Is Austin Still the Tech Utopia It Promised to Be?

In 2020, Austin, Texas, was the darling of the tech world—a shimmering alternative to the stratospheric costs of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Elon Musk, packing Tesla’s bags for Austin’s Silicon Hills, called it the future. Remote workers, lured by $400,000 homes and no state income tax, flooded in, boosting the metro population by 121,000 from 2020 to 2022. South by Southwest (SXSW) pulsed with startup energy, and Franklin Barbecue’s lines symbolized a city bursting with flavor and ambition.

But in 2025, the shine is fading. Housing costs have soared, AI threatens jobs, and traffic chokes I-35. Is Austin still the tech utopia it promised, or are cities like Nashville and Miami stealing its crown?

I moved through these questions like a detective, sifting data and stories, worried about AI’s shadow over jobs and Austin’s affordability. The numbers tell a tale of a city at a crossroads, its “Keep Austin Weird” ethos tested by growth and change. Let’s unpack the evidence—job markets, costs, livability—and see if Austin can still replace San Francisco or LA, or if it’s time to look elsewhere.