These seem to have the most opportunity and most optionality. I've considered austin, but it seems pretty dead. Vastly prefer east coast.

No, “most opportunities” only if you want to work the startup grind. If you don’t, there are tech jobs in other cities that are boring stable 9-5 jobs if you don’t need Big Tech level salary.

You have a massive country to choose from.

Including, crucially, all the less expensive ones