List ranks Austin as good place to live

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A Yahoo Finances report ranked Austin as No. 3 in a list of Best Places to Live for 2009.

The report, based on US News' Best Places to Live for 2009, takes a different approach in choosing why some cities are preferable over others. No. 2 was Auburn, Alab. and No. 1 was Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Austin, for example, has many affordable and fun activities for residents to enjoy on a tight budget during the economic downturn. A perfect example is Barton Springs which is a three-acre natural spring pool where anyone can enjoy for about $3. Other outdoor attractions include Lions Municipal Golf Course and Zilker Metropolitan Park.

The live-music scene is an obvious attraction to the capital of Texas. Austin City Limits, South by Southwest music festival, and nearly 200 performance venues scattered throughout the city lure in music enthusiasts from all over every year.

Many Texas cities offer great food, attractions and beautiful weather, but Austin was the only Texas city to make the list this year.

The high rate of nonconformists striving to "Keep Austin Weird" could be the reason the city stands out from the rest, but it is clear that Austin provides plenty of jobs, activities, school spirit and political nostalgia to keep it a fast paced and interesting place to reside.