I am going to Texas soon for work, and I have a choice of two cities..... Is Austin Texas better than Houston?

It depends on what you want. I've lived in both Austin and Houston and both have their good/bad attributes. Houston is a much more diverse city and housing in the suburbs is much less expensive than Austin. There are far more restaurants, clubs and theater seats in Houston than Austin will ever have. Houston is much more humid and rainier but is NOT the rainiest city in the U.S. like some uninformed shmoe said above. I included a website here for you to view to verify it: http://web2.airmail.net/danb1/usrecords.htm Austin is smaller but the traffic is still bad. I -35 in Austin is just as bad as any freeway in Houston. The city and surrounding areas have grown but the freeway systems in Austin have not grown to accommodate the population. Austin is the Nashvlle of Texas so there is no end to live entertainment and music festivals. It also has the hillcountry beauty that Texas Boasts and is especially gorgeous March through May with wildflowers. Austin suburbs were less affordable than Houston suburbs. I lived in Austin for 7 years and have lived in Houston for 5 and owned homes in both cities. Austin has great ambience that Houston can not boast but Houston is much more international with quicker access to beaches, international airports and the like. If you're a young adult or college kid, Austin definitely has it's appeal. If you're an adult with children, you tend to fair better in the Houston area. I have quite a few friends who abandoned Austin for Houston in their adult years as there are much better job opportunities in Houston. I guess it depends where you are in life.

Both are great in their own ways. Houston has a lot of people, lots of diversity, and is close to many vacation spots like Galveston. Austin does have great music, is more of a younger generation town, and had less traffic. I honestly would stay a week or so in both to decide which you like better. I prefer Houston, but that's because I live here. Just stay on the right side of town... For Houston, it's either the north or west side...

Austin is awesome for young people, but the job market is WAY oversaturated. I went to UT, and have many friends that stayed in Austin trying to find a job and they eventually had to move to Houston or Dallas for more job opportunity. I would look and try to find a job in Houston and Austin and see which you get a better salary and job in.... There is no way I would move to a new city without having a solid job or even visiting once--- Both are good choices, and both have the hot Texas heat!

I would go to Austin, so much nicer there, and alot less crime

Go to Austin - less crime and better restaurants.

AUSTIN, unless you're a young, uptight Republican.

Austin is more liberal and Houston is more conservative.

Go to Houston. It is a very large diverse city with many opportunities. Pasaden as a great little city located just a few miles from Houston. LOVE IT!

Austin is a really good, social city. There is so much to do, and see. It's a great hub for singles. Music, clubs... If you like to party, Austin's the place. Houston...you got The Astros, and Science/NASA,.... Go With Austin! Yee-Haw~and, woot-woot! (Watch out for Flag-Wavers, though...They're still rippin 'round there, lookin' like Ron Paul on acid!)