10 Finest Locations to Reside within the South

Charleston, South Carolina

U.S. Information & World Report’s newest rating for the most effective locations to stay 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 accomplice with Parks Actual Property at Compass, tells Journey + Leisure. “It’s really appropriate for younger professionals and households trying to plant their roots.”

In accordance with Zillow, the common Charleston dwelling worth is presently round $567,000 which is larger 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 among the extra reasonably priced 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 different 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 comparable to Kiawah River attracting [both] locals and out-of-towners discovering the ocean island way of life.”

Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley

“Just lately, we have been seeing a major enhance 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 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.

“Individuals 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 dwelling 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 among the most fascinating neighborhoods within the Queen Metropolis. “These neighborhoods supply a mix of historic attraction, trendy facilities, inexperienced areas, and handy entry to 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 dwelling worth in Charlotte is round $400,000, barely larger than the nationwide common, this can be a vacation spot that really combines the most effective of all the pieces: 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 powerful French affect in the best way we converse, dance, eat, and giggle,” says Arla Slaughter, a realtor with Latter & Blum and Compass. Right here, the common dwelling worth is about $219,000, and U.S. Information & World Report named it the greatest place to stay in Louisiana in 2024-2025. It earned this title as a consequence of its culinary choices, pageant calendar, and thrilling stay 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 — based on RentCafe, the common lease in Lafayette is $1,084 — you’ll have unparalleled entry to the wonderful 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 dwelling prices,” says Graham Snowden, chief funding officer at RREAF Holdings, a personal actual property funding and improvement agency. Although downtown Dallas has skilled climbing actual property costs lately, U.S. Information & World Report notes that the higher Dallas-Fort Value space “provides a greater worth than similarly-sized metro areas when evaluating family prices with median family revenue.”

If the common Dallas dwelling worth, estimated by Zillow to be round $320,000, isn’t in your price range, think about exploring extra reasonably priced 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 inns and eating places. 

Myrtle Seaside, South Carolina

Charleston could tempt dwelling 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 referred to as a vacationer city, Myrtle Seaside makes its technique to this checklist as a consequence of its comparatively decrease dwelling costs. Zillow shares that the common Myrtle Seaside dwelling worth is presently about $308,000, and Redfin experiences that houses offered for a median worth of $286,000 in April 2024.

Given 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 lovely state parks, and a seemingly limitless 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 just a few causes Franklin, Tennessee’s inhabitants elevated by 33 % from 2010 to 2020, based on inhabitants numbers supplied by the United States Census Bureau. “It has small-town attraction, and its proximity to downtown Nashville provides the most effective of each worlds,” says Quillin, who shares that its residents get pleasure from “fashionable eating places, quaint vintage retailers, and even a fascinating downtown sq..” As an added bonus, she notes that “Franklin has the most effective faculty programs in Tennessee.”

It’s essential to notice, nevertheless, that Franklin’s common dwelling worth is extremely steep, so potential dwelling consumers could need to slim down their actual property search and deal with extra reasonably priced neighborhoods like Shadow Inexperienced, Rolling Meadows, and Simmons Ridge.

Richmond, Virginia

Famous by actual property specialists as one of many high locations to stay in Virginia, Richmond is the definition of a livable metropolis. Throughout the capital of Virginia, you’ll discover all the facilities you’d count on from a thriving metropolis: artwork museums, historic websites, a number of universities, and the most effective 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 good open air and the James River is way appreciated by residents.

Zillow experiences the common dwelling 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 accordance with Steadily, Richmond has continued to be a vendor’s market, however there may be nonetheless hope for consumers: Might 2024 witnessed a 5.1 % enhance in houses on the market in comparison with April 2024. Although it’s a aggressive market, dwelling consumers ought to make a concerted effort to analysis every of Richmond’s neighborhoods, figuring out which one most closely fits their desires and wishes. 

Chattanooga, Tennessee

“Chattanooga, Tennessee provides lovely surroundings on the Tennessee River [and] a walkable city the place you’ll be able to hike within the morning and luxuriate in an incredible BBQ within the night,” says Quillin. Plus, she says, “It has the hustle and bustle of a faculty city with plenty of up-and-coming neighborhoods.” For many who need to be surrounded by historical past and inexperienced areas, Redfin experiences that Alton Park, the place the median sale worth of houses is $228,000, is an efficient 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 the most effective locations to stay within the South, it famous that this relative affordability was one of many high figuring out elements. Zillow estimates the common dwelling worth in your complete metropolis is round $308,000, over 10 % under the nationwide common.

Huntsville, Alabama

Huntsville, Alabama made the highest 10 on the U.S. Information & World Report’s 2024-2025 Finest Locations to Reside rankings — a place it earned due to its current development and total actual property worth. Spurred by the House Race within the Nineteen Sixties, Huntsville’s improvement has traditionally been immediately tied to NASA and the Marshall House Flight Heart in addition to Boeing’s services. Redfin experiences 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 buying and eating to arts and actual property. It’s additionally extremely favorable for first-time homebuyers; as of July 2024, Zillow experiences that the common dwelling worth in Huntsville is round $281,000, considerably under the nationwide common.