The Best Places to Live in the South
We are biased, but the South is the best region in the country. And according to the U.S. Census Bureau's divisions and Business Insider’s data, twenty-four of the best 50 cities in which to live are found in the South.
The appeal of iconic cultural hubs like New York and Los Angeles is a draw for many, but in the end, affordability matters a lot, keeping the South ahead of the competition. Southern cities like Austin, Charleston, and Nashville offer many of the amenities of more "desirable" areas, including proximity to beaches and beautiful recreational spots, lively food scenes, and an abundance of local culture. Not only does it make these cities great to live in, but just as exciting to visit.
1. Austin, Texas
Population: 1,835,016
Median annual salary: $48,150
Quality of life index: 7.2
The capital of Texas gains about 50 new residents daily, many seeking the city’s “music, outdoor spaces, and cultural institutions,” said a local expert. Austin is beloved for its live-music scene and plays host to some of the country's biggest music and culture festivals, including South by Southwest and Austin City Limits. Austin is a 24-hour town populated by an upstart mix of musicians, tech experts, film pros, athletes and foodies - and their year-round events prove it.
austintexas.gov
2. Fayetteville, Arkansas
Population: 483,396
Median annual salary: $42,410
Quality of life index: 7.4
Fayetteville sits among the Ozark Mountains and is home to the University of Arkansas’ flagship campus. The surrounding area of northwest Arkansas is home to headquarters for seven Fortune 500 companies. It is surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Ozarks and offers a thriving art scene, legendary live music, and nightlife; and yet, still provides that small-town feel.
fayetteville-ar.gov
3. Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
Population: 1,714,629
Median annual salary: $47,430
Quality of life index: 7.4
Raleigh-Durham and Chapel Hill are collectively known as the Triangle. The Triangle employs nearly 40,000 residents at companies like IBM. Raleigh is home to three major state museums and all of them are free, along with historic neighborhood littered with 19th-century Victorian homes. Business Insidersays, “A strong job market coupled with a burgeoning microbrewery and dining scene draws 80 new residents every day.”
raleighnc.gov
4. Sarasota, Florida
Population: 722,784
Median annual salary: $39,960
Quality of life: 7.5
Sarasota boasts “warm temperatures year-round, award-winning beaches, and a thriving arts and cultural scene,” said a local expert. The biggest employers in Sarasota are in education, trade, and transportation, and the leisure and hospitality sector touts a low unemployment rate, powered by a recent increase in tourism and a flood of new residents.
sarasotafl.gov
5. Charlotte, North Carolina
Population: 2,298,915
Median annual salary: $48,290
Quality of life index: 6.5
A “melting-pot effect” draws all types of people to Charlotte, a place with equal parts old-fashioned Southern charm and high-energy cosmopolitan life. Whether your interests involve NFL or NASCAR, plays or museums, wine or craft beer, casual or fine dining, rock concerts of symphonies, there is a lot to discover in Charlotte.
charlottenc.gov
6. Houston, Texas
Population: 6,204,141
Median annual salary: $50,830
Quality of life index: 6.4
A paycheck goes further in Houston than it does in other major cities, with affordable housing and free or cheap attractions. Plus, the city has an affinity for food, counting some 11,000 restaurants within its boundaries. America’s fourth-largest city offers visitors great spots to discover like historic Heights, a day exploring the Museum District or the Space Center Houston.
houstontx.gov
7. Charleston, South Carolina
Population: 697,281
Median annual salary: $42,770
Quality of life index: 6
Charleston’s charming, historic, and sophisticated ambiance is exemplary of Southern culture. “Not only is the area overflowing with entertainment and good food, but this low-country locale is also gorgeous,” said a local expert to Business Insider. Tourism is booming in Charleston, creating plenty of jobs, especially in the summer months. From arts and theater to fine dining and watersports, this one city truly offers something for everyone.
charleston-sc.gov
8. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Population: 6,703,020
Median annual salary: $46,670
Quality of life: 6.5
A healthy balance of urban and rural, Dallas offers residents “big-city excitement and quiet, suburban living,” shared one local expert. There’s local bars, retail shops, and plenty of sports spirit to satisfy the huge population.
dallascityhall.com
fortworthtexas.gov
9. Nashville, Tennessee
Population: 1,730,515
Median annual salary: $43,950
Quality of life index: 6.6
An artistic culture and an entrepreneurial spirit define Nashville. A blossoming job market and an exploding entertainment scene fuel an appetite for all things locally sourced and artisanal in craft. Thousands of residents work in healthcare at the area’s large hospitals and research centers, and after work, they flood all corners of the city to enjoy everything it offers visitors.
nashville.gov
10. San Antonio, Texas
Population: 2,239,222
Median annual salary: $41,870
Quality of life: 6.3
At once a destination city and a down-home community, San Antonio offers up a variety of cuisines, music styles, and art for visitors and locals. The city hosts "more than 50 major events and festivals throughout the year," a number of which honor the area’s Spanish heritage, said a local expert. San Antonio is home to four military and Air Force bases and camps, collectively known as Joint Base San Antonio.
sanantonio.gov
11. Richmond, Virginia
Population: 1,234,058
Median annual salary: $47,060
Quality of life index: 6.7
Ripe with American history, Richmond is home to significant historical sites, like the church where Patrick Henry gave the famous "give me liberty or give me death" speech. And while no one was looking, there was a huge booming food revolution and both Travel + Leisureand National Geographicsaid it was a place to travel for food. Add the new craft beer, fashion, and arts movements within the city and Richmond is hard to resist.
richmondgov.com
12. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Population: 1,297,998
Median annual salary: $43,270
Quality of life index: 5.9
Oklahoma City's warm weather and low housing prices make it an up-and-coming place to live. Due to a recent inundation of millennials, the city now brims with energy, creativity, and new ideas. The community is tight-knit, and this big city still offers a warm small-town heart.
okc.gov
13. Little Rock, Arkansas
Population: 716,849
Median annual salary: $42,020
Quality of life index: 6.5
Little Rock's tech scene is booming, especially in the aerospace and aviation sectors. With an award-winning regional zoo and one of the most impressive science and technology museums in the South, Little Rock is a top family vacation destination. Visitors will love riding the Metro Streetcar through downtown to visit all the sights.
littlerock.gov
14. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Population: 954,055
Median annual salary: $42,710
Quality of life index: 6.4
Tulsa residents love their city. The close-knit city finds frequent reasons to celebrate with events, including the Center of the Universe music festival, Oktoberfest, and a four-day tribute to Tulsa’s heritage at the Mayfest. Downtown offers the Brady Arts District, great for art galleries, shopping, restaurants and nightclubs; and beautiful historic entertainment establishments.
cityoftulsa.org
15. Jacksonville, Florida
Population: 1,380,995
Median annual salary: $42,990
Quality of life index: 6.8
Jacksonville's adjacent beach consisting of 1,100 miles of shoreline makes it ideal for outdoor activities. In addition to spending lazy days on the sand, residents can also visit the area's prime golf courses or go hiking and camping in the nearby parks. Lonely Planetnamed Jacksonville as one of their Best in Travel for 2018: Top 10 Best Value destinations in the world.
coj.net
16. Greenville, South Carolina
Population: 842,817
Median annual salary: $40,570
Quality of life index: 6.6
Once a sleepy small town, Greenville has witnessed a cultural revival in recent years, complete with an influx of new restaurants and businesses. Though the summers can get hot, the city's typically mild weather makes it possible to explore downtown on foot anytime of the year. Visitors will love the walkable downtown with wide, tree-lined sidewalks and great retail districts and paths across the river.
greenvillesc.gov
17. Fort Myers, Florida
Population: 647,554
Median annual salary: $38,750
Quality of life: 6.6
Despite Fort Myers’ rainy summers — which locals affectionately call "liquid sunshine" — it’s hard to beat Florida’s perennially sunny weather. Residents can take advantage of the city’s close proximity to numerous beaches, as well as an abundance of parks, concert venues, and sports stadiums.
cityftmyers.com
18. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Population: 648,045
Median annual salary: $43,520
Quality of life index: 6.7
The cost of living in Winston-Salem is a bargain. The city’s average housing costs remain well below the national average — renters pay about $200 less per month for a one-bedroom apartment than their counterparts around the country. Visitors can also take advantage of the city’s cultural offerings with visits to the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.
cityofws.org
19. Melbourne, Florida
Population: 548,891
Median annual salary: $44,040
Quality of life: 7.3
Between fishing, boating, and a plethora of bars and restaurants, there’s never a shortage of things to do in the Melbourne area. The city’s ripe with retirees and “snowbirds” — people who split their time between colder climates in the summer and Florida in the winter — who can enjoy days on one of the many nearby golf courses and nights out exploring the local shops and art galleries.
melbourneflorida.org
20. Tampa, Florida
Population: 2,851,235
Median annual salary: $43,420
Quality of life: 6.7
Tampa’s laid-back atmosphere, warm weather, and barrage of entertainment options make it feel like a trip to paradise. “Living in the Tampa Bay is like being on vacation all year,” said a local expert. It retains several niche communities, including a strong Cuban influence in historic Ybor City, formerly known as the “cigar capital of the world.”
tampagov.net
21. Orlando, Florida
Population: 2,226,835
Median annual salary: $40,200
Quality of life: 6.9
There’s more to Orlando than Disney World. Head downtown for a ticket to the hottest restaurants and nightclubs of the moment or trek out to the residential sector filled with picturesque lakefront homes.
That’s not to say locals don’t appreciate the tourist attractions.
cityoforlando.net
22. Louisville, Kentucky
Population: 1,253,305
Median annual salary: $42,330
Quality of life index: 6.2
Many Louisville residents find work in healthcare, business, tourism, and technology. Tourists and locals alike come together each spring at Churchill Downs for the two-week Kentucky Derby festival, filled with mint juleps, Kentucky bourbon, and some horse racing, too. Louisville also features the world’s only citywide micro-distillery trail.
louisvilleky.gov
23. Columbia, South Carolina
Population: 784,698
Median annual salary: $41,020
Quality of life index: 6.4
Home to the University of South Carolina, Columbia exudes a college-town atmosphere that can be felt through its abundance of trendy coffee shops and hip bars. Columbia’s cost of living also sits well below the national average. Visitors can join in the local festivities like the Korean, Italian, and Greek Festival, summer’s Tasty Tomato Festival, the Historic Columbia’s Jubilee Festival of Heritage, the Rosewood Crawfish Festival and so much more.
columbiasc.net
More Best of the South
