From Connecticut to Austin, Texas!
As a small and prosperous state, Connecticut is part of the New England region. It has the highest income per capita, the second-highest level of human development, the highest median household income, and is the fourth most populous state in the United States.
Hartford is the capital of Connecticut, Bridgeport is the largest town, and Greater Danbury is the largest metropolitan area. Great Danbury consists of a total of ten towns, of which Danbury is the largest.
Connecticut Economy
Connecticut has a staggering GDP of nearly 280 billion U.S. dollars, with a per capita GDP exceeding 80,000 U.S. dollars. The state has provided amazing income for some major financial industries, such as Berkshire Hathaway, Bank of America, People’s United Finance, and so on! These services contribute nearly $40 billion to Connecticut’s GDP.
Disadvantages
Despite having the second-largest GDP per capita, Connecticut is famous for its differences in income. There are many that earn lower than the numbers mentioned above. Other cons include:
The high income means a high cost of living. And so are taxes, including fuel tax. It can get really cold up there. Jobs are scarce. Employers prefer Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.
Hello to colorful Austin!
Austin is the capital of Texas and its third-largest city. The Texan capital has a population of 961,855. It is located in the center of the Austin – Round Rock – San Marcos, or Greater Austin metropolitan area. Austin has huge economic, historical and cultural importance.
Austin’s Economy
As the capital of Texas, Austin puts effort into the high-tech development of the state. The rapid growth of the region has led Forbes to rank the Austin metropolitan area as the number one among all major cities in 2012 in its annual survey, and the Wall Street Journal as the number one for company growth.
In addition to the big employers usually from government administrations, universities, and medical centers, a large part of the labor market is occupied by Apple, Dell, IBM, and Amazon. All of this, coupled with the absence of state income taxes in Texas, makes up for a large and prosperous labor market.
Education in Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is the main pillar of Texas education. There are more than 40,000 undergraduates and more than 11,000 postgraduates, providing more than 100 undergraduate degrees and more than 170 graduate degrees. It is classified as “R1: Doctoral University-Very High Research Activity”.
Culture
Known today as Old Austin, the city has a rich urban history. Today, it can still be regarded as an important part of the local subculture, including the many local breweries, Tex-Mex cuisine, and high-quality Texas barbecues.
Austin is known as the live music capital of the world and is home to many annual festivals and concerts. South By the Southwest, Block 21, Urban Music Fest, Austin City Limits Music Festival attracts millions of visitors every year.
Hartford and Austin head to head
Some rather surprising stats by Hartford and a clear winner in Austin. It’s rather cheap to buy a home in the capital of Connecticut, but that’s it. Austin has a far larger median income, a three times lower unemployment rate, cheaper utilities, and groceries, while the cost of health care is rather the same.