10 Greatest Locations to Dwell within the South

Charleston, South Carolina

U.S. Information & World Report’s newest rating for the very best locations to dwell in the USA 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 larger than the general U.S. housing market common of round $360,000, though you’re more likely to discover higher offers exterior of downtown Charleston. Redfin notes that North Charleston, Goose Creek, and Ladson are a number of the extra reasonably priced 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 Seashore 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 equivalent to Kiawah River attracting [both] locals and out-of-towners discovering the ocean island way of life.”

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 Worth, chief economist of the Virginia Realtors Affiliation. “These rural areas supply pure magnificence and a slower tempo than many suburban and concrete areas.” Worth 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 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 number of the most fascinating neighborhoods within the Queen Metropolis. “These neighborhoods supply a mixture of historic attraction, 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 stylish lofts, flats, and trendy townhomes.”

Whereas the typical house worth in Charlotte is round $400,000, barely larger than the nationwide common, it is a vacation spot that really combines the very best 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 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 finest place to dwell in Louisiana in 2024-2025. It earned this title resulting from 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 accordance with RentCafe, the typical lease in Lafayette is $1,084 — you’ll have unparalleled entry to the superb 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 range, and favorable dwelling prices,” says Graham Snowden, chief funding officer at RREAF Holdings, a non-public actual property funding and improvement agency. Although downtown Dallas has skilled climbing actual property costs lately, U.S. Information & World Report notes that the better Dallas-Fort Value space “presents a greater worth than similarly-sized metro areas when evaluating family prices with median family earnings.”

If the typical Dallas house worth, estimated by Zillow to be round $320,000, isn’t in your funds, take into account 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 accommodations and eating places. 

Myrtle Seashore, South Carolina

Charleston could 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 called a vacationer city, Myrtle Seashore makes its method to this record resulting from its comparatively decrease house costs. Zillow shares that the typical Myrtle Seashore house worth is presently about $308,000, and Redfin studies that properties offered for a median worth 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 Seashore has quite a lot of golf programs, two stunning state parks, and a seemingly countless variety of locations to swim, fish, sunbathe, and go boating — all of which will be equally loved by retirees, households, and younger professionals.

Franklin, Tennessee

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

It’s essential to notice, nevertheless, that Franklin’s common house worth is extremely steep, so potential house patrons could wish to slender down their actual property search and give attention to 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 dwell in Virginia, Richmond is the definition of a livable metropolis. Inside the capital of Virginia, you’ll discover all the facilities you’d anticipate 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 studies the typical house worth in Richmond has risen 5.7 p.c within the final yr — now nearly $360,000 — and Redfin particulars that properties 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’s nonetheless hope for patrons: Could 2024 witnessed a 5.1 p.c improve in properties 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 needs and desires. 

Chattanooga, Tennessee

“Chattanooga, Tennessee presents stunning surroundings on the Tennessee River [and] a walkable city the place you may 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 faculty city with numerous up-and-coming neighborhoods.” For individuals who wish to be surrounded by historical past and inexperienced areas, Redfin studies that Alton Park, the place the median sale worth of properties is $228,000, is an effective place to look. Alternatively, there’s East Chattanooga, the place properties promote for a median 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 components. Zillow estimates the common house worth in your complete 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 House Race within the Nineteen Sixties, Huntsville’s improvement has traditionally been straight tied to NASA and the Marshall House Flight Middle in addition to Boeing’s amenities. 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 buying and eating to arts and actual property. It’s additionally extremely favorable for first-time homebuyers; as of July 2024, Zillow studies that the typical house worth in Huntsville is round $281,000, considerably beneath the nationwide common.