weather and plentiful cacti will feel right at home in this desert city.

In Texas, Houston has the most in all three categories: 90,900 millionaires, 258 centi-millionaires, and 18 billionaires. Dallas has 68,600 millionaires, 125 centi-millionaires and 15 billionaires; Austin has 32,700 millionaires, 92 centi-millionaires and 10 billionaires.

Compared to other major U.S. cities, Austin's cost of living is more economical, with a cost of living index of 97.8 which is below the national average. Additionally, while average salaries may be lower, they are often offset by the city's lower living expenses.

In order to live comfortably in Austin, a family of four would need an annual salary of $87,105 or monthly earnings totaling approximately $7,259. On the other hand, for single individuals living there, it requires about $42,755 per year, which comes out to around $3,563 each month.

Is it a good idea to move to Austin? Austin has a thriving community, making it the perfect destination for families and individuals who want to live and work in an exciting city full of job opportunities. Not only is there a vibrant music scene here, but there are also amazing culinary delights that people can enjoy.

It was ranked number five on the US News and World Report's 25 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2021-2022 and ranked #11 among the 125 metros for the best cities to retire in the nation.

Austin boasts a thriving music, arts, and cultural scene

Austin, Texas is known for its vibrant music and cultural scene. The city is often referred to as the “Live Music Capital of the World” due to its large number of live music venues and the wide variety of musical genres represented.

What is the downside of living in Austin, Texas? ›

Rapid growth means more traffic congestion

While Austin, Texas, boasts an array of appealing attributes, it's essential to consider some potential drawbacks before deciding to call the city home. One notable challenge is the city's rapid population growth, which has led to increased traffic congestion.

Whether it be homegrown wealth like Michael Dell's or Texas transplants like Elon Musk, Austin is becoming a popular address for high-net-worth individuals. The list is based on net worth and includes data up to 2023.

Due to the fact it straddles the Balcones Fault, much of the eastern part of the city is flat, with heavy clay and loam soils, whereas the western part and western suburbs consist of rolling hills on the edge of the Texas Hill Country.

San Antonio is renowned for its historic attractions and cultural heritage while Austin boasts an impressive live music scene full of opportunities to experience diverse cultures. Both cities provide plenty of exciting activities centered around these two themes.

The U.S. Census Bureau's latest data reveals that Austin fell back into 11th place among America's largest cities. One year after breaking into the list of the top-ten largest American cities, Austin has fallen back into the 11th position, according to new estimates released Thursday by the United States Census Bureau.

It has been one of the fastest growing large cities in the United States since 2010. Downtown Austin and Downtown San Antonio are approximately 80 miles (129 km) apart, and both fall along the Interstate 35 corridor. This combined metropolitan region of San Antonio–Austin has approximately 5 million people.

Philly's population is smaller than Phoenix, Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City. But it has more residents than Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Fort Worth, Texas, and San Jose, California.

Additionally, Austin is much larger than Seattle if you compare their incorporated boundaries. Seattle only has about 84 square miles of land compared to over 320 square miles in Austin. A conservative estimate of Austin's urban metro area is over 500 square miles.