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A recent report ranks Austin as the top city worldwide for technology companies. Savills, a London-based real estate advisory company, placed Austin at the top of a list of 12 global centers for the technology job sector. The research found that smaller cities such as Austin have more affordable living, more access to restaurants and less pollution than the world’s largest cities — all factors that attract tech talent. A news release on Savills’ website touts Austin’s young population and “stand out” economic growth as further reasons for the success of its technology companies. “In fact, smaller cities with their significant creative population offer some things that mega cities just can’t. Austin has seen recent population growth, GDP growth and house price growth — its stand out economic growth rivals the bigger cities and the median average age is only 31 years,” according to the release. Austin came out ahead of San Francisco, Tel Aviv, New York City and Stockholm.

Mark Richardson is a multimedia journalist, editor and writer who has worked in digital, print and broadcast media for three decades. He is a nationally recognized editor and reporter who has covered government,...