re: Houston, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, or North LA

Having lived in all four, I'd rank them:

1) Houston - more economic opportunities, great public schools outside of the city, good infrastructure, tax dollars actually go to something useful, and the best culinary scene in the south

2) North LA - I see how it's not for everyone but it's easier living than Nola and BR. Money goes far up here and you can actually send your kids to public schools (not including most of Caddo Parish and city of Monroe school district).

3) Nola - Probably the most unique city in the country but it gets old fast. Much better to visit than live. Dealing with the third world infrastructure, red tape, and general rudeness/upityness of locals takes away from the charm of the city. Real estate is extremely overpriced and you pay a premium to live on a street where you won't get shot.

4) Baton Rouge - LSU is the only redeeming factor for BR. Without LSU, the city is basically Montgomery, AL with much worse traffic. Real estate is also overpriced and getting worse.

High cost of living is the price you pay for living in a city like Austin that people keep flocking to every day. I'm not a fan of the "Californication" that Austin has undergone in recent years, but that appears to be slowing down a bit. Traffic is still a huge pain in the arse, but it's worst on I-35. Other than that, it's a great place to live, provided you are at least somewhat open-minded and accepting of people who are different than you. It's clean, safe, and has a lot to offer both singles and families as far as quality of life.