In 2007, CNN Headline News and Travel + Leisure ranked Austin second among 25 major cities as having the best people overall, based on category components such as intelligence, diversity, athleticism, fun and friendliness. Year after year, Austin remains a huge draw for migrating talent. For details on Austin’s population, visit the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.

Whether you are single or have a family, Austin is one of the most beautiful and affordable places to live in the nation. The median household income in Austin in 2006 was $52,882, significantly above the national average. Recent studies show that Austin’s cost of living index is 96.2, significantly lower than most other major urban areas of its size. To compare Austin’s cost of living to other cities, visit the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce’s Cost of Living Calculator.