Although I did not choose Austin I think I can offer a partial answer to your question. if one compares Austin to any other medium sized city in the entire region Austin is clearly the class act. Further, the city is usually quite kind and gentle with strangers. It is also reasonably refined and attractive; I must admit that the 'refined' part is quite a stretch around the sophmoric college kids.

in sum, the same people who will choose Ann Arbor or Madison will choose Austin, for some of the same reasons. I quite like all three of them. I'm also fond of Oxford, Heidelberg and White River Junction. Whatever else may be there a well endowed college town is a special place with culture and atmosphere far more attractive than other cities of the same size, and a fair quantity of relatively inexpensive decent places to eat and drink.

I know a few people who have lived for years in such places and like living in them but don't see their appeal to visitors. That said, the supply of drunks, young or old, seems plentiful in most such cities. maybe not so much in Provo.