Alamo City vs. Austin

Austin may be No. 1 place to live in U.S., but San Antonio’s not far behind

San Antonio is among the best cities to live in the U.S.

For the second year in a row, Austin has been crowned by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 place to live in the U.S. But fear not, San Antonio — Alamo City is right behind.

Out of 125 metro areas, San Antonio appears at No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live report card for 2018. And while that puts San Antonio behind Austin, the Alamo City sits ahead of Dallas-Fort Worth (No. 18) and Houston (No. 26).

The publication describes the Alamo City this way: “San Antonio is as comfortable as an old pair of jeans. It offers big-city amenities and world-renowned attractions coupled with a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.”

Here are snippets of what U.S. News & World Report observed about Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston.

Austin — “People are drawn to the Texas capital’s music, outdoor spaces, and cultural institutions.”
Dallas-Fort Worth — “Offering both big-city excitement and quiet, suburban living, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area offers an interesting mix of Texas pride and cosmopolitan offerings. The cowboy life still exists in Fort Worth, while Dallasites love the trendy local bars and numerous retail shops.”
Houston — “The Houston metro area attracts people with an entrepreneurial spirit and those who want to work at some of the country's largest companies. Not only is Houston the hub of the oil and gas industries, but it's also a major center of manufacturing and health care.”

U.S. News & World Report compared five factors in grading the 125 places:

Net migration: the difference between the number of people moving to and from an area.
Desirability: the allure of a region for potential residents.
Value: a region’s affordability.
Quality of life: a mix of indicators for categories like commute times, crime rates, health care, and education.
Job market: salary levels and job availability.

“When deciding on a place to settle down, it’s important to understand that where a person lives can impact their well-being,” Kim Castro, executive editor of U.S. News, says in a release.

“U.S. News created the Best Places to Live to highlight areas across the country that have the characteristics residents are looking for, including steady job growth and affordability. The top-ranked places are areas where citizens can feel the most fulfilled socially, physically, and financially.”

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State Fair News

Texas drivers can now say 'howdy' with State Fair themed license plate

SFOT

State Fair of Texas license plate.

State Fair of Texas fans can now display their love on their license plate: The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board of Directors has given their approval for a State Fair of Texas specialty license plate, marking an exciting milestone for Fair enthusiasts, not to mention supporters of higher education.

Texans will be able to purchase the custom-designed plates starting in 2025. The plate features Texas icon Big Tex and his signature, “Howdy, Folks!”

The Big Tex Scholarship Program provides scholarships to graduating high school seniors from across the state of Texas. Beneficiaries include students who have participated in livestock events at the State Fair; graduating seniors from six Dallas Independent School District high schools near Fair Park; and longtime seasonal employees of the State Fair of Texas or their dependents.

The Big Tex Scholarship Program has awarded more than $18.8 million to more than 3,500 Texas students since 1992.

Texas license plates come in all sorts of themes: military, high schools, Texas institutions, hobbies, nature, sports, fraternities & sororities, and charities.

“The State Fair of Texas is a cherished tradition, and this new specialty license plate provides an incredible opportunity for Texans to showcase their pride while supporting Texas students,” said Karissa Condoianis, SVP of Public Relations.

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