The Basics
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the demographics of Austin?
Austin has about 920,000 people (over 2 million in the Austin Metro area), but it is relatively spread out for a mid-sized city. The largest age group (21%) is 25-34 years old. The median age is 31.7 years old.
How safe is Austin?
Generally speaking, Austin is a safe city— but just like any other major city, it’s not entirely crime-free. Auto-theft and bike theft are common, so it’s wise to exercise caution when leaving valuables in your car or when locking up your bike. City information and regulations about bicycling in Austin can be found at this link: http://www.austintexas.gov/department/austin-community-bike.
To see current data about what areas of the city are experiencing the most crime, check out Trulia’s crime map: http://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Austin-Texas/crime/.
What’s the cost of living Austin?
Austin’s cost of living is slightly higher than the U.S. average, and Austin is considered the most expensive city in Texas for residents making minimum wage. Expect to pay around $800 – $1100 for a 1 bedroom apartment. Sales tax is 8.25%, and gas is currently around $2.40/gallon.
Is the traffic really as bad as people say it is?
The short answer is yes, and the long answer is …also yes. The main artery connecting the northern and southern halves of the city is IH-35. During rush hour (7-9am and 4-7pm), IH-35 and Loop 1 (Mopac) are incredibly congested. Using frontage roads and city streets can help alleviate the pain of driving long stretches on the major highways during peak hours. But beware: traffic can even accumulate at off-peak hours, such as lunchtime or after 8pm on weekends, so it’s best to always leave room in your travels for unexpected highway closures, accidents, or brunch traffic.
What’s the weather like?
Hot, hot, hot, and then mild. The hottest months of the year are from May to September, with most summer days reaching hotter than 100 degrees. Luckily, Austin is rich with places to cool off: Barton Springs, Deep Eddy, the Greenbelt, and Hamilton Pool are fun places to escape to when the summer months kick in. During the winter, temperatures rarely dip below freezing— although it may happen at least one day out of the season. Austin enjoys big beautiful blue skies almost constantly but can be particularly stormy in the springtime.
How’s the public transportation system?
While bus routes cover most areas of the city, they can run 20-30 minutes late. The city recently unveiled MetroRapid service which runs every 10 minutes during peak hours and offers free Wi-Fi. Bus fare is $1.25 for regular buses and $1.75 for MetroRapid. For a mid-sized city, Austin has a relatively comprehensive transportation system; there are taxis, Express buses, UT Shuttles, and Night Buses. Check out www.capmetro.org
What is the area surrounding Austin like?
Austin is a lively city in the middle of the Texas hill country, so there is a lot of greenery on the outskirts of the city. From Cedar Park in the Northwest to McKinney Falls State Park in the southeast, Austin has a great deal of nature to appreciate. The Greenbelt in Southwest Austin and Town Lake have hiking, biking, and running trails, and Zilker Park is also a popular spot. Taking Loop 360 westward, you’ll find beautiful canyons and rivers, great for long-distance bike trips. Check out http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/nearby/austin for all the State Parks near Austin.
Where’s the best place to live?
Because public transportation and traffic can be very frustrating, most members try to find housing near enough to their site that they don’t have to rely on major roads and highways. Beyond this, it depends largely on your priorities. The city has neighborhoods to satisfy lots of lifestyles: whether you want busy and bustling, hip and trendy, lush and scenic, or quaint and residential, there will be a place for you in Austin.
What’s the deal with utilities in Austin?
Some places have some or all utilities included. Austin is hottest from May to September, so electric bills will likely be higher during this time. Since Austin doesn’t get very cold, spending more on heating in the winter is unlikely. Many apartment complexes control the water bill, and it is common in Austin for the water bill to be charged on a building-wide basis and then split among tenants. Electric bills go through the City of Austin. Some complexes use gas and electricity, while others only use electricity.
Where’s Austin Bergstrom International Airport?
The Airport is located off of South 183, on Hwy 71 in southeast Austin. From Central Austin, it’s about a 10-minute drive. The #100 bus (airport flyer) takes 30 minutes to get downtown from the airport.
Tips from Former Members
“Meetup.com is a great way to meet people with common interests or to find a new hobby or find cool things to do while not actually socializing with anyone.”
“Be prepared for humidity and random rain showers.”
“People are pretty nice and come from all over the U.S. Austin is trendy and you will not feel like you’re in Texas.”
“There is always something going on in Austin and you can always find something free/affordable...” “‘From music to food to nature – you never have to be bored. Do512.com or the app is a great resource with a comprehensive up-to-date calendar about things going on in the city”
“Expect to get allergies the first 2 weeks of your arrival. Boost your immune system and prepare to buy allergy meds ASAP.”
“The Greenbelt has lots of hiking trails and swimming spots. Also great for dog watching. There’s also a pot belly pig with a scarf that hangs out.
“Definitely take the time for self-care. This program is great, and you will do a lot of good work. But it can get draining, so have a self-care plan!”
“If you see something on Facebook or hear about it from friends and it seems like something you would be into, do it! As for your AmeriCorps work, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for support from current cohort members, supervisors, and former members!”
“Rely on your fellow members! They might not have the exact same experience as you, but it will be much closer to anyone else you know here in Austin. Be prepared for service to get tough but stick it out. It is so worth it, and your organization is beyond lucky to have you.”
“Be open to what the experience wants to teach you: about life, about yourself, and where you want to be. Learning your weaknesses and what you don’t like is just as valuable information as discovering your strengths.”
“When times get hard, remember why you came to serve. You’ll learn to be creative with what you have.”
“Don’t isolate yourself, because the experience of moving somewhere where you know no one is isolating in itself.”
“For me, AmeriCorps is an alternative career path. If you do well, you will be noticed. If you do great, you will be hired.”
“Persevere and take care of yourself, and you will turn around and marvel at how far this experience has taken you.”
“Business casual in Austin typically translates to jeans and a top – usually leaning more towards casual than the business.”
General Recommendations
Try to find a place as early as possible. Due to a rapidly growing population, rent is rising and the number of available units and homes is declining. You will also be competing with University of Texas students for housing. Many complexes offer incentives and reduced rates in July.
If your lease doesn’t start exactly when you arrive in Austin, staying at an Airbnb is an affordable option for temporary housing. There are also several hostels in Austin that are relatively affordable option.
Most of the sites where AmeriCorps members serve are located in the North Central, Central, East and South-Central neighborhoods. Due to high traffic levels in Austin, it is recommended that members find housing relatively close to their placement sites. However, the more central you are, the higher your rent will be. Although you commute might be longer, you can save on rent if you live in neighborhoods that are a little farther away from downtown.
Pro Tip: the AmeriCorps Cigna insurance still has a $100 deductible which means you will be paying at least $100 on your first visit to any doctor plus copay. If you can find a Groupon for services that is under that, and you may need it, TAKE IT. There have been Groupons for $17 chiropractic sessions. You take that Groupon, and you enjoy it
Generally, you should spend no more than 30% of your monthly allowance on housing. Living with roommates greatly reduces rent. You can use the Austin AmeriCorps Housing and Networking Facebook group.
Renting a room in a house share is a good option for affordable housing in Austin. Craigslist is a good place to find houses for rent, but always use discretion when searching for houses or roommates on Craigslist.
It is highly recommended that you get to Austin a few days or a week before the program starts to move in and get settled before all of the craziness begins!
If you make living arrangements via phone or email, make sure you verify the move-in date so that you don’t show up to Austin and find yourself without a place to stay.
Check out thrift stores, garage sales, or Craigslist to find inexpensive furniture for your new place. Buying an expandable foam mattress on Amazon is a cheap way to get a relatively comfortable bed.
Austin is a bike-able city, so bring a bike if you have one! Most Capital Metro buses also have two bike racks on the front to encourage bike and ride!
You may want to consider working part-time while in Austin to help offset the high cost of living and to have extra cash to enjoy all the city has to offer. Favor, Wag, Instacart, Shipt, and a wide variety of food delivery companies allow their employees to build their own schedules so that you can work as much or as little as you’d like!
For more ideas and information for your service term in Central Texas, please visit https://resources.serviceyear.org/