Business Climate & Quality of Life Ratings & Rankings
2025 Rankings
Austin ranks as the No. 6 Hardest-Working City in the US based on 11 key metrics including average weekly work hours and share of workers with multiple jobs.(WalletHub, 2/25/25)
Austin ranks as the Best State Capital to live in the U.S. based on 48 key indicators including affordability, economic well-being, quality of life, education and health care.(WalletHub, 2/17/25)
Austin ranks as the 5th most “Smart City” among the Top US metros based on tech-driven urban development, sustainable policies and tech job opportunities. (CoworkingCafé, 02/19/25)
Austin is expected to deliver more Affordable housing in 2025 than any other market in the US with 3,452 units expected to come online. (Yardi Matrix, 02/10/25)
Austin was named as a 2024 Visionary Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance due to its efforts to close the digital divide. (National Digital Inclusion Alliance, 02/4/25)
Austin ranks at No. 6 in Milken’s annual Best-Performing Cities assessment of economic growth and access to opportunities in U.S. metropolitan areas. Austin maintains its decade-plus streak of landing in the top 10 due to its labor market performance and a robust and diversified tech sector. (Milken Institute, 1/14/25)
Austin is one of the Top 10 North American Tech Hubs. (Site Selection, 1/25)
Kyle, TX (zip 78640) is one of the Hottest Zip Codes in the U.S., ranking 10th, based on the number of homes that went into contract within 90 days of their listing in 2024. (Opendoor, 1/8/25)
Austin is one of the Top 5 U-Haul Growth Metros in annual ranking of metros seeing the largest net gains of movers taking one-way equipment into and out of a metro area in the last year. (U-Haul, 1/3/25)
2024 Rankings
Austin ranks No. 7 in annual Leading Metro Locations report ranking of the 53 largest U.S. metros based on overall economic health. In the Prime Workforce Availability ranking, Austin is No. 2. (Area Development, 12/19/24)
Austin is No. 2 in ranking of the South’s Best Metros for Tech in 2024. Metros were evaluated based on tech establishments and jobs density and growth, median tech earnings and growth, patent activity, presence of tech organizations, and overall quality of life. (Commercial Café, 12/19/24)
Texas is the No. 3 State to Start a Business in analysis based on data reflecting tax policies, the growth rate of small businesses, the likelihood of business survival, overall economic health, and workforce-related statistics. (B2B Reviews, 12/18/24)
Austin is among the Top 10 Best Cities in America according to survey conducted by real estate agent matching service Clever asking Americans to rate the 50 most populous U.S. metros on 9 quality of life metrics. (Clever, 12/16/24)
Austin is America’s Pickleball Capital in 2024 according to analysis produced by in-person leisure learning marketplace TeachMe.To. (TeachMe.To, 12/15/24)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Best Cities for Singles in 2025 based on comparison more than 180 U.S. cities across 35 key indicators of dating-friendliness. (WalletHub, 12/3/24)
Austin is the Best U.S. City for Nightlife. According to an analysis of Lyft rides on weekend nights, 23% of all rides were to bars and entertainment venues. (Stacker, 11/21/24)
Austin ranks 2nd among major metros for concentration of Highly Digital Computer, Engineering and Management jobs. Highly digital CEM jobs account for 15.5% of jobs in Austin and these jobs have increased over 124% since 2010. (Brookings Institution, 11/19/24)
Austin is No. 3 on ranking of the Top 100 Cities Where America’s Happiest Workers Thrive based on survey of 3,000 workers across the nation on job satisfaction. (resume.io, 11/19/24)
OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants of 2024 list includes 10 in Texas and 7 of those are in Austin. (OpenTable, 11/19/24)
Texas has the No. 1 State Business Climate. In addition to garnering the overall ranking, Texas was first in the Executive Survey portion of the rankings. (Site Selection, 11/24)
Austin is No. 1 on WalletHub’s list of the Best Cities for Veterans to Live which compares the 100 largest U.S. cities across 19 key indicators including the number of military skill-related jobs, veteran income growth, and the availability of VA health facilities, and other variables. (WalletHub, 11/7/24)
Austin is the No. 2 City with the Healthiest Population in ranking of the 46 largest cities across 8 measures related to chronic health conditions. (Forbes Advisor, 10/28/24)
Austin is the Best College Town in America according to ranking of 400 U.S. cities based on 31 key indicators of academic, social and economic opportunities for students. (WalletHub, 10/28/24)
Austin is No. 2 on ranking of the Most Dog Friendly Cities in the U.S. The top 50 cities were evaluated based on factors making a city a dog-friendly travel destination. (Tractor Supply, 10/25/24)
Austin is one of the Top Innovation Hubs to Watch: “Austin’s innovation landscape brings together research, development, and collaboration, positioning it as a ‘hub of hubs’ where groundbreaking advancements flourish.” (Business Facilities, 10/16/24)
Austin is the U.S. metro area with the highest share (nearly one-quarter) of remote/hybrid workers in 2023. Dominant industries in Austin like business and financial services and information technology offer remote opportunities and, at the same time, Austin’s strong economy and quality of life attract professionals from around the country. (Coworking Mag, 10/1/24)
The University of Texas at Austin ties for 7th in Top Public Schools 2025 ranking by U.S. News & World Report. (U.S. News & World Report, 9/23/24)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Coffee Cities in America in ranking of the 100 largest cities based 12 indicators of “coffee-lover friendliness.” (WalletHub, 9/18/24)
Austin ranked No. 5 overall in CBRE’s 2024 Scoring Tech Talent report, moving up one spot as its tech talent workforce grew 29.1% between 2018 and 2023, the highest growth rate of any U.S. tech market. Austin also ranks in the top 10 for workers specialized in AI. (CBRE, 9/4/24)
Austin is the 16th best city in the world for entrepreneurs and the 6th best in the U.S. (SumUp, 8/22/24)
Austin is slated to deliver over 21,500 new apartment units in 2024—more than any other metro except New York and Dallas—according to analysis of Yardi Matrix construction data for new apartment buildings of 50 or more units across all U.S. metropolitan areas. (RentCafe, 8/22/24)
Austin is No. 5 on World’s Best Nightlife Cities ranking. (TimeOut, 8/14/24)
Austin is the No. 1 startup hotspot based on ranking of metro areas with the highest concentrations of Inc. 5000 companies per capita. (Inc., 8/21/24)
Among large cities, Austin offers the Best Business Climate. (Business Facilities, 8/8/24)
Austin is the No. 1 Hot Spot for Corporate Headquarters in ranking based on number of headquarters there located in a city or metro area, and it the type of resources a location offers to the central operations of a business. (Business Facilities, 8/8/24)
Austin ranks No. 2 among the top 50 metros for improvements in income among those born to low-income families in income mobility study measuring changes in household income for people born to low-income parents across successive generations. (Opportunity Insights, 7/25/24)
Austin is the best city in the U.S. to start a business, ranking in the top 10 for five out of the eight factors providing evidence that a city encourages innovation and entrepreneurship. (USA Today, 7/24/24)
Austin is America’s Top Rental Market in ranking of cities and towns with 75,000+ population within the 50 largest metro areas for availability of affordable renting options, job opportunities, commute times, and access to urban amenities. (Realtor.com, 7/24/24)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Cities with the Most Green Job Postings. (Lightcast, 7/17/24)
Texas has the nation’s Best Corporate Tax Environment. (Area Development, Q3/24)
Texas is No. 3 on America’s Top States for Business ranking which scores all 50 states on 128 metrics in 10 broad categories of competitiveness. The categories Texas ranks first in are Workforce and Technology & Innovation. The state ranks second in Economy. (CNBC, 7/11/24)
Austin is 5th on America’s Boomtowns: Top Cities for Economic Growth ranking of 31 cities with 500,000+ population for performance over the last 4 years on key economic and social indicators. (CoworkingCafé, 7/2/24)
Austin is No. 8 in Most Educated Cities in ranking of the 150 largest metro areas based on 11 measures representing educational attainment, attainment gaps, and quality of education (public schools and higher education). (WalletHub, 7/2/24)
Austin has the Best Business Climate among large metro areas in annual ranking report from Business Facilities. (Business Facilities, 6/27/24)
Texas ranks as the Top State for the Semiconductor Industry according to Business Facilities’ ranking based on factors pertinent to site selection teams for business relocation and expansion investments. (Business Facilities, 6/25/24)
Austin is No. 15 on Resonance’s 2024 America’s Best Cities “place power” ranking based on statistical performance and qualitative evaluations by locals, visitors and prospective residents to determine the most desirable places to live, work or visit. Outdoors and nightlife were highlighted rankings (both at 8th). (Resonance Consultancy, 6/25/24)
Austin ranks 3rd among markets offering the best combination of wages, hiring, and affordability for new college graduates according to analysis of ADP data representing more than 4 million people aged 20 to 29 at 27,000+ employers in the 55 largest U.S. metros. (ADP Research, 6/24/24)
Texas ranks as the Best Business Climate. A focus on economic strength, regulatory and tax climate, infrastructure, and workforce availability is central to the Best Business Climate designation. (Business Facilities, 6/24/24)
Austin is No. 11 in the U.S. and No. 27 globally in annual Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking. (Startup Genome, 6/10/24)
Austin is the 4th Best City for Renters in ranking of the 95 largest cities across 21 metrics spanning affordability, availability, amenities, lifestyle and safety. (Forbes Advisor, 6/7/24)
The University of Texas System ranks 3rd for number of patents awarded in 2023. (National Academy of Inventors, 6/4/24)
Austin ranks 7th in the U.S. and 17th globally in Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2024 ranking of 1,000 cities and 100 countries using an algorithm applied to quantifiable data reflecting the quantity, quality and business environment of each startup ecosystem. (StartupBlink, 5/30/24)
Austin is No. 3 on U.S. Smart Cities in 2024 ranking based on metrics related to connectivity and infrastructure, sustainability and the tech job market for the nation’s 48 largest cities analyzed by ProptechOS. Austin also ranked as the city with the Best Smart City Infrastructure. (SmartCitiesDive, 5/30/24)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Energy Star Cities ranking of metro areas with the most Energy Star certified buildings. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 5/22/24)
Austin is No. 9 on Best Places to Live in America in 2024-2025 ranking according to U.S. News & World Report analysis of the 150 largest cities. (U.S. News & World Report, 5/21/24)
Austin is one of the 15 Friendliest Cities in the South according to Southern Living’s readers poll focused on places with 40,000 or more population. Weird, lively, laidback, inviting, and genuine were words readers used to describe Austin. (Southern Living, 5/21/24)
Three of the four fastest growing cities with 50,000 or more population in 2023 were in the Austin metro area: Georgetown ranked No. 1 with 10.6% growth over the last year, Kyle ranked No. 2 with 9.0%, and Leander ranked No. 4 with 7.6%. (U.S. Census Bureau, 5/15/24)
Austin is No. 3 on ranking of 2024’s Most Popular Boating Cities in America based on boat rental and charter activity on Austin’s expansive waterways, notably Lake Austin and Lake Travis. (getmyboat.com, 5/15/24)
Austin is No. 1 in Top Rental Markets for College Graduates in ranking of 313 cities in the 50 largest metro areas based on rental affordability and availability, job market favorability, culture, and liveliness. (Realtor.com, 5/7/24)
Austin is the Best City to Start a Business in ranking of the 46 most populous metros based on startup activity including startup job creation, overall economic growth, and other indicators. (USA Today, 4/30/24)
For the 20th year in a row, Texas was named the Best State for Business in annual survey of U.S. CEOs. (Chief Executive, 4/24/24)
Austin ranks 7th on Hottest Job Markets list from the Wall Street Journal and stands out as having the highest labor force participation rate among large metros. (Wall Street Journal, 4/8/24)
Austin is one of The World’s Top Startup Cities, ranking 16th globally and 8th nationally based on analysis of the scale and maturity of their venture capital ecosystem over the past six years. (Pitchbook, 4/18/24)
Austin is No. 3 on annual ranking of the United States Most Dynamic Metros based on data for area growth, young-firm prevalence and employment, education, income and other factors summarizing a region’s vitality. (Heartland Forward, 4/3/24)
Science, technology, engineering & math occupations account for 11.5% of all jobs in Austin in 2023, making Austin the 5th most concentrated in STEM among large U.S. metros. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4/3/2024)
Austin ranked No. 4 among top metros for net tech employment job gains, and the metro ranked No. 3 among the top cities for tech economic impact as a percent of the local economy with 22.2%. (CompTIA, 4/3/23)
Austin, ranking as the 8th largest Innovation Geography globally and 3rd in the Americas, is also the No. 1 Market to Watch globally based in its low tax environment, strong cultural scene, improving air connectivity, Big Tech presence, and the highly regarded University of Texas at Austin. (JLL, 3/25/24)
Austin the IDC Smart Cities North America Award winner in the Smart Buildings category for Whisper Valley, the largest sustainable community of zero-energy capable homes in the nation. (International Data Corporation, 3/24/24)
East Eleventh Street in Austin ranks at No. 3, in “The 30 coolest streets in the world” ranking from urban culture-focused publisher Time Out. (Time Out, 3/13/24)
Austin is the Best City for Entrepreneurs in ranking of the top 50 American cities based on small business funding opportunities and tax burden. (The Zebra, 3/11/24)
Austin ranks 4th among U.S. Cities that Could Incubate the Next Great Quantum Technology Ecosystem in examination of regions with the research, entrepreneurship, ready workforce, and pro-innovation institutions needed to join the top echelon of quantum hotspots (Chicago, Colorado, Massachusetts and California). (The Quantum Insider, 3/4/24)
Austin ranks No. 1 for Growth, No. 4 for Prosperity, and No. 6 for Inclusion in annual Metro Monitor rankings based on economic performance data over the last decade in the nation’s 54 largest metro areas. (Brookings Institution, 3/5/24)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Hardest-Working Cities in America in ranking of the 116 largest U.S. cities on measures of employment, work schedules, volunteering and other measures. (WalletHub, 2/19/24)
Austin is the Best-Performing City in annual assessment of economic growth and access to opportunities in U.S. metropolitan areas. Austin’s success is due to its labor market performance and a robust tech sector exhibiting fast and balanced growth. (Milken Institute, 2/6/24)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Best Cities for Tech Jobs in 2024. (Indeed, 1/29/24)
Time Out’s surveyed city-dwellers globally and 100+ well-traveled staff writers and editors on the affordability and quality of food and cultural scenes, beauty, and everything that makes cities great places to live and visit. Austin ranked 8th in the U.S. and 42nd globally in this sixth annual Best Cities in the World list. (Time Out, 1/23/24)
Austin leads list of the Top 5 Cities to Move Your Business to in 2024. Austin’s entrepreneurial vibrancy, favorable tax climate, skilled workforce, and embrace of creativity and collaboration contributed to making it an exceptional hub for business. (Iron Mountain, 1/21/24)
Austin is No. 4 on annual Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker “because Austin is in many ways the model for a thriving film scene outside of New York City or Los Angeles.” (MovieMaker, 1/19/24)
Austin is the Best City for STEM Professionals according to comparison of the 100 largest metros across 21 key metrics including per capita job openings for STEM grads, salary growth for STEM jobs, university engineering programs, patent activity, and R&D spending, as well as quality of life. (WalletHub, 1/17/24)
Austin, with 439 deals garnering $3.9 billion in 2023, ranks sixth among U.S. metros for VC investment. (Pitchbook, 1/10/24)
Austin ranks 8th nationally and 43rd globally in ranking of the world’s best cities (principal cities with metro populations of 1 million+) based on measures contributing to the key factors of livability, lovability and prosperity that define each city’s “Place Power.” (Resonance Consultancy, 1/6/24)
Texas is Business Facilities 2023 State of the Year based on its business-friendly environment, including legislation and incentives, workforce development programs, and the breadth of companies selecting the state for corporate relocation and expansion projects. (Business Facilities, 1/5/24)
Austin is No. 5 on ranking of the Best Places to Find a Job based on analysis of 31 indicators of job-market strength across 180 U.S. cities. (WalletHub, 1/4/24)
Austin ranks as the 5th hottest destination for one-way movers (U-haul, 1/3/24)
2023 Rankings
Austin continues to increase its share of the national tech industry: according to analysis of the 100 largest U.S. metros, Austin saw the greatest increase in its share of national digital services jobs between 2020 and 2022 (from 1.7% to 2.1%). (Brookings Institution, 12/12/23)
Austin has become a hub for headquarters relocations with 66 new HQs in the past 5 years, more than any other metro, according to review of nearly 500 publicly announced HQ relocations between 2018 to 2023. (CBRE, 12/11/23)
Travis County and Williamson County rank 3rd and 6th respectively on annual Talent Attraction Scorecard ranking of 616 counties with 100,000+ population across indicators of regional success in creating a stable and attractive environment for talent. (Lightcast, 12/4/23)
Annual global aviation Awards for Excellence named Austin-Bergstrom International Airport the Medium Airport of the Year for not only its success, but its industry leadership. CAPA’s awards are independently researched by an international panel of judges and CAPA analysts. (CAPA – Centre for Aviation, 11/28/23)
Austin is the Best College Town in America according to comparison of 400 cities on key indicators of academic, social and economic opportunities for students. (WalletHub, 11/28/23)
Austin is the No. 2 best performing region for middle- and working-class households according to ranking of the country’s 50 largest metropolitan areas focused on livability for families using metrics of unemployment, earnings and living costs. (Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity, 11/27/23)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Cities Where Millennials are Moving to Most. Millennials newly transplanted to Austin totaled 103,461 in 2022 and make up 10.7% of the city’s population. (SmartAsset, 11/16/23)
Austin is No. 7 on ranking of the Best U.S. Cities for Foreign Multinationals to do Business. (Financial Times, 11/6/23)
Texas tops annual Top State Business Climate Rankings based several criteria including a survey of corporate site selectors, qualified economic development projects, and independent measures of states’ attractiveness to capital investors. (Site Selection, 11/23)
Austin is No. 3 on Best Warm Destination for Winter Travel ranking focused on cost and convenience, as well as activities and attractions. (WalletHub, 10/31/23)
Austin is the No. 4 U.S. market for overall real estate prospects due above-average levels of economic diversity, white-collar employment, and growth prospects, leading to strong investor appeal. Austin also ranks No. 1 for homebuilding prospects. (Urban Land Institute, 10/31/23)
Austin stands out in ranking of U.S. Cities on the Tech Frontier based on the concentration of leading-edge skills in the workforce. The combination of a region’s current concentration of “Frontier Skills” (Austin ranks 5th) and its momentum (Austin ranks 4th) represents a powerful assessment of the competitiveness of its tech workforce. (Burning Glass Institute and Wall Street Journal, 10/21/23)
Austin is the 4th Most Educated City in the U.S. in ranking of the top 100 cities. (Forbes, 10/13/23)
Austin is No. 5 on ranking of America’s Most Future-Ready Urban Hubs across key metrics representing urban innovation. Austin scored highest in the “business and technology” category covering indicators like STEM/tech jobs, startup activity, R&D funding, and patents. (Point2, 10/10/23)
New global ranking from Pitchbook places Austin 14th globally and 7th in the U.S. based on overall development (size and maturity) of its venture capital ecosystem. (Pitchbook, 10/10/23)
Austin is one of the Top 5 Leading Metro Locations in ranking based on economic health and positioning for long-term growth; indicators relied on included GDP, workforce measures, and activity in growth-driving segments like high tech manufacturing, R&D, and STEM. (Area Development, Q4/2023)
Austin is the No. 2 Hotspot for Entrepreneurs based on the rate of new company formation. (Linkedin, 9/13/23)
Austin is No.1 metro where new hires from all generations are welcomed at high rates. Each metro’s hires by generation was divided by its respective population by generation. Metros were ranked according to their local population share of generation hires. (Linkedin, 8/30/23)
Austin is the No. 5 Best City for Renters in evaluation of the 96 largest cities across 23 metrics representing rental market conditions and quality of life. (Forbes Advisor, 8/24/23)
Austin is No. 2 on annual Best Business Climate metro ranking. Other top standings in Business Facilities metro rankings report include Life Sciences Growth (No. 1), Tech Talent (No. 1), Millennial Magnets (No. 1), and Smart Cities (No. 5). (Business Facilities, 8/9/23)
Texas ranks as the Best Business Climate. A low tax burden, robust incentives, world-class higher education institutions, and steady population growth combine to offer an environment where businesses across varied industries have the opportunity to thrive. (Business Facilities, 8/8/23)
Austin is No. 6 on CBRE’s annual Tech Talent Scorecard Ranking based on metrics that represent each market’s depth, vitality and attractiveness to companies seeking tech talent and to tech workers seeking employment. (CBRE, 7/17/23)
The Austin metro is No. 7 on America’s Biggest Boomtowns ranking based on growth in population, workforce, number of businesses, housing, income, and GDP, as well as indicators including unemployment, poverty, median age, and proportion of high wage workers. (Checkr, 7/11/23)
Austin is the 7th Best Cities for Music Lovers ranking based on music scene reputation, plus numbers of music venues, music festivals and concerts, vinyl record and musical instrument shops, as well as how many artists and bands call the city their home. (SeatPick, 7/6/23)
Austin has the No. 2 Best Business Climate in annual ranking of large metro areas based on factors valued by corporate site selectors and site selection consultants. (Business Facilities, 6/28/23)
Texas is the No. 1 State for the Semiconductor Industry in annual look at existing investment and ecosystems, plus planned development and investment, in high growth industries across the country. (Business Facilities, 6/27/23)
The 9th largest economy in the world, Texas, is recognized as the state with the Best Business Climate in annual ranking focused on 60+ factors pertinent to site selection teams during corporate relocation or expansion projects. (Business Facilities, 6/26/23)
Austin is No. 1 on Best Cities to Launch a Career list based on affordability, employment outlook, and quality of life in the top 50 U.S. metro areas. (Bankrate, 6/26/23)
Austin saw the largest net positive migration of remote workers during the pandemic among major metros with the most remote worker migration according to analysis of Census Bureau migration data. (New York Times, 6/17/23)
Austin is No. 10 in the U.S. and No. 25 globally in annual Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking. This year’s report also ranks Austin No. 3 in North America for VC funding per capita (behind Silicon Valley and Boston). (Startup Genome, 6/15/23)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Meeting Destinations in North America. (Cvent, 5/23/23)
Three Austin area cities are among the Top 5 Fastest Growing Cities in 2022—Georgetown (14.40%) and Leander (10.85%) in Williamson County rank 1st and 4th respectively, and Kyle (10.86%) in Hays County ranks 3rd among cities with 50,000 or more residents. (U.S. Census Bureau, 5/18/23)
Austin is the No. 2 Best-Performing City in annual assessment of economic growth and access to opportunities in U.S. metropolitan areas. Austin’s success is due to the strength of its high-tech sector driving rapid job and wage growth. (Milken Institute, 5/16/23)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Best U.S. Cities to Start a Career based on 26 metrics representing professional opportunities and quality of life. (WalletHub, 5/15/23)
Austin is No. 6 in Top Large Cities for Starting a Career after College ranking based on cities’ strengths and attractions for young professionals. (Coworking Café, 5/2/23)
The 2023 Mac Conway Awards recognized the Opportunity Austin as one of the top 20 economic development organizations in the U.S. based on measures of corporate facility investment. (Site Selection, 5/23)
The University of Texas ranks 3rd in the U.S. for the number of U.S. patents granted in 2022. (National Academy of Inventors, 4/26/23)
For the 19th year in a row, Texas was named the Best State for Business in annual survey of U.S. CEOs. (Chief Executive, 4/25/23)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Best Large Cities to Start a Business based on measures representing business environment, access to resources, and business costs. (WalletHub, 4/24/23)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Best Cities for Food in the U.S. (Food & Wine, 4/19/23)
Austin has one of the 10 Best U.S. Airports for Food. (Food & Wine, 4/17/23)
Austin continues to attract the most workers—for every 10,000 LinkedIn members in Austin, 98 arrived in the last 12 months. (Linkedin, 4/6/23)
Austin ranks as one of the Top 5 Startup Hubs in the U.S. according to payment processor Stripe’s analysis of its data on ‘breakout startups’ (i.e., new companies with unusually rapid revenue ramps). (Stripe, 4/5/23)
Austin is the 2nd Hottest Job Market in annual WSJ ranking of U.S. metros with more than 1,000,000 population based on unemployment, labor force participation, and growth in employment, labor force and wages. (Wall Street Journal, 4/1/23)
Austin is No. 7 on Most Climate-Resilient Cities ranking of the top 50 U.S. cities based on measures of geography, risk, infrastructure and preparation. (Architectural Digest, 3/30/23)
Austin ranked No. 5 among top metros for net tech employment job gains, and the metro ranked No. 4 among the top cities for tech economic impact as a percent of the local economy with 24%. (CompTIA, 3/29/23)
Texas became the leading state in the country for adding tech workers last year, with net tech employment growing by 5.5% and 45K new workers joining the industry. (CompTIA, 3/29/23)
Austin’s business-friendly and forward-thinking environment make the fast-growing metro highly desirable to innovative firms and place it No. 4 in annual Most Dynamic Metros ranking of all U.S. metros. (Heartland Forward, 3/28/23)
Austin is the Best Housing Market for Growth and Stability according to study of the long term (1998-2023) performance of 400 U.S. metros. (SmartAsset, 3/27/23)
Austin is the most pet-friendly city for renters looking to move, with more than 4 out of 5 rental listings allowing pets. (Zillow, 3/6/23)
Austin is the No. 1 large metro for new corporate facility investment projects in 2022 on a per capita basis and the No. 7 metro for the total number of projects. (Site Selection, 3/1/23)
For the 11th year in a row, Texas claims the Governor’s Cup for total qualified projects in 2022. On a projects per capita basis, Texas ranks 7th. (Site Selection, 3/1/23)
Austin is the No. 4 City for Pre-IPO Startups based on the funding into pre-IPO startups, the number of fundraising campaigns, the average valuation for companies, the number of investors into fundraising rounds, campaign success, and the number of unique industries represented. (Crowdfund Capital Advisors, 3/2/23)
Austin ranks 1st for growth, 4th for prosperity, and 9th for overall inclusion in Brookings’ Metro Monitor 2023 examination of economic performance over 2011 to 2021. (Brookings Institution, 2/28/23)
Austin is the No. 2 Most-Preferred Market for Real Estate Investors in 2023. Austin also ties as the No. 5 most preferred market for lenders. (CBRE, 2/23/23)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Hardest Working Cities in the U.S. based on 11 key metrics ranging from the employment rate to average weekly work hours to the share of workers with multiple jobs across 116 cities. (WalletHub, 2/20/23)
Among the 56 metropolitan areas with over 1 million population, Austin ranks third for the percentage (50.3%) high-digitalization-level jobs. (Brookings Institution, 2/7/23)
Austin’s “Central Texas State Highway 130 Corridor” is the least expensive among 30 top high-tech corridors in the U.S. for annual operating costs for companies in high-growth advanced manufacturing sectors, according to new report from The Boyd Company. (Business Facilities, 1/26/23)
Round Rock, TX is America’s Best Place to Live in 2023 based on data indicating where your money will stretch furthest and your lifestyle will be the most enjoyable. (Bankrate.com, 1/24/23)
Austin is one of the Top 10 U.S. Metros for Logistics Facility Investment based on projects won over the last 3 years. (Site Selection, 1/23/23)
Austin is the No. 2 Best Metro Area for STEM Professionals in ranking of the top 100 metros across 21 measures of professional opportunities, STEM-friendliness, and quality of life. (WalletHub, 1/18/23)
Austin, with “spectacular entertainment districts, ubiquitous culture, top-notch restaurants, more than 250 music venues,” is among the Top 25 Most Popular U.S. Destinations in TripAdvisor’s annual Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Destination Awards. (TripAdvisor, 1/18/23)
Austin, with 416 deals garnering $4.9 billion in 2022, is one of the top 10 U.S. metros for VC investment. (Pitchbook, 1/11/23)
Austin ranks as the No. 2 most preferred market for real estate investment according to annual U.S. Investor Intentions Survey. (CBRE, 1/9/23)
Texas is No. 1 for Aerospace Manufacturing Attractiveness. (PwC, 1/23)
Austin is ranked No. 4 on the Financial Health Index rating of metros with population over 1 million based on measures of business, household, and municipal/state financial health. (TheCreditReview, 1/3/23)
2022 Rankings
Austin is one of the Top 20 Places where Americans are Happiest according to ranking of over 160 U.S. cities based on indicators of personal finance, well-being and quality of life. (SmartAsset, 12/20/22)
Austin is the Best City for Entrepreneurs in 2022 in ranking based on VC funding, SBA loan funding, and personal and corporate income tax rates in the top 50 U.S. metro areas. (The Zebra, 12/19/22)
Austin is one of the Top 20 Arts-Vibrant Large Communities according to the National Center for Arts Research annual Arts Vibrancy Index ranking of over 900 communities across the U.S. (SMU DataArts, 12/15/22)
Austin had the 4th fastest growing economy in 2021 and the 3rd fastest growing economy over the last 5 years among the top 50 metros. (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 12/8/22)
Austin continues to attract the most workers—for every 10,000 LinkedIn members in Austin, 143 arrived in the last 12 months. (Linkedin, 12/1/22)
Austin ranks 11th nationally and 25th globally in ranking of over 200 startup ecosystems based on measures of capital and investment, innovation and talent, and entrepreneurship. (Dealroom.co, 12/1/22)
Austin is the Best College Town in America according to comparison of 400 cities on key indicators of academic, social and economic opportunities for students. (WalletHub, 11/29/22)
Austin ranks 7th on Best Cities for Singles list focused on dating-friendliness indicators in 180 U.S. cities. (WalletHub, 11/28/22)
Austin is No. 2 on ranking of the top U.S. metros with the largest shares of Gen Z hires in 2021 due to strengths in a host of Gen Z-friendly fields like social media, marketing, design, restaurant management and tech startups. (Linkedin, 11/23/22)
Austin is the No. 1 City Best Prepared for a “Smart City” Future according to ranking of 100 European and U.S. cities based on measures of technology infrastructure, green infrastructure, and the tech jobs market. (ProptechOS, 11/22/22)
Austin is the top metro for net domestic migration as a percent of total population in 2020, 2021 and YTD 2022 based on estimates produced by Markerr using Census Bureau population and migration data and USPS change-of-address data for the 50 largest U.S. metros. (Markerr, 11/18/22)
Austin is No. 1 on annual STEM Job Growth Index based STEM trends and other socioeconomic, business and fiscal indicators influencing growth prospects among the top 50 metro areas. (RCLCO Real Estate Consulting, 11/14/22)
Austin ranks 12th nationally and 43rd globally in annual ranking of the world’s top urban destinations (principal cities with metro populations of 1 million+) based on the relative quality of place, reputation, and competitive identity. (Resonance Consultancy, Ltd., 11/9/22)
Texas is No. 3 in Site Selection’s annual Top State Business Climate ranking and tied for 4th in the Executive Survey component based on site selector’s experience locating projects in the states. (Site Selection, 11/1/22)
Austin is No. 2 on Best Warm Destination for Winter Travel ranking focused on cost and convenience, as well as activities and attractions. (WalletHub, 11/1/22)
The University of Texas at Austin ranks 9th in annual global ranking of university undergraduate programs producing the most venture capital-backed founders. (Pitchbook, 10/31/22)
Austin ranks 1st in the U.S. and 3rd in North America among the most active tech markets for office leasing activity since third quarter 2020, buoyed by the city’s growth in tech employment. (CBRE, 10/31/22)
Austin is the No. 2 Best Place for Veterans to Live based on analysis of the 100 largest U.S. cities across 20 key indicators of livability, affordability and veteran-friendliness. (WalletHub, 10/31/22)
Austin is the No. 4 U.S. market for overall real estate prospects due to tremendous and sustained population and job growth and above-average levels of economic diversity and white-collar employment, leading to strong investor appeal. (Urban Land Institute & PwC, 10/27/22)
Austin is the No. 1 City Where Millennials are Moving based on analysis of Census Bureau data for 25 to 39 year olds moving between different states. In 2021, 23,965 millennials moved into Austin while only 13,421 moved out. (SmartAsset, 10/27/22)
Austin’s Travis and Williamson Counties rank 3rd and 6th respectively in annual Talent Attraction Scorecard ranking of large U.S. counties based on net migration, total and skilled job growth, job openings per capita, educational attainment, and regional competitiveness measures. (Lightcast, 10/25/22)
Austin has the 4th Best Quality of Life among U.S. metros based in an index of cost of living, purchasing power, property price to income ratio, pollution, commute time, safety, healthcare and climate indicators. (Visual Capitalist, 10/24/22)
Austin is the 2nd fastest growing metropolitan economy in the U.S. in 2022. (Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, 10/18/22)
Austin is the 9th Best City for Families with Children, earning high marks for public school quality, educational attainment, climate and recreational opportunities, and a balanced cost environment. (StorageCafe, 10/18/22)
Austin is one of the Top 15 U.S. Cities for Foreign Multinationals to do Business In according to the Financial Times and Nikkei. (Financial Times, 10/6/22)
Austin’s Eanes Independent School District (ISD) is the No. 10 Best School District in America and the Austin ISD’s LASA High School is one of the top 25 Best Public High Schools in America. (Niche, 9/27/22)
Austin is the No. 1 metro for the number of INC 5000 firms per capita. (Site Selection, 9/22/22)
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport earns recognition as one of a select few North American airports to achieve carbon neutrality. (Airports Council International, 9/19/22)
Texas is No. 4 in annual Top States for Doing Business ranking. Top subcategory rankings include No. 1 for corporate tax structure, No. 2 for competitive labor market, available real estate, access to capital, and No. 3 for logistics/infrastructure. (Area Development, 9/8/22)
The University of Texas at Austin ranks 8th on 2023 Top Public Universities in America ranking of 856 four-year institutions. (Niche, 8/29/22)
Austin is the Best City in the U.S. for Singles based on high quality of life, booming job market, youthful population, and endless supply of activities. (Bankrate.com, 8/12/22)
Austin is No. 2 in Best BBQ Cities ranking of the top 50 metros based on prevalence of BBQ restaurants and their quality ratings, major BBQ events, and other measures. (Clever Real Estate, 8/12/22)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Cities for Gen Z. The ranking favors affordable options with low unemployment, a variety of entertainment options, fast internet, and highly educated Gen Z populations. (CommercialCafe, 8/10/22)
Austin is the Most Polite City in America according to survey of residents of the 30 largest cities. (Preply, 8/9/22)
Austin ranks 1st for Tech Talent and 7th as a Fintech Leader market. (Business Facilities, 8/8/22)
Texas has the No. 4 Best Business Climate in Business Facilities annual rankings report. Texas’ No. 1 rankings in the report include foreign direct investment, semiconductors, and installed wind power. (Business Facilities, 8/4/22)
Austin is the No. 6 large metro in annual Best Business Climate ranking. (Business Facilities, 7/21/22)
Austin is one of the top 10 Most Educated Metros in America based on measures of educational attainment, attainment gaps, and public school system and higher education quality for the 150 largest metros. (WalletHub, 7/18/22)
Texas is one of America’s Top 5 States for Business in 2022 based on 88 metrics in 10 broad categories of competitiveness. (CNBC, 7/13/22)
Austin is the No. 1 metro for sustainability based on green industry investment projects, prevalence of LEED-certified and Energy Star buildings, and installed solar PV capacity. (Site Selection, 7/5/22)
Austin is in the top 10 nationally and top 25 globally in ranking of startup ecosystems. Austin’s strengths include a business-friendly environment and an educated workforce. Strong subsectors include cybersecurity and cleantech.
(Startup Genome, 6/14/22)
Austin is one of the top 20 U.S. markets for life sciences research talent. (CBRE, 6/13/22)
Austin ranked as the No. 1 large American Metro with the Most Innovative Workers based on prevalence of jobs that require creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for work-related problems. (SmartestDollar, 6/13/21)
Austin has the 3rd fastest growing tech talent pool, with 36.9% growth in tech talent over the last 3 years, according to analysis of U.S. metro areas with a minimum of 20,000 LinkedIn members with identifiable engineering or IT talents. (Linkedin, 6/8/22)
Austin is projected to be the fastest growing metropolitan economy through 2027 among the top 50 metros—annual growth from 2021 to 2027 is estimated to average 4.2%. (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 6/3/22)
Austin is one of 6 “STEM Leaders” in examination of cities, states, economic development organizations, and others striving to close the STEM talent gap and fostering growth for these careers in their locations. (Business Facilities, 5/31/22)
Austin is the No. 1 place to start a business according to consumer finance startup Pheabs’ analysis of data on business costs and other economic conditions. (Pheabs, 5/31/22)
Austin is the No. 1 U.S. metro for the rate of home building: Austin had 31 single-family building permits per 10,000 people in Q1, the most per capita of any major U.S. metro; Austin also leads in multifamily with 26 permits per 10,000 people. (Redfin, 5/27/22)
Linkedin’s 2022 Guide to Kickstarting your Career identifies Austin as the No. 1 market to launch your professional journey. (Linkedin, 5/18/22)
Austin is the No. 4 Best City to Start a Career based on ranking of 182 cities based on 27 measures representing professional opportunities and quality of life. (WalletHub, 5/16/22)
The 2022 Mac Conway Awards recognized the Austin Chamber of Commerce as one of the top 20 economic development organizations in the U.S. based on measures of corporate facility investment. (Site Selection, 5/22)
Texas ranks No. 2 in Site Selection’s annual “Prosperity Cup” recognizing state-level economic development agency success based on criteria focused largely on capital investment project activity. (Site Selection, 5/22)
For the 18th year in a row, Texas was named the Best State for Business by Chief Executive. (Chief Executive, 4/26/22)
Austin is the Hottest U.S. Job Market based on unemployment, labor force participation, job growth, labor force growth, and wage growth. (Wall Street Journal, 4/22/22)
Austin is No. 7 on Most Dynamic Metropolitans ranking of U.S. metros based on recent employment growth, wage growth, GDP growth, and entrepreneurship metrics. (Heartland Forward, 4/4/22)
Austin is the 7th Healthiest Place to Live in the U.S. according to ranking of 182 cities based on measures of health care, food, fitness, and green space. (WalletHub, 4/4/22)
Science, technology, engineering & math occupations account for 11.1% of all jobs in Austin in 2021, making Austin the 5th most concentrated in STEM among large U.S. metros. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics., 03/31/2022)
Austin is the No. 4 metro for tech’s economic impact as a percentage of the local economy (24.7%). (CompTIA, 3/29/22)
Austin is the No. 2 Best-Performing City in annual assessment of Where America’s Jobs are Created & Sustained. (Milken Institute, 3/28/22)
Texas is the No. 7 in ranking of States for the Best Taxpayer ROI based on measures representing key government services categories and per capita taxes paid. (WalletHub, 3/22/22)
Austin topped CompTIA’s Tech Town Index for the third consecutive year. The Index focuses on flourishing local tech communities where current and aspiring tech workers and businesses can find opportunities that intersect with affordability and quality of life. (CompTIA, 3/11/22)
Austin is one of the United States’ 8 “superstar” large, long-established, and growing tech hubs. (Brookings Institution, 3/8/22)
Austin is the No. 1 Up-and-Coming City for Startups based on the funding into pre-IPO startups, the number of fundraising campaigns, the average valuation for companies, the number of investors into fundraising rounds, campaign success, and the number of unique industries represented. (Crowdfund Capital Advisors, 3/2/22)
Austin is the Best U.S. Housing Market for Growth and Stability. (smartasset, 3/2/22)
Austin is one of the Top Metros for 2021 based on total economic development projects won—among metros with population over one million, Austin ranks 4thfor total projects and 1st for projects on a per capita basis. (Site Selection, 3/1/22)
For the 10th consecutive year, Texas wins Site Selection’s Governor’s Cub based on new private sector capital investment projects. (Site Selection, 3/1/22)
Austin is one of the Top 5 Best Cities for Dating in ranking of 85 U.S. cities. (ApartmentList.com, 2/7/22)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Hardest-Working Cities in the U.S. based on ranking of the 116 largest cities across 11 direct and indirect work indicators. (WalletHub, 2/21/22)
Austin is the 7th Best City to Start a Business in 2022 based on favorable economic conditions, indicators of an entrepreneurial culture, tax friendliness, and high rates of business survival. (Policygenius, 1/26/22)
Austin is the Best Market for Commercial Real Estate Investing in 2022. (CrowdStreet, 1/25/22)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in 2022 due to the city’s collaborative community of filmmakers and abundant opportunities for inspiration, networking and showcasing your work. (MovieMaker, 1/25/22)
Austin is 7th globally on Numbeo’s 2022 Quality of Life Index based on measures of purchasing power, pollution, house price to income ratio, cost of living, safety, health care, commute time, and climate for 255 cities. (Numbeo, 1/22/22)
Austin is the No. 3 Best Metro for STEM Professionals in ranking of the 100 largest metros based on professional opportunities, “STEM-friendliness,” and quality of life. (WalletHub, 1/19/22)
Austin, with 387 deals garnering $4.9 billion in 2021, is one of the top 10 U.S. metros for VC investment. (PitchBook, 1/13/22)
Austin is the No. 5 Best City for Jobs according to analysis of 31 indicators of job market strength across 180 U.S. cities. (WalletHub, 1/4/22)
Austin ranks in the top 20 in JLL’s “Innovation Geographies” assessment of the innovation and talent attributes of 100 major cities around the world. For talent concentration, Austin ranks 8th globally and 5th in the U.S. For Innovation, Austin ranks 19th globally and 9th in the U.S. (JLL, 1/1/2022)
2021 Rankings
University of Texas at Austin is No. 1 for R&D funding financed by the U.S. National Science Foundation. (U.S. National Science Foundation, 12/27/21)
Austin is the 7th Most Fun City in America according to ranking of 182 cities based on measures of entertainment and recreation, nightlife, and costs. (WalletHub, 12/8/21)
Austin is the Best College Town in America in ranking of 400 U.S. cities of varying sizes based on 30 key indicators of academic, social and economic opportunities for students. (WalletHub, 11/30/21)
Austin is the Best City for Expats to Relocate To in global ranking based on property cost and a variety of quality of life measures. (money.co.uk, 11/16/21)
Williamson County ranks 5th on annual Talent Attraction Scorecard ranking of large U.S. counties (100k+ population). (EMSI, 11/3/21)
Texas is No. 3 in Site Selection’s annual Business Climate Rankings and was the No. 1 choice in the survey of corporate site selection executives. (Site Selection, 11/1/21)
Austin is No. 4 for overall real estate prospects on annual ULI/PWC forecast report which also identified Austin as one of 6 hypergrowth “supernova” magnet metros (i.e., migration destinations for both people and companies).
(PwC, 10/14/21)
For the 3rd year in a row, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has been named among the top 10 best airports in the U.S. by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler. The award cited easy navigation, live music and local Texas food as reasons readers listed the airport among the best. (Condé Nast Traveler, 10/5/21)
Round Rock is the 25th Best Place to Live according to ranking of 1,300 U.S. places with population of 25,000 to 500,000 that met baseline thresholds for safety, growth and diversity. (Money, 9/23/21)
Austin is one of the Top 20 Global Startup Ecosystems according to annual ranking of 280 innovation ecosystems around the world. (Startup Genome, 9/22/21)
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport ranks as the 7th best large airport (10-32.9 million passengers per year) in North America in 2021, up from 8th in 2020, in annual North American Airport Satisfaction Study. (J.D. Power, 9/22/21)
Austin is the No. 2 business flight destination for this fall, according to data from TripActions. (Skift, 9/7/21)
Austin is the U.S. city gaining the most people—for every 10,000 Linkedin members in Austin, 129 arrived in the last 12 months. (Linkedin, 9/2/21)
Austin is one of 13 early-adopter metro areas, along with the San Francisco Bay Area, dominating the nation’s emerging artificial intelligence (AI) economy. (Brookings Institution, 9/21)
Texas tops Site Selection’s Global Groundwork Index based on cumulative and per capita infrastructure investments. (Site Selection, 9/21)
Austin is one of the 10 Best Cities to Drive in according to ranking of the 100 largest U.S. cities based on measures of cost of ownership and maintenance, traffic and infrastructure, safety, and access to vehicles and maintenance. (WalletHub, 8/31.21)
Austin ranks 4th for electric vehicle infrastructure in ranking of the 100 largest metro areas. (StorageCafe, 8/23/21)
Business Facilities annual rankings report places Austin as the No. 1 Fastest-Growing Metro, the No. 2 Tech Hub (Growth Potential), the No. 7 Fintech Leaders, and in the global rankings, Austin is the No. 10 Startup Ecosystems. (Business Facilities, 7/27/21)
Texas has the nation’s No. 3 Best Business Climate. (Business Facilities, 7/27/21)
Texas is the Best State to Start a Business based on 28 indicators of startup success. (WalletHub, 7/20/21)
Austin is among the 14 top life sciences clusters in the U.S. (Newmark, 7/21)
Austin is No. 7 in CBRE’s annual Tech Talent Scorecard ranking of the top 50 U.S. and Canadian markets by number of tech talent professionals based on their competitive advantages and appeal to both employers and tech talent employees. (CBRE, 7/14/21)
Texas is No. 4 on America’s Top States for Business ranking. (CNBC, 7/13/21)
Austin is No. 5 on U.S. News’ Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2021-22 ranking. (U.S. News & World Report, 7/13/21)
Texas is No. 2 in annual Top States for Doing Business ranking. Top subcategory rankings include No. 1 for corporate tax environment, competitive labor environment, logistics/infrastructure, available real estate, and No. 2 for favorable regulatory environment and access to capital/project funding. (Area Development, Q3/21)
Austin is one of tech’s top 10 most resilient hubs according to Linkedin’s analysis of the growth of engineering and information technology talent relative to population. (Linkedin, 6/23/21)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Major Americas Cities of the Future for Human Capital and Lifestyle ranking of the 54 largest metropolitan areas in the Americas. (fDi Intelligence, 6/17/21)
Austin is ranks 12th for R&D performed by businesses. For business R&D as a percent of GDP, Austin ranks 8th. (U.S. National Science Foundation, 6/16/21)
The University of Texas is ranked No. 4 in the world for patents granted to higher education institutions. (National Academy of Inventors, 6/15/21)
Austin is the No. 2 city in the U.S. for Gamers among the top 100 cities based on indicators of gaming environment, internet quality and coverage, and game developer educational and job opportunities. (Wallethub, 6/7/21)
Austin is the top beneficiary of tech-related migration in the past 12 months—Austin captured a net inflow of 217 software and IT workers per 10,000 existing ones, according to Linkedin data for the 35 metro areas with gross tech migration of 2,000 or more. (Bloomberg, 6/1/21)
Best Cities to Start a Career ranking of 182 cities places Austin at No. 4 based on 28 indicators of professional opportunities and quality of life. (WalletHub, 5/17/21)
Austin is the No. 1 U.S. city for planned real estate investment according to annual survey of international institutional and other investors in 19 countries. (AFIRE, 5/4/2021)
Texas has the No. 3 most competitive state for economic development according to Site Selection’s 2021 Prosperity Cup ranking based on business climate, tax climate, new and expanded business, and other performance measures. (Site Selection, 5/21)
The 2021 Mac Conway Awards recognized the Austin Chamber of Commerce as one of the top 20 economic development organizations in the U.S. based on measures of corporate facility investment. (Site Selection, 5/21)
For the 17th year in a row, Texas was named the Best State for Business by Chief Executive. (Chief Executive, 4/28/21)
Austin ranked No. 2 as the Top U.S. Metro for Digital Nomads. (Zillow.com, 4/28/21)
Leander ranked as the 5th Best Suburb to Move to in 2021 based on 9 indicators of residential and sociocultural quality. (Homes.com, 4/2/21)
Austin has the 13th largest tech economy (GRP due to tech) among major U.S. metros and, with tech accounting for 25% of Austin’s GRP, Austin ranks 5th for tech’s impact on the economy. (CompTIA, 3/31/21)
Science, technology, engineering & math occupations account for 11.9% of all jobs in Austin in 2020, making Austin the 5th most concentrated in STEM among large U.S. metros. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 3/31/21)
The Austin metro ranks 1st the rate of tech job growth in 2020 and, with tech job growth projected to be 3.9% in 2021, Austin will have the 2nd fastest growth this year among major U.S. metros. (CompTIA, 3/31/21)
Austin is the No. 4 City Where Millennials are Moving based on the net migration of people between the ages of 25 and 39 who moved to a city in a different state in ranking of the 180 largest U.S. cities. (Smart Asset, 3/20/21)
Austin is the nation’s third fastest growing airport based on capacity growth of 81% between 2011 and 2019. (Simple Flying, 3/15/21)
Austin ranked as one of the Top 10 best commercial real estate markets in the U.S. (National Association of Realtors, 3/15/21).
Among the top 50 U.S. metros, Austin is the most recovered from the COVID-19 crisis and is best positioned for robust employment growth in 2021. Austin tops all other major metros for 2020 job growth in manufacturing and in financial activities. (Economic Innovation Group, 3/11/21)
Austin ranks No. 3 for concentration of startups among the 53 largest U.S. metros. (Roofstock, 3/2/21)
Texas wins Site Selection’s Governor’s Cup, awarded for the number of significant economic development projects landed in 2020, for the 9th consecutive year. (Site Selection, 3/21)
Austin is one of the Top Metros for 2020 based on total economic development projects won—among metros with population over one million, Austin ranks 6thfor total projects and 2nd for projects on a per capita basis. (Site Selection, 3/21)
Austin is the No. 3 Best-Performing City in annual assessment of Where America’s Jobs are Created & Sustained. (Milken Institute, 2/17/21)
Austin is the No. 1 outbound destination for people leaving the San Francisco Bay Area (18% of moves were to Austin in 2020). (moveBuddha, 2/9/21)
Austin ranks 1st for growth, 4th for prosperity, and 22nd for inclusion in Brookings’ annual Metro Monitor assessment of the economic success of the 53 largest U.S. metros over the last decade. (Brookings Institution, 2/21)
Austin was the top destination market for Redfin.com users looking to move to a different metropolitan area in the 4th quarter of 2020. (Redfin.com, 1/19/21)
Texas is the Best State to Drive in based on 31 key indicators of a positive commute. (WalletHub, 1/19/21)
Austin is the Best State Capital to Live in based on 44 key indicators of affordability, economic well-being, quality of education and health, and quality of life. (WalletHub, 1/18/21)
Austin is one of the 7 Best U.S. Cities to be Quarantined In according to ranking based on availability of online grocery delivery services, meal delivery services, broadband coverage and speed, and access to healthcare. (DeliveryRank, 1/12/21)
Austin is among the Top 10 Best Cities to Work from Home in ranking of the 100 largest cities. (SmartAsset, 1/7/21)
Austin is the No. 2 City with the Most Opportunity for Job Seekers in ranking of 182 U.S. metros. (Linkedin, 1/6/21)
Austin is the No. 1 Destination City for relocating households and the No. 3 Destination City for corporate moves in 2020. (Allied Van Lines, 1/6/21)
Austin is the No. 7 City for an Active Lifestyle in ranking of the 100 largest cities based on 36 key indicators. (WalletHub, 1/6/21)
Austin is among the 14 top life sciences clusters in the U.S. because favorable demographic tailwinds and efforts by the city to spur innovation have created a suitable environment for life sciences tenants. (Newmark, 1/21)
2020 Rankings
Williamson County is No. 4 on fifth annual Talent Attraction Scorecard ranking of large counties based on their ability to attract and develop talent. (EMSI, 12/16/20)
Williamson County had the fastest growing GDP in 2019 (6%) among U.S. counties with 500,000+ population and the durable goods manufacturing industry was the leading contributor to the county’s growth.(U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 12/9/20)
Austin is the Best College Town in America among large cities (300,000+) in ranking based on measures representing wallet friendliness, social environment and academic & economic opportunities. (WalletHub, 12/8/20)
Austin continues to attract the most workers—for every 10,000 LinkedIn members in Austin, 140 arrived in the last 12 months. (LinkedIn, 12/3/20)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Metros for Entrepreneurs, being home to 2% of all U.S. entrepreneurs. (Linkedin, 12/2/20)
Austin ranks 15th worldwide and 8th nationally in ranking of the Top 25 Global Innovation Hubs based on key factors driving innovation and business transformation. (Hickey & Associates, 12/1/20)
For the 2nd consecutive year, Austin claims the No. 1 spot as the U.S. metropolitan area that offers technology professionals and tech businesses the most appealing combination of opportunity and livability. (CompTIA, 11/10/20)
Texas is No. 1 in the Executive Survey, and ties for 4th overall, in Site Selection’s annual State Business Climate Rankings. (Site Selection, 11/20)
Austin is No. 5 on Best Places for Veterans to Live ranking of the 100 largest cities for veteran-specific indicators of opportunity, affordability, and quality of life. (WalletHub, 11/9/20)
Austin is No. 3 on the list of Top Emerging Life Science Clusters in the U.S. (CBRE, 10/30/20)
Austin is No. 13 on Top 20 Cities for Veteran Entrepreneurs in 2020 ranking based on measures of livability, economic growth, support for veterans, and ability to start a business. (PenFed Foundation, 10/29/20)
Austin’s high tech job growth ranks 3rd in CBRE’s annual look at the leading North American tech markets. (CBRE, 10/22/20)
Cedar Park is in the top 10 in Best Small Cities in America ranking based on measures of affordability, economic health, education & health, quality of life, and safety for cities between 25,000 and 100,000 population. (WalletHub, 10/20/20)
Austin is No. 3 on U.S. News’ Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2020-21 ranking. (U.S. News & World Report, 10/13/20)
Austin has one of the Top 10 Best Airports in the U.S. according to Conde Nast’s 2020 readers’ choice awards. (Conde Nast Traveler, 10/6/20)
Austin is the No. 2 real estate market for 2021 in annual PwC/ULI trends and forecast report. (PwC/Urban Land Institute, 10/20)
Austin is the 2nd most popular destination for home buyers looking to move to a different metro area. (Redfin, 9/23/20)
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport ranks 8th for customer satisfaction among large North American airports. (J.D. Power, 9/23/20)
Austin ranks 3rd among the 110 largest metros for the rate of net domestic migration—2000-2019 net domestic migration represents a 42% gain on Austin’s 2000 population base. (NewGeography.com, 9/18/20)
Austin is the No. 4 metro for number of Inc. 5000 firms and No. 9 for the concentration Inc. 5000 firms on a per capita basis. (Site Selection Investor Watch, 9/4/20 & 9/10/20)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Best Places to Buy a House based on comparison of 300 cities across key indicators of housing market attractiveness and economic strength. (WalletHub, 8/25/20)
Austin is 11th globally and 5th in the U.S. in new fDi ‘Cities of the Future’ ranking of Tier 2 cities (i.e., excluding capitals/“megacities”) based on economic potential, human capital/lifestyle, cost effectiveness, connectivity and business friendliness. (fDi Intelligence, 8/20/20)
Austin ranked No. 5 for most number of new apartments built in 2020. (RentCafe, 8/20/2020)
Austin is one of the top 10 large cities in Hotwire’s second annual America’s Best Cities for a Quickie ranking of 300 cities for an easy getaway based on recent traveler preferences including drivability, value, and things to do. (Hotwire, 8/11/20)
Austin is the 2nd Most Pet-Friendly City in the U.S. based on ranking to the top 100 cities across indicators of pet budget, pet health/wellness, and outdoor pet-friendliness. (WalletHub, 8/5/20)
Texas is the No. 4 state in Aerospace Manufacturing Attractiveness ranking. (PwC, 8/20)
Texas is No. 4 in annual Top States for Doing Business ranking and top subcategory rankings include No. 2 for corporate tax structure, overall cost of doing business, logistics/infrastructure, and available real estate. (Area Development, Q3/20)
Austin garners top rankings in several categories in Business Facilities’ 2020 metro rankings: Startup Ecosystem (2nd), Tech Hub (2nd), Business Climate (3rd), and Millennial Magnet (3rd). (Business Facilities, 7/29/20)
Texas has the Best Business Climate and the state also lands top 5 spots in numerous other categories in Business Facilities annual rankings. (Business Facilities, 7/29/20)
Austin ranks 2nd on annual STEM Job Growth Index ranking of STEM job growth momentum and other factors correlated with STEM job growth in the 38 largest U.S. metros. (RCLCO Real Estate Advisors, 7/21/20)
Austin is the 9th Most Educated Metro according to ranking of the 150 largest U.S. metros based on 11 measures of educational attainment, education quality, and attainment gaps. (WalletHub, 7/20/20)
Austin ranks 6th in “Scoring Tech Talent” analysis of the competitive advantages and appeal to both employers and tech talent in the top 50 North American markets. (CBRE, 7/15/20)
Austin has one of Top 10 Domestic Airports in the U.S. according to annual survey of T+L readers. (Travel+Leisure, 7/8/20)
Austin is 8th nationally and 19th globally in annual startup ecosystem ranking. (Startup Genome, 6/25/20)
Austin is the No. 4 city tech workers would consider relocating to. Austin leads U.S. in tech salary growth, seeing a 10% increase last year, but Austin salaries are 6% lower than the national average and go significantly farther compared to other areas. (Hired, 6/16/20)
Texas is one of 5 states garnering Area Development’s annual “Gold Shovel” award for attracting significant new investment projects—Texas’ biggest is Apple’s plan to boost its already impressive presence in Austin with at least 5,000 more jobs. (Area Development, Q2/20)
Austin is the No. 2 metro area for LEED-certified projects per capita in 2019. (Site Selection Investor Watch, 6/11/20)
Austin is the No. 6 Best City for Gamers and ranked 7th on the game developer opportunities category which includes measures of game industry job openings (Austin No. 1), internships, employment, companies & college programs.
(WalletHub, 6/10/20)
Austin is the 4th least expensive in analysis by the Boyd Company of annual costs of operating biomanufacturing plants in the Top 25 Global Biomanufacturing Hubs. (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, 6/5/20)
For the 16th year in a row, Texas was named the Best State for Business by Chief Executive. (Chief Executive, 6/2/20)
Austin Energy is the top municipal utility for per capita solar PV installed, with 1,544 watts DC per person. (Frontier Group, 5/27/20)
Austin is 1st city in the U.S. and 4th globally for semiconductor chip manufacturing foreign direct investment. (fDi Intelligence, 5/22/20)
Leander, TX is the fastest growing city in the U.S., growing by 12.0% in 2019, among cities with 50,000+ population. Also in Williamson County, Georgetown (up 7.2%) ranked 7th. (U.S. Census Bureau, 5/21/20)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Cities for Staycations based options for recreation and relaxation at the right price point. (WalletHub, 5/20/20)
Austin saw the fastest growth (6.1%) in real personal income in 2018 among large metropolitan areas (those with population of 2 million or more). Austin ranks 6th for per capita income growth with 3.5% real growth. (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 5/18/20)
Austin ranks No. 1 for seed capital funding over the last decade going to startup companies in America’s “Mighty Middle” (i.e., outside of traditional coastal tech hubs). (Crunchbase, 5/14/20)
Receiving the Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development for the 2nd year in a row, the Austin Chamber was named one of the most successful local and regional U.S. economic development groups based on corporate job creation and capital investment projects in 2019. (Site Selection, 5/4/20)
Austin is one of 18 U.S. Cities That are a Foodie’s Dream. (TripsToDiscover, 4/24/20)
Austin ranks 4th for economic impact of the tech sector—tech accounts for 24% of Austin’s economy. (CompTIA, 4/21/20)
Science, technology, engineering & math occupations account for 11.2% of all jobs in Austin in 2019, making Austin the 6th most concentrated in STEM among large U.S. metros. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 3/31/20)
Austin is the fastest growing large metro over the last year and also the fastest growing since 2010 in ranking of Census Bureau population estimates through 2019. Austin ranks as the 29th largest metro in 2019.
(U.S. Census Bureau, 3/26/20)
Hays County is 2nd and Williamson County is 9th in ranking of the fastest growing counties in the United States between 2010 and 2019 and Williamson County is also ranked 9th 2018 and 2019. (U.S. Census Bureau, 3/26/20)
Austin ranks 4th in ranking of Top Internet-Connected Large Cities. (Commercial Café, 3/19/20)
Austin ranks No. 1 for growth, No. 5 for prosperity, and No. 9 for inclusion in Brookings’ annual Metro Monitor assessment of the economic success of large U.S. metros. (Brookings Institution, 3/5/20)
Austin is the No. 7 U.S. market for office real estate investment. (Marcus & Millichap, 3/5/20)
Austin is the Top Metro for Digital Services Job Growth, with 12.6% CAGR over 2010-2018, and Austin ranks 3rd for the change in share of national digital services jobs over the period as well. (Brookings Institution, 3/3/20)
Texas wins Site Selection’s Governor’s Cup, awarded for number of significant economic development projects landed in 2019, for the 8th consecutive year. (Site Selection, 3/20)
Austin is 6th in ranking Top Metros for Corporate Facility Investment Projects in 2019. (Site Selection, 3/20)
Austin is the No. 3 Best-Performing City in annual assessment of Where America’s Jobs are Created & Sustained. (Milken Institute, 2/26/20)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Hardest-Working Cities in America in ranking based on 11 direct & indirect measures of working. (WalletHub, 2/24/20)
Austin has the Hottest U.S. Job Market for the second year in a row in ranking based on unemployment, labor-force participation, job growth, labor-force growth & wage growth. (Wall Street Journal, 2/24/20)
Austin ranks 11th for R&D performed by business. (U.S. National Science Foundation, 2/20/20)
Austin is the 11th Healthiest Place to Live in the U.S. in ranking of the 170 largest cities across 43 indicators of good health. (WalletHub, 2/10/20)
Austin is No. 6 on Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker annual ranking. (MovieMaker, 1/31/20)
Austin is one of the World’s Top 20 Most Dynamic Cities and is only one of two U.S. cities ranked. (JLL, 1/19/2020)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Affordable U.S. Cities to Start a Career in Tech. (Coding Dojo, 1/16/20)
Austin, with 263 deals garnering $2.17 billion in 2019, is one of the top 10 U.S. metros for VC investment. (PitchBook, 1/13/20)
Ranking of the 100 largest U.S. cities for Best Work-Life Balance places Austin at No. 13. (SmartAsset, 1/8/20)
Austin is one of the Top 10 Cities to Work from Home based on, being in the top quintile for percentage of employees working from home & prevalence of amenities for remote workers. (SmartAsset, 1/7/20)
Texas is Business Facilities’ State of the Year, becoming the first 4-time winner of the magazine’s top honor for success in attracting major job-creating and high capital investment projects. (Business Facilities, 1/3/20)
Austin is the No. 4 Best Place to Find a Job based on ranking of the top 150 cities on 31 metrics representing favorable conditions for job seekers. (WalletHub, 1/3/20)
Austin is the Best U.S. City for Starting a Business according to Inc.’s 2020 Surge Cities Index. (Inc., Winter/20)
Austin is No. 2 in the U.S., and No. 11 globally, in ranking of the cities (outside of Northern California) that will be the leading technology innovation hubs over the next 4 years. (KPMG, 1/1/2020)