10 Finest Locations to Dwell within the South

Charleston, South Carolina

U.S. Information & World Report’s newest rating for one of the best locations to reside 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 actually appropriate for younger professionals and households trying to plant their roots.”

In response to Zillow, the common Charleston house 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, 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 Seashore 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 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

“Just lately, we have been seeing a major improve in homebuyers shifting 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 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 actually gives 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 mixture of historic attraction, fashionable 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 stylish lofts, residences, and fashionable townhomes.”

Whereas the typical house worth in Charlotte is round $400,000, barely larger than the nationwide common, this can be a vacation spot that really 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 snigger,” 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 reside in Louisiana in 2024-2025. It earned this title attributable to its culinary choices, pageant calendar, and thrilling reside 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 accordance with RentCafe, the typical lease 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 financial system, cultural variety, 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 higher Dallas-Fort Value space “gives 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 funds, think about 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 motels and eating places. 

Myrtle Seashore, South Carolina

Charleston could tempt house patrons with its waterfront communities and public seashores, however it’s not the one South Carolina metropolis with actual property alternatives and interesting climate. Traditionally often known as a vacationer city, Myrtle Seashore makes its solution to this listing attributable to its comparatively decrease house costs. Zillow shares that the typical Myrtle Seashore house worth is at the moment about $308,000, and Redfin reviews that houses bought 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 Seashore has a variety of golf programs, two stunning state parks, and a seemingly limitless 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 accordance with inhabitants numbers offered by the United States Census Bureau. “It has small-town attraction, and its proximity to downtown Nashville gives one of the best of each worlds,” says Quillin, who shares that its residents get pleasure from “stylish eating places, quaint vintage retailers, and even a fascinating downtown sq..” As an added bonus, she notes that “Franklin has among the best faculty techniques in Tennessee.”

It’s necessary to notice, nevertheless, that Franklin’s common house worth is extremely steep, so potential house patrons could 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 specialists as one of many high locations to reside in Virginia, Richmond is the definition of a livable metropolis. Throughout the capital of Virginia, you’ll discover the entire 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 good open air and the James River is far appreciated by residents.

Zillow reviews the typical house worth in Richmond has risen 5.7 p.c within the final yr — now virtually $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: Could 2024 witnessed a 5.1 p.c 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 closely fits their desires and wishes. 

Chattanooga, Tennessee

“Chattanooga, Tennessee gives stunning surroundings on the Tennessee River [and] a walkable city the place you possibly can hike within the morning and luxuriate in a tremendous 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 need to be surrounded by historical past and inexperienced areas, Redfin reviews that Alton Park, the place the median sale worth 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 reside within the South, it famous that this relative affordability was one of many high figuring out elements. Zillow estimates the common house worth in all the 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 Finest Locations to Dwell rankings — a place it earned because of its latest progress and general actual property worth. Spurred by the Area Race within the Sixties, Huntsville’s growth has traditionally been instantly tied to NASA and the Marshall Area Flight Middle in addition to Boeing’s services. Redfin reviews 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 reviews that the typical house worth in Huntsville is round $281,000, considerably beneath the nationwide common.