Austin has been rated the 4th least stressed city in the USA. Portfolio.com evaluated unemployment rates, living standards, personal financial data, the environment, crime and other things to rank the stress levels of US metro areas. Salt Lake City topped the list but Austin did a respectable fourth place. Detroit was rated the most stressed along with LA, NYC and Chicago.
Those of us who are longtime residents of Austin know the laid back atmosphere of our town compares favorably to the big stressful metros on the coasts. I wonder if portfolio.com researchers floated in Barton Springs Pool on a hot day or dropped anchor in Lake Travis for a swim. Perhaps they wandered the greenbelts of Barton Creek or biked the trails along Lady Bird Lake. Maybe it was a summer concert on Auditorium Shores or enchiladas and margaritas on a spring day at Hula Hut on Lake Austin. Maybe a leisurely ride on the Zilker train with the kids or down time on a local's back deck with a view of the greenbelt or the city skline. There are many ways to relax in Austin, especially when your city enjoys a lower unemployment rate than the national and state average, an abundance of natural beauty, clean water and air, and a relatively affordable housing stock.
Times are tough for some folks, but in any hard times, Austinites can hit the parks or the lakes and kick back and take pride in their relaxed city that is full of opportunity and friendly relaxed people. What do you do to relax and relieve stress?
Contact me to grab your slice of laid back Austin.
Start your home search here: http://www.trueaustinhomes.com/home-search.asp
Jeff Harris
Realtor/ Mortgage Broker
True Austin Properties
