re: Spinoff: cities that have improved in recent years

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Austin is a tricky one.

Economically it's one of the best places in America. It has great schools, plenty of jobs, money, etc.

However, whatever small-time and local charm it had is now commercialized. Food trucks, local cuisine, underground music scene are all too big of a deal to be unique. I question the identity of Austin from that standpoint.

And many of the people living there have no idea what it was like 10-20 years ago, as they lived elsewhere lol.

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As someone who has seen and experienced the before and after I can say that's all true. Austin definitely sold its soul.

But it depends on what you value as to whether it's been a good deal or not.

If you put a premium on a real, vibrant art and music scene and like a more small or midsized city with a genuine community feel, then what has happened has been a disaster for you. The artists were priced out, the music venues moved or were shut down, and the town has grown into a big city. It's 100% commercialized now and even genuine seeming things like SXSW are actually just big corporate boondoggles that local people avoid and are not involved in.

However, if you are like me and your priorities are making a lot of money, living in a clean place with no crime, and being able to live in the middle of the city but still send your kids to great public schools (which is pretty amazing if you aren't familiar with that being impossible in Houston, Dallas, or anywhere in Louisiana), then Austin is pretty amazing.

There's definitely two sides to the story though. I have friends who get angry when they talk about the way it used to be even as recently as the '90s, which most real old-timers would consider well after "the change."

In terms of "coolness" Austin is living off of the corpse of what has now passed. In terms of quality of life, it's never been better.

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Columbus, Ohio. Its the fastest growing city in the Midwest and is rapidly redeveloping its urban/downtown core. Its population is booming and there is no sign of a slow down. Truly a hidden gem!

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After moving back to Columbus (since college) from Nashville, I've found that they are very similar in many, with weather and music being the most obvious differences.

I wish we didn't have state and local income taxes though; that's an advantage that Tennessee had, even if sales taxes was higher.