10 Greatest Locations to Dwell within the South

Charleston, South Carolina

U.S. Information & World Report’s newest rating for the perfect locations to dwell in the US 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 trying to plant their roots.”

In line with Zillow, the common Charleston residence worth is at the moment round $567,000 which is larger than the general U.S. housing market common of round $360,000, though you’re more likely 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, they usually’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 superb various to the downtown space, because it’s a “charming escape from busy metropolis life and [has] an easy-going way of life,” to not point out it’s seeing “newer communities corresponding to Kiawah River attracting [both] locals and out-of-towners discovering the ocean island way of life.”

Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley

“Lately, we have been seeing a big enhance in homebuyers transferring to the extra rural elements of the state, such because the Shenandoah Valley in Western Virginia,” says Ryan Value, chief economist of the Virginia Realtors Affiliation. “These rural areas supply 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 by way of the house sizes, land, and way of life, 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 residence worth is round $289,000, greater than $70,000 lower than the nationwide common.

Charlotte, North Carolina

“The Charlotte actual property market really provides 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 supply a mix of historic appeal, trendy 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 fashionable lofts, flats, and trendy townhomes.”

Whereas the common residence worth in Charlotte is round $400,000, barely larger than the nationwide common, this can be a vacation spot that really combines the perfect of the whole lot: public transportation, a world 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 way in which we converse, dance, eat, and giggle,” says Arla Slaughter, a realtor with Latter & Blum and Compass. Right here, the common residence worth is about $219,000, and U.S. Information & World Report named it the finest place to dwell in Louisiana in 2024-2025. It earned this title because of its culinary choices, pageant 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 residence — in keeping with RentCafe, the common lease in Lafayette is $1,084 — you’ll have unparalleled entry to the superb cultural celebration that’s the Competition 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 range, and favorable residing prices,” says Graham Snowden, chief funding officer at RREAF Holdings, a non-public actual property funding and growth agency. Although downtown Dallas has skilled climbing actual property costs lately, U.S. Information & World Report notes that the larger Dallas-Fort Price space “provides a greater worth than similarly-sized metro areas when evaluating family prices with median family earnings.”

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

Myrtle Seaside, South Carolina

Charleston might tempt residence consumers with its waterfront communities and public seashores, however it’s not the one South Carolina metropolis with actual property alternatives and interesting climate. Traditionally generally known as a vacationer city, Myrtle Seaside makes its solution to this checklist because of its comparatively decrease residence costs. Zillow shares that the common Myrtle Seaside residence worth is at the moment about $308,000, and Redfin studies that properties bought 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 high precedence within the space. Myrtle Seaside has a lot of golf programs, two stunning state parks, and a seemingly infinite variety of locations to swim, fish, sunbathe, and go boating — all of which could be equally loved by retirees, households, and younger professionals.

Franklin, Tennessee

There are just a few causes Franklin, Tennessee’s inhabitants elevated by 33 p.c from 2010 to 2020, in keeping with inhabitants numbers offered by the United States Census Bureau. “It has small-town appeal, and its proximity to downtown Nashville provides the perfect of each worlds,” says Quillin, who shares that its residents get pleasure from “fashionable eating places, quaint vintage outlets, and even a charming downtown sq..” As an added bonus, she notes that “Franklin has among the best college techniques in Tennessee.”

It’s vital to notice, nevertheless, that Franklin’s common residence worth is extremely steep, so potential residence consumers might need to slim down their actual property search and concentrate on extra inexpensive neighborhoods like Shadow Inexperienced, Rolling Meadows, and Simmons Ridge.

Richmond, Virginia

Famous by actual property consultants as one of many high 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 outdoor and the James River is far appreciated by residents.

Zillow studies the common residence worth in Richmond has risen 5.7 p.c within the final yr — now virtually $360,000 — and Redfin particulars that properties spend a median of 9 days in the marketplace. In line with Steadily, Richmond has continued to be a vendor’s market, however there’s nonetheless hope for consumers: Might 2024 witnessed a 5.1 p.c enhance in properties on the market in comparison with April 2024. Although it’s a aggressive market, residence consumers ought to make a concerted effort to analysis every of Richmond’s neighborhoods, figuring out which one most closely fits their desires and desires. 

Chattanooga, Tennessee

“Chattanooga, Tennessee provides stunning surroundings on the Tennessee River [and] a walkable city the place you possibly can hike within the morning and revel in a tremendous BBQ within the night,” says Quillin. Plus, she says, “It has the hustle and bustle of a school city with numerous up-and-coming neighborhoods.” For many who need to be surrounded by historical past and inexperienced areas, Redfin studies that Alton Park, the place the median sale value of properties is $228,000, is an efficient place to look. Alternatively, there’s East Chattanooga, the place properties 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 high figuring out elements. Zillow estimates the common residence worth in your entire metropolis is round $308,000, over 10 p.c 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 Dwell rankings — a place it earned due to its latest progress and general actual property worth. Spurred by the Area Race within the Nineteen Sixties, Huntsville’s growth has traditionally been instantly tied to NASA and the Marshall Area Flight Middle in addition to Boeing’s services. Redfin studies that the know-how and engineering job markets proceed to thrive, with the addition of a Meta Knowledge Middle in 2021.

Fashionable-day Huntsville has advanced 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 studies that the common residence worth in Huntsville is round $281,000, considerably beneath the nationwide common.