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 associate 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 at present round $567,000 which is increased 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 number 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 Seaside Firm, additionally shares that Johns Island is a superb 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

“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 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 when it comes to 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 affords 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 mix of historic appeal, 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 fashionable lofts, residences, and fashionable townhomes.”

Whereas the typical house worth in Charlotte is round $400,000, barely increased than the nationwide common, this can be a vacation spot that actually combines one of the best of every little thing: 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 powerful French affect in the best way we communicate, dance, eat, and chuckle,” 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 because of 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 condominium — in keeping 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 range, and favorable dwelling prices,” says Graham Snowden, chief funding officer at RREAF Holdings, a personal 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 “affords 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 price range, 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 resorts and eating places. 

Myrtle Seaside, South Carolina

Charleston might 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 Seaside makes its method to this record because of its comparatively decrease house costs. Zillow shares that the typical Myrtle Seaside house worth is at present about $308,000, and Redfin stories 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 prime precedence within the space. Myrtle Seaside has 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 may be equally loved by retirees, households, and younger professionals.

Franklin, Tennessee

There are a number of 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 affords one of the best 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 probably the greatest college programs in Tennessee.”

It’s vital to notice, nevertheless, that Franklin’s common house worth is extremely steep, so potential house patrons might need to slender down their actual property search and give attention to extra inexpensive neighborhoods like Shadow Inexperienced, Rolling Meadows, and Simmons Ridge.

Richmond, Virginia

Famous by actual property consultants as one of many prime locations to reside in Virginia, Richmond is the definition of a livable metropolis. Inside 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 probably the greatest 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 outside and the James River is far appreciated by residents.

Zillow stories the typical house worth in Richmond has risen 5.7 p.c within the final yr — now nearly $360,000 — and Redfin particulars that houses spend a median of 9 days in the marketplace. 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 accurately fits their desires and desires. 

Chattanooga, Tennessee

“Chattanooga, Tennessee affords stunning surroundings on the Tennessee River [and] a walkable city the place you may 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 faculty city with a number of up-and-coming neighborhoods.” For individuals who need to be surrounded by historical past and inexperienced areas, Redfin stories 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 median of $180,000.

When the U.S. Information & World Report named the Scenic Metropolis probably the greatest locations to reside within the South, it famous that this relative affordability was one of many prime figuring out components. Zillow estimates the common house worth in the 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 Finest Locations to Dwell rankings — a place it earned due to its current progress and general actual property worth. Spurred by the House Race within the Nineteen Sixties, Huntsville’s growth has traditionally been instantly tied to NASA and the Marshall House Flight Heart in addition to Boeing’s amenities. Redfin stories that the know-how and engineering job markets proceed to thrive, with the addition of a Meta Knowledge Heart in 2021.

Trendy-day Huntsville has developed in different areas, too — from purchasing and eating to arts and actual property. It’s additionally extremely favorable for first-time homebuyers; as of July 2024, Zillow stories that the typical house worth in Huntsville is round $281,000, considerably beneath the nationwide common.