<p>In miami it is always above 75-80 degree. the exception is when a cold front comes through. Recent years have been hotter, and wed be lucky to have more than a week with 50 degree weather. I</p>
<p>Let's see... I've lived in Austin for 6 years, Houston for 12, and visited Dallas a handful. I'd advise crossing Dallas off that list (way too much traffic and it smells). If looking for the "urban experience" live in one of the many surrounding Houston area suburbs and commute into the city. Houston has the best big city feel.</p>
<p>Austin... is very grassroots, hippy, liberal. Exactly what one would typify it as. It's a great haven for college students and those "unique" individuals. It's a lot more laid back than Houston, which I should add cannot drive as a CITY, and Austin just seems to be more alluring, more green, more nature-driven. College atmosphere = party. UT Austin = Great academically, very very social, one of the biggest party schools. Fairly hilly.</p>
<p>Houston is a lot like NYC. Huge population, a bit more conservative. Better college town for med students. World's largest medical center which loves Rice students apparently, a LOT of internships available. Metal jungle, flat.</p>
<p>More leisure-driven individuals tend to settle in Austin (Lake Austin, Lake Travis, etc.)</p>
<p>Those that are all about their job tend to settle in metropolitan Houston. It's crazy. </p>
<p>Dallas, eh, we'll not touch on that.</p>
<p>Austin weather: surprisingly mild except for June-August (hits 100+), other months (this year) it's been tame (anywhere from 32 to 75, mostly 50-60)</p>
<p>Houston weather: hot/rainy/humid</p>
<p>if ur gonna live in texas i suggest austin. i have lived in austin for more than 10 years now, Austin has pretty good weather except around mid afternoon in the summers when it gets really really hot , and even then its still kinda breezy. There are a lot of nice areas to live in in austin although might be kinda expensive. There are a lot of parks, state parks, and natural areas in and around austin. A bunch of lakes. The traffic is kinda bad but nothing like houston or dallas and it seems to be getting better once the metro line goes up. Other things i like about austin is UT, the campus is really relaxing to be in and around, barton springs and zilker park are austin's prime relaxing pools and parks with a lot of free events occurring most weekends. Austin has a lot of bars, clubs, parties, and the people in general are friendly, there is a good demographic mix and even if ur not liberal there are pretty conservative areas in and around austin for example West Lake Hills. Austin has a lot of yound people and its a fun city.</p>
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The traffic is kinda bad but nothing like houston or dallas and it seems to be getting better once the metro line goes up.
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I think I can get used to the traffic, being from Chicago. :)</p>
<p>Austin is the only livable part of Texas.</p>
<p>Trust me.</p>
<p>Born in Austin, raised in Austin... going to college in Boston.
But the truth is, Austin is freaking amazing. Very liberal, though.</p>
<p>Well I'm an Arizonan and I can say if you're planning to live here my advice would really depend on what city you want to go to. In Phoenix, Scottsdale, Chandler, Tempe its hot but there is a lot of business and it has a huge population. In cities up north like Flagstaff the weather is extremely AWESOME- you get all the seasons up there and its more suburbany (if that's a word)</p>
<p>I also visited Florida for like a week and it seems like there is a lot to do there and the weather is humid.</p>
<p>However, if you're planning to move to any of these states I think the most important factor is money. You can spend a lot here in Arizona to get a house but you'd have to commute to work. When I was in high school, my marketing teacher moved to Texas because of cheap housing and developing business or something like that. I can't say anything for Florida though.</p>
<p>You will also find that the East coast (Ft.Lauredale) of FL is mostly populated by N/E'ners.
The West coast (Tampa )with Mid Westeners. Has something to do with I-95 on the East coast running along the N/E US and I-75 running to the mid west.</p>
<p>Yes the humidity is high in FL but thats why they have A/C & inground pools.</p>
<p>Anyhow, if you are considering college here in FL you will NOT be here during the high humidity months so discount that.</p>
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You can spend a lot here in Arizona to get a house but you'd have to commute to work.
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So the cost of living is high in Arizona? I'd probably be looking into the Phoenix area or Tuscon.</p>
<p>Dunno if this matters, but I'd be looking into science/engineering related jobs.</p>
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But the truth is, Austin is freaking amazing. Very liberal, though.
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When you say liberal, do you mean from a political standpoint, because I tend to lean toward the liberal spectrum, but I don't think it'll matter that much though.</p>
<p>I go to Texas A&M. I have a love-hate relationship with the weather. I like that there's only a couple months during the whole year where it's coat weather. You can pretty much play outdoor basketball or go to the park 9-10 months a year here. But July and August are brutal. You have to always keep your car windows cracked, drink plenty of water, and keep some sunscreen handy at all times.</p>
<p>Texas does have its fair share of the stereotypical rednecks you seen on t.v., but not very many of them make it to a college campus. My experiences with the A&M community have been really positive.</p>
<p>I grew up and lived in Dallas my entire life too. Its a mixed bag. I used to like it, but the city has become really segregated now with most black and Mexican people living in south dallas and dallas proper, and all the white people living in the northern suburbs. But commuting back and forth means lots of traffic and lots of gas money.</p>
<p>all of texas sucks aside from austin.</p>
<p>Politically liberal, yes (you may have heard the expression "tiny dot of red in a sea of blue"). In addition, it's very.. ah, how do I put it. Very wacky, crazy, loudspoken, yet accepting. Austin is the place where we know the name of the crossdressing guy who walks down 6th Street... and take pride in showing him off to tourists. 30 minutes away, you have Bible-loving Republicans... then you head to downtown Austin and it's a whole 'nother story.</p>
<p>Remember that South Florida, specifically Miami, is very different from the rest of the state.</p>
<p>I definitely wouldn't say that the cost of living is very high in Arizona, though as with most states it is going to depend on what city you live in.</p>
<p>It's definitely a growing state, I've lived here he majority of my life and each and every year I notice more people moving here from all over the country and more businesses and houses popping up. I wouldn't neccessarily call it a very liberal state, and at times it can seem a little...dull when compared to places in California, Chicago, New York, even Texas and Florida.</p>
<p>I think the one thing that kind of bothers me about Arizona is it's lack of culture. Aside from Mexican culture, or Native American culture, nothing really stands out or connects people here. But that's just my suburban raised perspective.</p>
<p>And as always, unless you're living up north be prepared for 115+ degree weather all of summer. And winter highs still in the 60s. Really, it's nice but the constant sweating gets old quick.</p>
<p>Oh, &I don't know if you were wanting information on colleges. But our three main state universities are Northern Arizona University, Arizona State, and University of Arizona.</p>
<p>I can't speak too much on NAU, other than it is the smaller university up around Flagstaff. It's got a more liberal feel to it than the other too, and I've heard it's science oriented.</p>
<p>ASU is where the majority of people from my school, and much of the state, ends up. Yes, it's got a reputation as a party school. And it can definitely be considered a commuter campus. The only reason I, personally, would go there would be for the Barret's honor college. There actually can be a lot to do around the area though, the main campus is in Tempe with downtown Phoenix not too far away.</p>
<p>U of A is my instate safety. Overall, I feel the academics as a whole are better than ASU. though both universities have their stronger points. U of A is in Tuscon, and I like the campus feel there better. A lot of people think that there is nothing to do in Tuscon, but it really is not that bad. There are always concerts going on there, places to eat, and much more activities to do on campus.</p>
<p>That's my basic rundown, if you have any more questions about AZ &I don't respond on this topic, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>yeah... 115+ weather, I'm going to die. I'm going to Phoenix for 2 weeks in August. And I'm from Canada. Although our summers are actually pretty warm... so the transition won't be that bad.</p>
<p>What are some fun things to do in Phoenix? Besides tubing in the salt river... already have that planned. What kind of fish do you have down there?</p>
<p>edit: 115 F is 46 C... yeah that's pretty damn hot.</p>
<p>Native Houstonian here, and I love it. Since Houston is a big city, it's not terribly conservative, so politically there's not a huge problem. I personally think that Austin's traffic can be much worse than Houston's, but I really only have experience with the highways going through it. Austin has tons of hills, but Houston is really flat. Austin is also a bit farther north, so I think it doesn't get as hot as Houston (I've heard wonders about things like snow). And yes, college is more emphasized in Austin (or at least UT is), but I think that's because it doesn't have as many competing universities as Houston. Houston is also really humid, so it often feels much hotter than it is, but helps keep much warmer winters than those up north.</p>
<p>I think khrushchevtm's comment was the most accurate in regards to Austin vs. Houston, overall.</p>
<p>And stay away from Dallas.</p>
<p>tinkerbinker25, out of U of A and ASU, which is the better school for engineering?</p>
<p>ASU has a very good engineering school and if you get into the Barrett Honors College I would say that your experience will likely be very positive. Arizona has a low cost of living and inexpensive housing compared to other major metropolitan areas. Especially in comparison to California. </p>
<p>I just got back from England and it is definitely extremely hot during the summer. Luckily, if you're just here for college, you miss most of the 110+ days. One of my favorite parts about Arizona (Phoenix area specifically) is that there's a clear blue sky about 98% of the year.</p>
<p>"You will also find that the East coast (Ft.Lauredale) of FL is mostly populated by N/E'ners. The West coast (Tampa )with Mid Westeners. Has something to do with I-95 on the East coast running along the N/E US and I-75 running to the mid west." </p>
<p>I disagree a bit. I'm from Sarasota (on the west coast about 45 min south of Tampa) and it seems like 75% of our population = retired New Yorkers. </p>
<p>p.s. I LOVE Florida as a state and UF as a school! :)</p>