Moving from Portland, OR, to Austin, TX

Planting roots (or your boots) in the Lone Star State

Texas has plenty of cowboy history, and you might have heard of their Dallas-based pro football team of the same name. When moving over 2,000 miles from Portland, OR, to the capital city of Austin, you’ll find Texas has a rich Western heritage and so much more. 

Almost a million people live within Austin city limits, so it’s larger than Portland (close to 653,000 city residents). But you’ll find the metro area populations comparable at around 2.5 million.  

Keep reading to learn what exciting things Austin offers. 

Expect some heat inside and outside the kitchen

The climate in Austin is warmer than in Portland, especially during the summer. Be prepared for a heat wave since Austin’s average July high temperatures are around 95 degrees, compared to 81 degrees in Portland.  

Average winter lows in both cities are similar, with temps in the mid-to-upper 30s, but you’ll have less chance of seeing snow in Austin than in Portland. 

Prefer your heat in the kitchen? Austin has plenty of spicy food, from curry and ramen to chili and salsa. And if you want something a bit milder, you’ll find that in Austin, too, with numerous restaurants offering cuisine from around the world.  

Career opportunities in Austin

Austin’s job market is healthy, with low unemployment rates and average salaries above the national average. Find work in advanced manufacturing, clean technology, digital and creative media, financial services, space technology and more. 

Top employers in the area include Apple, Dell Technologies, IBM, Indeed, Samsung Austin Semiconductor and Whole Foods Market. 

The city has over 200 public and private elementary, middle and high schools. It’s also home to 6 colleges and universities, including the University of Texas at Austin.  

Fun facts about Austin

Want to learn some Austin trivia? Let’s start with these interesting details about the city: 

  • Austin is considered the “Live Music Capital of the World” and often uses the slogan “Keep Austin Weird.” 
  • It’s the capital city of Texas, but it’s only the 4th largest behind Dallas, San Antonio and Houston. 
  • When first incorporated, the city was called “Waterloo” until it was renamed for the republic’s first secretary of state, Stephen F. Austin. 
  • Austin’s birthday is December 27. 
  • The Texas State Capitol building in the city is the largest in the U.S. 
  • The largest bat colony in North America resides in Austin. 
  • There’s archaeological evidence to support that humans have lived in the Austin area since 9200 B.C. 

Move to Texas with U-Pack

U-Pack® has nationwide service centers and more than 25 years of experience in long-distance moves. Our locations near Portland and Austin are ready to serve you. We’re a DIY-moving service where you handle packing, loading and unloading, and we drive your belongings to your new home. Get a free online quote today, or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant.