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Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about living and working in Austin. If you can't find what you are looking for here, see our links page.

1. Do you have any visitor information?
2. What is the population of Austin and the surrounding area?
3. What is the projected growth of Greater Austin?
4. What is the cost of living?
5. Who are the major employers of Austin?
6. What is the unemployment rate?
7. What is the climate like?
8. Where can I find information about renting an apartment?
9. What is the daily newspaper?
10. Where are Austin's bats?
11. What will it cost me to purchase a home in the Austin area?
12. What is the major industry?
13. What are the different school districts in and around Austin?
14. What is the sales tax rate?
15. Who provides telephone and utility service in Austin?
16. What types of churches are located in the Austin area?
17. Who provides public transportation to the Austin area?
18. What colleges and universities are in the Austin area?
19. Do you have a directory of the Chamber's marketing and information lists?
20. What is the community profile?




1. Question: Do you have any visitor information?

Answer: No, please contact the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau
512.478.0098 or 866.462.8784
209 E. Sixth St., 78701
Open Sunday–Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday–Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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2. Question: What is the population of the Austin area?

Answer:

  1990 2007
Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area 846,227 1,598,161
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The Austin metropolitan area is the 38th largest region nationally and the City of Austin is 16th. Find more information about population on this site or visit the U.S. Census Bureau.

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3. Question: What is the projected growth of the Austin area?

Answer: Growth in the Greater Austin Region has been extraordinary -- Metro Austin’s population grew to over 1.5 million in 2006. The 1990s saw a 48 percent increase in population, and growth has been averaging three percent annually since the 2000 Census.

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4. Question: What is the cost of living?

Answer:
4 Quarters Ending Q2 2007 (U.S.=100)
Composite Index: 96.2
Grocery Items: 92.3
Housing: 87.1
Utilities: 91.5
Transportation: 100.0
Health Care: 99.3
Miscellaneous Goods and Services: 104.9

For a cost of living comparison to other U.S. cities click over to our Do Business section.

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5. Question: Who are the major employers of Austin?

Answer:
Austin Independent School District
City of Austin
Dell
Federal Government
IBM Corp.
Seton Healthcare Network
St. David’s Healthcare Partnership
State of Texas
University of Texas at Austin

See more in our Do Business section or purchase the Major Employers directory in the Chamber Store.

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6. Question: What is the unemployment rate?

Answer: In 2007 the civilian labor force for the Austin area was 847,633. The unemployment rate was 3.6 percent. For more information, click over to Do Business.

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7. Question: What is the climate like?

Answer: The climate is temperate, with 300 days of sunshine annually. Average temperatures range from 42 to 62 degrees in winter and 75 to 95 degrees in the summer. Average rainfall is 32.49 inches. Snowfall is rare. Get-up-to-the-minute weather forecast, for Greater Austin from these local television stations:
KTBC FOX 7
KVUE 24
KXAN-TV 36
K-EYE 42
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8. Question: Where can I find information about renting an apartment?

Answer: The Austin Chamber of Commerce has many member apartment communities and apartment locator services. Look them up using our online membership directory or ask us for a referral! Call 512.478.9383 or 800.856.5602.

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9. Question: What is the daily newspaper?

Answer: The daily newspaper is the Austin American-Statesman. Subscribe online, or call in-state 800.445.9898. For out-of-state inquiries, call direct to 512.445.4040.

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10. Question: Where are Austin's bats?

Answer: Each dusk between April and October, the world's largest urban colony of Mexican free-tailed bats emerges from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge to feast on insects that fly above the city. An observation area near the Austin American-Statesman's facility displays the latest information on the bat colony. For viewing times and parking information, call the hotline at 512.416.5700, category 3636, or find information online. For more information, call Bat Conservation International at 512.327.9721.

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11. Question: What will it cost me to purchase a home in the Austin area?

Answer: In 2008 the median price for an existing single-family home was $183,700. More information about moving here can be found in the Move to Austin section. Additional resources are also provided by the Austin Board of REALTORS® through AustinHomeSearch.com

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12. Question: What is the major industry?

Answer: There was a time when Austin was known primarily as the capital of Texas and home of The University of Texas at Austin. Those sectors remain a healthy and vital part of the Austin landscape—but over the last two decades the community has developed a very healthy balance of employment across a diverse range of industries. Chamber efforts are focused on strengthening the technology sector and recruiting such new industries as automotive suppliers, medical products and pharmaceuticals and wireless. Learn more about the industries in Do Business.

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13. Question: What are the different school districts in and around Austin?

Answer: Austin ISD
Bastrop ISD
Del Valle ISD
Eanes ISD
Georgetown ISD
Hays ISD
Lake Travis ISD
Leander ISD
Pflugerville ISD
Round Rock ISD

For more information on school districts look in Education: K-12.

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14. Question: What is Austin's sales tax rate?

Answer: The tax rate is 8.25 percent. For tax rates in Greater Austin, look in Relocate to Austin: Taxes.

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15. Question: Who provides telephone and utility service in Austin?

Answer: A number of companies provide local telephone service. The city of Austin and some other areas are served by Austin Energy, a municipal utility. For more information look in Telephone and Utilities.

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16. Question: Where can I find the locations of churches in the Austin area?

Answer: Call the Austin Area Interreligious Ministries at 512.386.9145 for a list.

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17. Question: Who provides public transportation in the Austin area?

Answer: Area bus service is provided by Capital Metro. Call 512.474.1200 for routes, fares, and schedules. Taxicabs and rental cars are also available.

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18. Question: What colleges and universities are in the Austin area?

Answer: The University of Texas at Austin
Huston-Tillotson College
St. Edward's University
Concordia University at Austin
Texas State University, San Marcos
Austin Community College
Southwestern University
For more information, look in Higher Learning.
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19. Question: Do you have a directory of the Chamber's marketing and information lists?

Answer: Yes! Shop online or call 512.478.9383 or 800.856.5602 to request a copy of The Chamber Store Catalog.

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20. Question: Where can I find a community profile?

Answer: Click here for a demographic snapshot of Greater Austin. For a condensed print version is call 512.478.9383 or 800.856.5602 to request a copy.
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