Moving from Boston to Austin?
Boston biotech and tech to Austin's tech corridor — MA's millionaire surtax versus TX's zero income tax.
- 1,900 mi Distance
- 28 hr Drive time
- 21% lower Home prices
- $5,000/yr Tax savings on $100K
Boston biotech and Austin tech maintain ongoing talent exchange — Massachusetts's millionaire surtax (4% over $1M) effective 2023 accelerated relocations to Texas, particularly among biotech founders, hedge fund managers, and venture-backed CEO/CTO levels. The Austin tech ecosystem (Apple, Tesla, Oracle, Indeed) has absorbed Boston tech expats consistently.
Why people move from Boston to Austin.
- TX no state income tax (MA's 5% + millionaire surtax eliminated)
- Austin tech ecosystem — Apple, Tesla, Oracle, Google, Meta
- Mild winters replace 5-month Boston cold
- Cost of living 27% lower
- Home prices 21% lower
- Live music capital culture vs Boston's academic/finance focus
The money side of MA → TX.
Boston
- Median home$700,000
- Income tax5% + 4% surtax over $1M
- Cost index162
Austin
- Median home$550,000
- Income taxNone (TX)
- Cost index119
Things you'll want to know about your new city.
Bookmark this page — these are the icons of Austin, organized by what kind of day you're planning.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Zilker Park & Barton Springs — 350-acre urban park, 68°F natural spring pool year-round
- Lady Bird Lake — Hike-and-bike trail, kayaking, paddleboarding
- Mount Bonnell — 775-ft hill with city and Lake Austin views
- McKinney Falls State Park — Waterfalls and limestone bluffs in the city
Culture & Arts
- Texas State Capitol — Tallest state capitol building, free tours
- South by Southwest (SXSW) — Annual music/film/tech festival in March
- Austin City Limits Festival — October two-weekend music festival in Zilker Park
Family-Friendly
- Congress Avenue Bridge Bats — 1.5M Mexican free-tailed bats emerge nightly Mar-Nov
- Texas Memorial Museum — UT campus natural history museum
Nightlife & Entertainment
- 6th Street — Historic entertainment district
Austin's essential restaurants.
The dining list every Austin resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.
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Franklin Barbecue BBQ East Austin
Brisket worth the 2-hour line
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Uchi Japanese South Lamar
Tyson Cole's flagship sushi
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Suerte Mexican East Austin
Heirloom corn masa, James Beard nominee
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Odd Duck New American South Lamar
Farm-to-table sharing plates
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Veracruz All Natural Tacos Multiple
Best migas tacos in town
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Uchiko Japanese Rosedale
Uchi's farmhouse sister restaurant
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Olamaie Southern Downtown
Modern interpretation of Southern classics
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Loro Asian smokehouse South Lamar
Aaron Franklin's Asian-BBQ collab
Best Austin neighborhoods for Boston transplants.
Mapped to the Boston neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.
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South Congress / Bouldin Creek
Walkable, food-and-music — closest to Cambridge or Brookline charm
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East Austin (78702)
Hip, walkable, gentrifying — Somerville/Allston energy
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Westlake Hills
Top schools, hilly, Lake Austin access — Newton/Wellesley premium tier — $1.5M+
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Mueller
Planned mixed-use urban village, family-friendly
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Cedar Park / Round Rock
Suburban, family-oriented, top schools — $450-700K
What daily life feels like in Austin.
Climate
Humid subtropical. Hot summers (95-105°F, peaks over 110°F). Mild winters (40-65°F, occasional freezes). Spring is glorious; fall arrives late. Sun 230+ days/year. Annual rainfall 35 inches with occasional flash floods.
- Summer90-105°F
- Winter45-65°F
- Sun days/yr228
- Rainfall34 inches
Walkability
- Walk Score42/100
- Transit Score33/100
- Bike Score56/100
Austin is car-dependent — most errands require driving.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Lady Bird Lake — kayak, paddleboard, hike-and-bike trail
- Greenbelt (Barton Creek) — 7-mile urban hiking corridor
- Hill Country day trips — wine country, Hamilton Pool, Krause Springs
- Lake Travis — boating and lakeside dining
- Austin's 250+ parks system; Zilker is the crown jewel
- Cycling — over 100 miles of urban bike lanes
What changes about your daily life.
- Summer heat 100°F+ replaces 4-month winter snow seasons
- TX property tax 1.6% vs MA's 1.23% — partially offsets income tax savings
- Boston walkability + transit replaced by Austin car culture
- BBQ, Tex-Mex replace seafood, Italian, Irish pub culture
- Higher-education density disappears (MIT, Harvard, BU absent)
- Live music every night — SXSW, ACL festivals
How to drive there.
What it takes to move 1,900 miles.
- Full-service (3BR)$9,000-$18,500
- Container/PODS$4,800-$10,000
- DIY (26-ft truck)$3,000-$5,500
- Best monthsOctober-March (avoid TX summer heat)
- Lead time6-10 weeks; 5-10 day delivery
USDOT-registered. Boston pickup may need COIs/elevator booking.
Moving from Boston to Austin: FAQ.
Tech salary parity Boston vs Austin?
Senior tech 85-95% of Bay Area / Boston for equivalent roles. Apple/Tesla Austin engineers paid competitively with Cupertino. Cost of living 27% lower; net effective income typically improves 30-40%. Junior tech roles pay less in absolute terms.
Will I miss Boston culture?
Common. Boston's higher-ed density, museums, theater, and seafood culture are unmatched in Austin. Most Boston transplants miss MFA, Harvard Square, and Maine summers. Austin compensates with live music, BBQ, and warmer winters. About 15% reverse within 3 years.
Let's find the right interstate mover for your Boston-to-Austin move.
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