The 15 best places to live in the South
The best places to live in the South are where jobs are plentiful, home prices and rents are relatively affordable, and the quality of life is high.
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- The southern parts of the United States are booming, with robust economic and population growth.
- We wanted to pinpoint the best cities to live in the South for affordability and quality of life.
- Of the top 15 southern cities, three are in North Carolina, according to US News and World Report.
The South is booming.
In recent years, the 16 states below the Mason-Dixon line have seen significant population and economic growth.
In 2023, the 10 counties in the US with the most people moving in from other parts of the country were mainly in the South, according to the latest regional migration data from the Census Bureau.
Surely you've read the many tales of New Yorkers and Californians moving to the South in search of better job opportunities and, in many cases, a more affordable cost of living. Other reasons movers cite include better weather and more laid-back atmospheres.
Are you considering a move to the South, too?
You're in luck. Each year, U.S. News & World Report ranks 150 major cities based on criteria including quality of life, education, crime rates, employment opportunities, and housing affordability to identify the best places to live in the United States.
Business Insider compiled the 15 best cities in the South to live from U.S. News' list. They're all places where jobs are plentiful, home prices and rents are relatively affordable, and the standard of living is high.
North Carolina takes center stage, with multiple spots on the list. While Charlotte, ranked No. 3 on the list, and Raleigh, at No. 4, are well-known, the small city of Hickory, at No. 15, is more of a hidden gem.
Known for its breathtaking mountain scenery and coastal charm, North Carolina offers an appealing cost of living, coupled with a low unemployment rate of 3.6% as of May, according to the latest economic data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
John Yuschak, an engineering manager, told BI that Raleigh's vibrant tech scene and strong job market played a pivotal role in his decision to move to North Carolina from Ohio in 2017.
"If you work in the technical sector in any way, this is a very forgiving area," Yuschak said. "You can lose your job today and you can be working somewhere else within a week or two."
Here are the 15 best places to live in the South, according to US News & World Report.
Data sources: Population is from the US Census for 2023, income is from the US Census for 2022, median home price from Realtor.com for May 2024, and median rent from Zillow for July.
Jeff Yount/Getty Images
Population of the metro area: 44,415
Median home price: $317,500
Median monthly rent: $1,229
Median household income: $58,251
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Population of the metro area: 302,296
Median home price: $290,000
Median monthly rent: $1,600
Median household income: $55,051
Michael Warren/Getty Images
Population of the metro area: 101,680
Median home price: $365,000
Median monthly rent: $1,695
Median household income: $56,881
Derek Olson Photography/Shutterstock
Population of the metro area: 95,056
Median home price: $506,250
Median monthly rent: $2,200
Median household income: $63,810
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Population of the metro area: 702,767
Median home price: $270,000
Median monthly rent: $1,375
Median household income: $64,251
Henryk Sadura/Shutterstock
Population of the metro area: 320,154
Median home price: $329,000
Median monthly rent: $1,600
Median household income: $66,087
The population and income data for Lexington is for Lexington-Fayette Urban County.
Pgiam/Getty Images
Population of the metro area: 155,369
Median home price: $635,000
Median monthly rent: $1,958
Median household income: $83,891
Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Population of the metro area: 57,602
Median home price: $569,000
Median monthly rent: $2,850
Median household income: $68,870
Kruck20/Getty Images
Population of the metro area: 979,882
Median home price: $586,000
Median monthly rent: $2,295
Median household income: $86,556
Kyle J Little/Shutterstock
Population of the metro area: 453,649
Median home price: $398,000
Median monthly rent: $2,290
Median household income: $87,544
Shutterstock
Population of the metro area: 225,564
Median home price: $325,000
Median monthly rent: $1,450
Median household income: $67,874
Kevin Ruck/Shutterstock
Population of the metro area: 482,295
Median home price: $441,000
Median monthly rent: $1,900
Median household income: $78,631
Walter Bibikow / Getty Images
Population of the metro area: 911,311
Median home price: $428,000
Median monthly rent: $2,015
Median household income: $74,070
Shutterstock
Population of the metro area: 72,824
Median home price: $455,000
Median monthly rent: $1,800
Median household income: $65,519
Stephen Orsillo/Shutterstock
Population of the metro area: 19, 704
Median home price: $789,000
Median monthly rent: $5,700
Median household income: $135,657