A prime reason for retirees to consider Austin is its real estate market.    Money tends to go further here than it does in many other major cities (this is one of the reasons that the Texas State Data Center lists Austin as one of the cities that has the largest projected population growth in the state), and Austin's median home price is $174,000, below the national average, although the average sale price is $235,000, very close to the national average.  While the housing market is moving at a dull pace around much of the country, Austin is one area that is not being so affected.   The real estate market is thriving, with opportunities for both buyers and sellers, with it being slightly more of a seller’s market at the time of writing this article. 

The resale housing market offers a wide variety of options. Affordable condos, mobile homes and single-family homes are available. We found one-bedroom condos for as low as $50,000, with larger ones running up to $100,000 or more. There are also several mobile-home / manufactured home communities that may be of interest to seniors in the Austin area.   We found mobile homes for sale at prices starting around $75,000 for a three-bedroom unit.   For the person who finds the listing in time, some mobile homes sell for around $50,000.

Single-family homes for sale will open a door to a lot of options, depending on how much someone is looking to spend and what areas and amenities they are seeking.     $75,000 will fetch smaller, two-bedroom homes, and for around $150,000 one can purchase four-bedroom, two-bathroom houses that have roughly 1,500 square feet.    For around $160,000, buyers can opt for a newer home with around 1,700 square feet in an area of town that offers all the local conveniences.  In general, Cedar Park Leander, Round Rock, areas in East Austin , areas east and northeast of the Austin city limits and much of South Austin and outlying areas south and southeast of Austin are the more affordable parts of town.

For those seniors looking for apartment living, there are several options.  Kruse Village is one such place, offering an independent-living apartment complex for retired seniors. Pinewood Hills is another option which, along with a one- or two-bedroom apartment, has onsite facilities such as a beauty shop and chapel. There is also a variety of assisted-living facilities throughout the city, and the Housing Authority of Austin has dedicated senior communities.

The average cost to rent an apartment is roughly 87 cents per square foot for older buildings and 91 cents per square foot for those built after 2000.  Some apartment complexes are for seniors only, such as Primrose of Shadow Creek. This community, designed for those over the age of 55, offers upscale living at an affordable price. Along with that, residents enjoy amenities that include a swimming pool, clubhouse, business center, library, and bus and shuttle services. At the time of writing this, this community offers a one-bedroom floor plan that ranges from 665 square feet to 735 square feet for $585 per month.  The two-bedroom unit is $675 per month.

Austin is a city that has been making the lists of the "best places to live" for years.   It has been ranked by Forbes Magazine as the third-best place to live in the country, trailing behind only Boise, Idaho and Raleigh, North Carolina.   The city also ranks as one of the safest urban cities in the country, making it even more appealing to seniors.   Anyone that seeks a metropolis that offers affordable and diverse communities, a climate that allows outdoor activity all year long, a variety of restaurants, parks and creative culture, will quickly see this place as home.

Austin has a rich history that reaches back before the late1700s when settlers visited the area that would later, in 1837, be named Waterloo.  Prior to that, nomadic tribes lived and hunted in the area, including such tribes as the Tonkawa and the Comanches.  The city was made the capital of what was then referred to as the new Republic of Texas. Once chosen to be the capital, it gradually evolved into a city that in 1839 was renamed after the “Father of Texas,” Stephen F. Austin, who was at the forefront of Anglo-American colonization of the area.   The 19th century saw the advent of universities, making the Austin area an educational center.  It has also become known as the “Live Music Capital of the World.”

Seniors will find a variety of cultural activities here.    The Arthouse, first founded in 1911 as the Texas Fine Arts Association, has been a pillar of strength in advocating contemporary art throughout Texas.   Another important location in the art district is The Austin Museum of Art, which offers a variety of exhibits and programs that change throughout the year. Other museums of interest include the George Washington Carver Museum and the Cultural Art Center. Live music venues in Austin are many and varied (in fact, there are 120 of them) and the place is known for its country music scene, with Willie Nelson being a native.  There is also a wide variety of film theaters, private theaters, ballet companies, an opera company and a symphony orchestra.   Austin is also home to many festivals and celebrations throughout the year.   Each March, South by Southwest, a music, media and film festival, is held. There is also the Austin Film Festival, a Cinco de Mayo celebration and the ever-popular Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo, which runs for two weeks each March.   During other months, the city offers a Biker Rally, a Christmas parade and other holiday celebrations.

Austin is known for having an abundance of restaurants, especially Mexican ones.   Residents will also find plenty of places to shop for antiques, gifts, collectibles and jewelry.   The area has several large malls, a flea market and a farmers' market, along with a wide variety of things to do on 6th Street, formerly known as Pecan Street.   This avenue may well be Austin’s best-known, as it offers a rich ensemble of entertainment, food and eclectic shopping in a variety of boutiques.

Recreational activities for the active senior abound.   For those that prefer to chip their day away on the golf course, Austin has several 18-hole championship golf courses, including the oldest golf course in the state of Texas, the Hancock Golf Course, as well as the Morris Williams Golf Course and the Roy Kizer Golf Course, which was converted from an abandoned wastewater plant.   Other popular club courses include ColoVista, Forest Creek, River Place, and the Jimmy Clay Golf Course.

There are three senior activity centers and seventeen recreation centers.   The senior activity centers do not require a membership fee, and they offer a variety of events and activities, including groups, classes, health related events, tours, trips, and recreational activities. The city offers classes through their recreation center, as well as table games, dances, support groups, yoga,  card games, art and fitness. 

For those looking to give back to the community, there are some great options for doing volunteer work.   The Austin Public Library welcomes volunteers, giving people the opportunity to work in storytelling, research, processing books, and shelving books.    There are also volunteer opportunities for animal lovers through such places as the Town Lake Animal Center, the Austin Heart House, Safeplace, Texas Nature Trackers, the Truman House and TXServe, plus many more.

Getting to and from volunteering and merely getting around town should not be much of a problem. The city offers a bus service, Capital Metro, which covers the metro area, offering free fairs for seniors that are 65 and over. For those that enjoy riding their bike to run short errands, or simply for exercise, several years ago Austin was rated as one of the top 10 bicycling cities in the country. The city has taken measures to be bike safe, such as offering paths, wide curb lanes, and bicycle lanes.  Senior transportation is also offered through the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, and offers regular routes and a service for picking people up, taking them to their activities, and then returning them home, all for a 50-cent charge each way.

The city also offers a transportation service that, to many, is life-saving, as it enables them to still get out and get to where they need to go.   For a $3.00 charge each way, seniors can reserve a ride with the system and get rides to such appointments as hair salons, activities, visits to friends, banks, and pharmacies.  The city also offers seniors group travel when going to such places as movies, plays, concerts, state parks, and stores.  This service is just a $2.00 charge per every 10 miles of travel.  All these senior transportation services are offered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Austin's medical care is excellent, as would be expected in a city this size.  There are five major hospitals, the largest of which is Seton Medical Center and six smaller specialty hospitals, with a total of 2,500 beds and 13,000 practitioners (nurses and doctors).

With its hot, moist summers and mild winters, Austin is considered to have a humid subtropical climate.   From June through September, temperatures average over 90 degrees each day, with the high humidity levels making some days a little uncomfortable.    Winters are generally found to be a very comfortable time, with average daily temperatures usually in the 60s and lows getting down into the 40s.  Although Austin generally sees some rain each month, May sees the most precipitation, with an average of slightly more than five inches.   The sun shines nearly 300 days a year.

One of the biggest demographics in which Austin has seen its population grow is in those aged 65 and up, as more people choose to retire here, attracted by the affordable quality of life that the city offers.   The Austin population demographic is more diverse than that of the country as a whole with almost 70 percent of the residents being Caucasian, nine percent being African American and five percent being Asian. 

When it comes to identifying the drawbacks for seniors in Austin,  it’s hard to come up with many, although the city is home to the University of Texas at Austin, which has a lovely campus and a student body of around 50,000.   This may or may not be of concern to seniors, depending on how they feel about possibly coming across so many college students.  Another drawback could be the summer heat, which some people find hard to tolerate with the high humidity.  Property tax rates may also be a drawback.

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