10 Greatest Locations to Reside within the South

Charleston, South Carolina

U.S. Information & World Report’s newest rating for one of the best locations to dwell in america included a number of Southern locations — together with Charleston, South Carolina. “Its proximity to the ocean and vibrant nightlife are magnificent,” Christine Quillin, an affiliate dealer and companion with Parks Actual Property at Compass, tells Journey + Leisure. “It’s really appropriate for younger professionals and households seeking to plant their roots.”

In response to Zillow, the common Charleston house worth is presently round $567,000 which is greater than the general U.S. housing market common of round $360,000, though you’re prone to discover higher offers outdoors of downtown Charleston. Redfin notes that North Charleston, Goose Creek, and Ladson are a few of the extra inexpensive Charleston suburbs, and so they’re all inside driving distance of the Holy Metropolis’s seashores, historic sights, and cultural actions. John Darby, president and CEO of The Seaside Firm, additionally shares that Johns Island is a good various to the downtown space, because it’s a “charming escape from busy metropolis life and [has] an easy-going life-style,” to not point out it’s seeing “newer communities akin to Kiawah River attracting [both] locals and out-of-towners discovering the ocean island life-style.”

Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley

“Not too long ago, we have been seeing a major improve in homebuyers transferring to the extra rural components of the state, such because the Shenandoah Valley in Western Virginia,” says Ryan Value, chief economist of the Virginia Realtors Affiliation. “These rural areas provide pure magnificence and a slower tempo than many suburban and concrete areas.” Value additionally shares that with distant and hybrid work alternatives, in addition to increasing broadband web availability, there’s been extra demand for smaller cities like Harrisonburg, Waynesboro, Lexington, and Staunton.

“Persons are discovering extra worth when it comes to the house sizes, land, and life-style, whereas nonetheless being shut sufficient to drive to the job facilities a pair days per week,” he provides. For instance, Zillow estimates that in Staunton, the common house worth is round $289,000, greater than $70,000 lower than the nationwide common.

Charlotte, North Carolina

“The Charlotte actual property market really presents one thing for everybody,” says Kate Terrigno, a realtor with Corcoran HM Properties, who shares that Myers Park, Dilworth, Plaza Midwood, and South Finish are a few of the most fascinating neighborhoods within the Queen Metropolis. “These neighborhoods provide a mixture of historic attraction, fashionable facilities, inexperienced areas, and handy entry to the town’s core.” For a extra residential really feel, she recommends Myers Park. Each Dilworth and Plaza Midwood are extra walkable, and South Finish, she notes, is “a hub for professionals and is characterised by its stylish lofts, residences, and fashionable townhomes.”

Whereas the typical house worth in Charlotte is round $400,000, barely greater than the nationwide common, it is a vacation spot that actually combines one of the best of every little thing: public transportation, a global airport, top-rated eating places, a rising brewery scene, skilled sports activities, and extra.

Lafayette, Louisiana

“We name it the Hub Metropolis, as within the hub of Acadiana. Lafayette is the middle of all issues southwest of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, with a robust French affect in the best way we communicate, dance, eat, and snort,” says Arla Slaughter, a realtor with Latter & Blum and Compass. Right here, the typical house worth is about $219,000, and U.S. Information & World Report named it the greatest place to dwell in Louisiana in 2024-2025. It earned this title attributable to its culinary choices, competition calendar, and thrilling dwell music scene. “The world over involves our free music festivals, the place we dance with abandon whereas holding [our] favourite beverage,” says Slaughter. Whether or not you’re buying a home or renting an house — in response to RentCafe, the typical hire in Lafayette is $1,084 — you’ll have unparalleled entry to the wonderful cultural celebration that’s the Pageant Worldwide De Louisiane, in addition to a lineup of smaller musical occasions all year long.

Dallas, Texas

“Dallas emerges as a best choice… for its dynamic economic system, cultural variety, and favorable residing prices,” says Graham Snowden, chief funding officer at RREAF Holdings, a personal actual property funding and growth agency. Although downtown Dallas has skilled climbing actual property costs in recent times, U.S. Information & World Report notes that the higher Dallas-Fort Price space “presents a greater worth than similarly-sized metro areas when evaluating family prices with median family revenue.”

If the typical Dallas house worth, estimated by Zillow to be round $320,000, isn’t in your finances, contemplate exploring extra inexpensive suburbs. Locations like Duncanville, Irving, Mesquite, and Wilmer are all inside 20 miles of Dallas, giving their residents comparatively quick access to all of the Dallas highlights — together with its worldwide airport, artwork galleries, museums, and ever-impressive roster of resorts and eating places. 

Myrtle Seaside, South Carolina

Charleston might tempt house patrons with its waterfront communities and public seashores, but it surely’s not the one South Carolina metropolis with actual property alternatives and interesting climate. Traditionally often known as a vacationer city, Myrtle Seaside makes its technique to this listing attributable to its comparatively decrease house costs. Zillow shares that the typical Myrtle Seaside house worth is presently about $308,000, and Redfin reviews that houses offered for a median value of $286,000 in April 2024.

Given the town’s affiliation with tourism, it’s no shock that leisure is a prime precedence within the space. Myrtle Seaside has a variety of golf programs, two stunning state parks, and a seemingly infinite variety of locations to swim, fish, sunbathe, and go boating — all of which might be equally loved by retirees, households, and younger professionals.

Franklin, Tennessee

There are a number of causes Franklin, Tennessee’s inhabitants elevated by 33 % from 2010 to 2020, in response to inhabitants numbers supplied by the United States Census Bureau. “It has small-town attraction, and its proximity to downtown Nashville presents one of the best of each worlds,” says Quillin, who shares that its residents get pleasure from “stylish eating places, quaint vintage outlets, and even a charming downtown sq..” As an added bonus, she notes that “Franklin has among the best faculty methods in Tennessee.”

It’s vital to notice, nonetheless, that Franklin’s common house worth is extremely steep, so potential house patrons might wish to slender down their actual property search and deal with extra inexpensive neighborhoods like Shadow Inexperienced, Rolling Meadows, and Simmons Ridge.

Richmond, Virginia

Famous by actual property consultants as one of many prime locations to dwell in Virginia, Richmond is the definition of a livable metropolis. Throughout the capital of Virginia, you’ll discover the entire facilities you’d count on from a thriving metropolis: artwork museums, historic websites, a number of universities, and among the best culinary scenes within the South. Nonetheless, there’s an inherent small-town really feel to the 226,000-person metropolis, and its entry to the nice open air and the James River is far appreciated by residents.

Zillow reviews the typical house worth in Richmond has risen 5.7 % within the final yr — now nearly $360,000 — and Redfin particulars that houses spend a median of 9 days available on the market. In response to Steadily, Richmond has continued to be a vendor’s market, however there may be nonetheless hope for patrons: Might 2024 witnessed a 5.1 % improve in houses on the market in comparison with April 2024. Although it’s a aggressive market, house patrons ought to make a concerted effort to analysis every of Richmond’s neighborhoods, figuring out which one most accurately fits their desires and desires. 

Chattanooga, Tennessee

“Chattanooga, Tennessee presents stunning surroundings on the Tennessee River [and] a walkable city the place you’ll be able to hike within the morning and revel in an incredible BBQ within the night,” says Quillin. Plus, she says, “It has the hustle and bustle of a school city with a lot of up-and-coming neighborhoods.” For many who wish to be surrounded by historical past and inexperienced areas, Redfin reviews that Alton Park, the place the median sale value of houses is $228,000, is an effective place to look. Alternatively, there’s East Chattanooga, the place houses promote for a mean of $180,000.

When the U.S. Information & World Report named the Scenic Metropolis among the best locations to dwell within the South, it famous that this relative affordability was one of many prime figuring out components. Zillow estimates the common house worth in your complete metropolis is round $308,000, over 10 % beneath the nationwide common.

Huntsville, Alabama

Huntsville, Alabama made the highest 10 on the U.S. Information & World Report’s 2024-2025 Greatest Locations to Reside rankings — a place it earned because of its latest development and general actual property worth. Spurred by the House Race within the Nineteen Sixties, Huntsville’s growth has traditionally been immediately tied to NASA and the Marshall House Flight Heart in addition to Boeing’s amenities. Redfin reviews that the expertise and engineering job markets proceed to thrive, with the addition of a Meta Knowledge Heart in 2021.

Fashionable-day Huntsville has developed in different areas, too — from procuring and eating to arts and actual property. It’s additionally extremely favorable for first-time homebuyers; as of July 2024, Zillow reviews that the typical house worth in Huntsville is round $281,000, considerably beneath the nationwide common.