10 Finest 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 america 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 trying to plant their roots.”

In keeping with Zillow, the common Charleston residence worth is presently round $567,000 which is increased than the general U.S. housing market common of round $360,000, though you’re prone 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 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

“Not too long ago, we have been seeing a major improve in homebuyers shifting 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 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 residence worth is round $289,000, greater than $70,000 lower than the nationwide common.

Charlotte, North Carolina

“The Charlotte actual property market really 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 number of 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 typical residence worth in Charlotte is round $400,000, barely increased than the nationwide common, it is a vacation spot that actually 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 best way we communicate, dance, eat, and giggle,” says Arla Slaughter, a realtor with Latter & Blum and Compass. Right here, the typical 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 attributable to 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 house — in line with RentCafe, the typical hire 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 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 in recent times, U.S. Information & World Report notes that the larger Dallas-Fort Value space “gives a greater worth than similarly-sized metro areas when evaluating family prices with median family earnings.”

If the typical Dallas residence worth, estimated by Zillow to be round $320,000, isn’t in your price range, 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 residence 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 referred to as a vacationer city, Myrtle Seashore makes its option to this listing attributable to its comparatively decrease residence costs. Zillow shares that the typical Myrtle Seashore residence worth is presently about $308,000, and Redfin experiences that houses offered for a median value 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 Seashore has a variety 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 line with inhabitants numbers supplied by the United States Census Bureau. “It has small-town attraction, and its proximity to downtown Nashville gives the very best of each worlds,” says Quillin, who shares that its residents take pleasure in “fashionable 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 essential to notice, nonetheless, that Franklin’s common residence worth is extremely steep, so potential residence patrons could need to slender 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 prime 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 good outdoor and the James River is way appreciated by residents.

Zillow experiences the typical residence 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 available on the market. In keeping with 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 houses on the market in comparison with April 2024. Although it’s a aggressive market, residence 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 gives stunning surroundings on the Tennessee River [and] a walkable city the place you may 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 school city with a lot of up-and-coming neighborhoods.” For individuals who need to be surrounded by historical past and inexperienced areas, Redfin experiences that Alton Park, the place the median sale value of houses is $228,000, is an effective 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 among the best locations to dwell within the South, it famous that this relative affordability was one of many prime figuring out components. Zillow estimates the common residence worth in all the metropolis is round $308,000, over 10 p.c 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 Dwell rankings — a place it earned because of its current progress and total actual property worth. Spurred by the House Race within the Sixties, Huntsville’s growth has traditionally been straight tied to NASA and the Marshall House Flight Heart in addition to Boeing’s services. Redfin experiences 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 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 experiences that the typical residence worth in Huntsville is round $281,000, considerably under the nationwide common.