Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Austin lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Austin sits.
Pro sports in Austin
The five major US leagues anchor a city’s sports identity — home stadiums, season-long event flow, drive-time fanbases. Austin hosts 1 major-league team across 1 league.
- MLS Austin FC
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Austin fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
- –
- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
- –
Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Austin's strongest factors are Bike & Micromobility, Drinks and Live Music. Its heaviest drawbacks are Air Quality, Crime and Traffic.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
-
Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
-
Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
-
Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
-
How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
-
How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Austin
The Austin read Free
A written read on Austin, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Austin scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Austin, TX: A Fun City with a Thriving Bike and Micromobility Scene
Austin, TX is a Fun city with a Fun Score of 68, standing out nationally for its exceptional bike and micromobility infrastructure.
Why it scores high
Austin shines in several key areas that contribute to a vibrant and engaging urban experience. The city's commitment to alternative transportation is evident in its outstanding Bike & Micromobility score of 88, placing it tied for 13th nationally out of 134 cities. This high score suggests that residents and visitors alike will find it easy and enjoyable to navigate Austin using bikes, scooters, and other micromobility options, thanks to extensive protected cycleways and accessible bikeshare programs (OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog).
Beyond getting around, Austin offers a lively social scene. The city boasts a strong Drinks scene, scoring 77 and tying for 31st nationally. This indicates a rich variety of bars, pubs, nightclubs, and craft breweries, all with generally positive reviews, making it easy to find a great spot for a night out (OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). Complementing this, Austin's reputation as the "Live Music Capital of the World" is upheld by its impressive Live Music score of 77, also tied for 31st nationally. This means a consistent and high-quality offering of concerts and performances, from major headliners to local acts, ensuring there's always something to see and hear (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues).
The city also offers a robust culinary landscape, with Eats scoring 76 and ranking 33rd nationally. This suggests a diverse and high-quality selection of restaurants, catering to a wide range of tastes and preferences (OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). For those seeking unique entertainment, Austin's Unique Hangouts score of 71, tied for 39th nationally, points to a good number of engaging and distinctive venues like escape rooms, arcades, and karaoke spots (OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality).
Where it falls short
While Austin excels in many areas, there are a few aspects where it doesn't perform as strongly. One significant concern is Air Quality, which scores a low 18 and ranks 110th nationally. This indicates that Austin experiences relatively poor air quality compared to many other cities, which could impact outdoor activities and overall well-being (EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)).
Another area for improvement is Crime, with a score of 35, tied for 87th nationally. This score suggests that Austin has a higher crime rate than many other cities, which might be a consideration for residents and visitors (FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals). Additionally, the city's Sports scene, scoring 38 and tied for 83rd nationally, indicates a less prominent presence of professional and college sports compared to other major cities (Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres).
Who it's for
Austin is ideal for individuals who prioritize an active lifestyle with excellent options for biking and micromobility, coupled with a vibrant nightlife, a thriving live music scene, and a diverse culinary landscape. It's a city for those who enjoy going out, exploring unique entertainment venues, and appreciate a strong sense of local culture, even if it means tolerating some trade-offs in air quality and sports offerings.
Cities like it
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- FEMA National Risk Index
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap caf\u00e9 counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Austin’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Austin, TX: 67/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/austin-tx
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.