Wow..........2.7 million people in the Denver metro area is too rural??
Check it: that's 1 million people more than the Austin metro area at 1.7 million.
But if Austin floats your boat, be my guest. I lived in that climate (in Bryan 90 miles east) for 13 years and would not repeat the experience. It's over 90 degrees every day starting in May, and it doesn't get under 90 in the daytime until November. And humidity? Yessir, they have all you need. At least the weather is decent from November through April. And it does have a great music scene. Not ever gonna get me back, though.
Portland is a great area and has much more moderate weather. Not as grey and cloudy in the winter as Seattle, which is one of my favorite cities.
Just be aware - anywhere in the West you go, you will need at least one car because there is limited public transportation in most areas, no public transportation between most towns, and it's not unusual to drive 60 miles to go out to dinner.
