The 15 best places to live in the South

• The southern parts of the United States are booming, with robust economic and population growth.

• We wanted to pinpoint the best cities to live in the South for affordability and quality of life.

• Of the top 15 southern cities, three are in North Carolina,  according to US News and World Report.

The South is booming.

In recent years, the 16 states below the Mason-Dixon line have seen significant population and economic growth.

In 2023, the 10 counties in the US with the most people moving in from other parts of the country were mainly in the South, according to the latest regional migration data from the Census Bureau.

Surely you've read the many tales of New Yorkers and Californians moving to the South in search of better job opportunities and, in many cases, a more affordable cost of living. Other reasons movers cite include better weather and more laid-back atmospheres.

Are you considering a move to the South, too?

You're in luck. Each year, U.S. News & World Report ranks 150 major cities based on criteria including quality of life, education, crime rates, employment opportunities, and housing affordability to identify the best places to live in the United States.

Business Insider compiled the 15 best cities in the South to live from U.S. News' list. They're all places where jobs are plentiful, home prices and rents are relatively affordable, and the standard of living is high.

North Carolina takes center stage, with multiple spots on the list. While Charlotte, ranked No. 3 on the list, and Raleigh, at No. 4, are well-known, the small city of Hickory, at No. 15, is more of a hidden gem.

Known for its breathtaking mountain scenery and coastal charm, North Carolina offers an appealing cost of living, coupled with a low unemployment rate of 3.6% as of May, according to the latest economic data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

John Yuschak, an engineering manager, told BI that Raleigh's vibrant tech scene and strong job market played a pivotal role in his decision to move to North Carolina from Ohio in 2017.

"If you work in the technical sector in any way, this is a very forgiving area," Yuschak said. "You can lose your job today and you can be working somewhere else within a week or two."

Here are the 15 best places to live in the South, according to US News & World Report.

Data sources: Population is from the US Census for 2023, income is from the US Census for 2022, median home price from Realtor.com for May 2024, and median rent from Zillow for July.

15. Hickory, North Carolina

Population of the metro area: 44,415

Median home price: $317,500

Median monthly rent: $1,229

Median household income: $58,251

14. Greensboro, North Carolina

Population of the metro area: 302,296

Median home price: $290,000

Median monthly rent: $1,600

Median household income: $55,051

13. Fayetteville, Arkansas

Population of the metro area: 101,680

Median home price: $365,000

Median monthly rent: $1,695

Median household income: $56,881

12. Asheville, North Carolina

Population of the metro area: 95,056

Median home price: $506,250

Median monthly rent: $2,200

Median household income: $63,810

11. Oklahoma City

Population of the metro area: 702,767

Median home price: $270,000

Median monthly rent: $1,375

Median household income: $64,251

10. Lexington, Kentucky

Population of the metro area: 320,154

Median home price: $329,000

Median monthly rent: $1,600

Median household income: $66,087

The population and income data for Lexington is for Lexington-Fayette Urban County.

9. Charleston, South Carolina

Population of the metro area: 155,369

Median home price: $635,000

Median monthly rent: $1,958

Median household income: $83,891

8. Sarasota, Florida

Population of the metro area: 57,602

Median home price: $569,000

Median monthly rent: $2,850

Median household income: $68,870

7. Austin

Population of the metro area: 979,882

Median home price: $586,000

Median monthly rent: $2,295

Median household income: $86,556

6. Virginia Beach

Population of the metro area: 453,649

Median home price: $398,000

Median monthly rent: $2,290

Median household income: $87,544

5. Huntsville, Alabama

Population of the metro area: 225,564

Median home price: $325,000

Median monthly rent: $1,450

Median household income: $67,874

4. Raleigh, North Carolina

Population of the metro area: 482,295

Median home price: $441,000

Median monthly rent: $1,900

Median household income: $78,631

3. Charlotte, North Carolina

Population of the metro area: 911,311

Median home price: $428,000

Median monthly rent: $2,015

Median household income: $74,070

2. Greenville, South Carolina

Population of the metro area: 72,824

Median home price: $455,000

Median monthly rent: $1,800

Median household income: $65,519

1. Naples, Florida

Population of the metro area: 19, 704

Median home price: $789,000

Median monthly rent: $5,700

Median household income: $135,657

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