Planning a move to the lower states? You’re not alone — the American South is the fastest growing region in the U.S. and is likely to keep growing, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The USA TODAY Homefront research team ranked 209 cities in the region across 16 metrics to determine which locations are best to call home.
States defined by the U.S Census Bureau as “the South” include Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
The Southern cities that fared best in our ranking offer low crime rates, fair costs of living, resilience to severe weather and other key benefits for new residents.
Key findings
More than 1.2 million people moved to the South in 2023, more than any other region in the U.S.
Johnson City, Tennessee — the best city to move to in the South — is offering low unemployment and high affordability.
Florida and Texas cities ranked at the bottom of our list due to the high number of severe weather events.
Virginia claims two of the top five cities, Lynchburg and Roanoke, thanks to less turbulent climates and affordable rent.
Why are people moving to the South?
Whether you are prioritizing low cost of living, pleasant weather or employment opportunities, Southern states have a lot to offer. The region is home to beach locales, mountains and bayous as well as multiple cultural highlights and entertainment.
It’s no surprise, then, that more than 1.2 million people moved to the South in 2023 (more than any other region), according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Of those, over 700,000 moved in from other states and about 500,000 moved in from abroad. Southern states Florida and South Carolina lead the charge as the two fastest-growing states in the country.
If you’re looking to move to an area experiencing growth, these southern cities might be a good fit for you.
Best cities to move to in the South
To measure livability, the USA TODAY Homefront team analyzed the quality of schools, number of activities and walkability. We also considered life expectancy, hospital quality, crime rates and the risk of severe weather events. Additionally, we examined economic factors such as the unemployment rates and cost of housing.
On average, the best cities were mid-sized and offered low unemployment rates, affordable housing and less chance of natural disasters. Many of the largest metro areas, such as Houston and Dallas, scored among the worst cities because of harsh weather conditions.
Virginia offered the most cities in the top 10 of any southern state, with Roanoke, Lynchburg and Richmond all making the list. With some of the most climate resilient cities in the country, it makes sense that Virginia outperformed many of its neighbors.
Alabama did well too, as two of the top 10 cities — Hoover and Auburn — have low crime rates and highly rated schools.
To see how other cities fared, let’s take a closer look at the top five cities in the South, featuring representation from Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina and Alabama.
5. Auburn, Alabama
Home to Auburn University, one of the largest universities in the region, Auburn, Alabama, is a scenic metro area combining college town energy with beautiful scenery. Residents can celebrate the latest game or take a hike in nearby state parks, offering a different pace of life.
Auburn has one of the most affordable regional price parities of the cities on our list, 88.7% of the national average. Education in the area is top notch: Auburn schools scored a nine out of 10. Additionally, of the top five cities on our list, Auburn had the lowest crime rate at 13.0 per 1,000 residents.
4. Lynchburg, Virginia
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains close to the Appalachian Trail, Lynchburg, Virginia, could be a great city for you if you love nature. Lynchburg is home to a thriving arts scene, offering everything from operas and symphonies to community theater.
For those looking to relocate to a more favorable climate, Lynchburg offers the lowest expected annual loss score of the cities in our study, indicating the area is resilient to severe weather and natural disasters. Lynchburg scores 41.8, which means that the estimated monetary loss due to natural disasters is “very low” compared to other areas of the U.S. The cost of living is also fair, with typical rent in Lynchburg at $1,296.
3. Greenville, South Carolina
In addition to ranking as the best city in South Carolina, Greenville came in third as the best city in the South based on our data. Particularly notable is Greenville’s robust health care scene, with 15 primary care providers per 1,000 residents. The city is home to two highly rated health systems, Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center and Prisma Health. These facilities give residents access to surgery centers, a Level 1 trauma center and numerous specialists. The population of the area sees a high average life expectancy of 78 years.
At $312,000, the typical home value in Greenville was a bit higher than some of the other cities on our list. That’s about 4.6 times the median income of $67,340. Still, residents can enjoy views of the mountainous landscape and waterfalls in the city center along with a bustling food scene. The city offers 11.1 restaurants per 1,000 residents, the most of any city in our study.
2. Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is the second Virginia city featured in the top five, thanks to factors including a low expected annual loss score. Roanoke scores 42.2, which, like Lynchburg, is “very low” and residents can feel confident the area is more resilient to severe weather than other parts of the country. This fact also seems to pay off in other metrics: Roanoke offers relatively low average annual homeowners insurance premiums of $1,404.
At just 2.1%, Roanoke has the seventh lowest unemployment rate of the 209 southern cities analyzed in our study. The city offers diverse employment opportunities, including banking and automotive supplies industries.
1. Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City, Tennessee, topped our list as the best city in the South, in addition to being the best city in Tennessee according to our previous 2024 USA TODAY Homefront analysis. This northeastern Tennessee city features beautiful views of nearby mountains and plentiful outdoor activities for the adventure-minded, in addition to cultural activities such as the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. Its location offers residents easy driving access to North Carolina and Virginia. It is also less than two hours from Knoxville, a larger urban area with even more activities.
Affordability is crucial to its top spot, as Johnson City had one of the lowest price parities in our study at only 87.5% of the national price level. Rents are also low, with the typical rent at just $1,330.
In addition to a fair cost of living, Johnson City had the third lowest annual expected loss score, indicating a “relatively low” expected monetary loss from natural disasters. Health care in the area is abundant as well, with 9.5 primary care providers per 1,000 residents.
What are some key factors to look at?
If you’re considering a move, especially a move to another state, you’ll start by researching the areas you are considering to ensure they are a good fit. Some of the most important factors to look at include housing statistics, crime rates, climate conditions and unemployment — these can help you decide whether you’re moving to a safe, affordable area.
The table below shows how each city performed on this selection of key metrics.
Relocating to the South? Here’s what you need to know
The best Southern cities offer residents attractive amenities and affordability. The top cities on our list combine fair costs of living with access to quality education and health care.
Follow these tips to prepare for the transition if you’re ready to plan your move to the South:
- Research job opportunities: You can find job opportunities in various industries, including business, health care and manufacturing. As you narrow down your choice of locations, take advantage of state databases such as the Virginia Workforce Connection or North Carolina Careers for employment opportunities.
- Secure housing: Take time comparing neighborhoods and housing options. Consider factors such as school districts, walkability and commute times before settling on a particular area.
- Check registration requirements: Do you need to transfer your vehicle registration? Enroll your child in new schools? Does your car insurance include coverage in a new state? Check the requirements for the state you are moving to and prepare any necessary documentation to ease the process.
- Build a moving budget: An interstate move can be expensive, so planning is critical if you want to save money. You’ll need to decide if you drive or ship your vehicle, if you want a full-service moving company versus doing it yourself. Call multiple moving companies for quotes so you can compare costs and find the best deal.
- Explore the new area: Is the weather in your new home significantly different than what you are used to? Many southern states have hot climates, while others experience four seasons. If you live along the coast, you may need to prepare for hurricanes. Even for cities with a low expected annual loss score, it’s important to know the area.
- Set up utilities: Contact local providers for electricity, internet, cable and any other key services to compare prices and set up installation ahead of your move day.
Best and worst cities in the South (full data)
Review our full data set of all 209 cities we evaluated and how they scored here:
Our methodology
The research team at USA TODAY Homefront ranked 209 cities in the South across 16 metrics to determine the best cities to live in. We defined the South as all locations considered part of the “South Region” by the U.S. Census. Cities have populations greater than 65,000 and complete data. For some metrics, data was only available at the county level. Cities were ranked on the following metrics:
- Walkability score from Walk Score
- School district ratings on a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high) from NeighborhoodScout
- Number of restaurants from Tripadvisor per 1,000 residents
- Number of activities from Tripadvisor per 1,000 residents
- Estimated primary care providers per 1,000 residents from U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- County-level life expectancies from University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute’s County Health Rankings
- Severe weather events at the county level from 2019–2023 from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Number of violent and property crimes per 1,000 residents from NeighborhoodScout
- Expected annual loss from natural hazards from Federal Emergency Management Agency
- The ratio of home values for single-family homes, condos and co-ops to median household income from Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) and the U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 1-year Estimate. Cities are scored based on how close this ratio is to what we define as the “ideal home value ratio” of 2.5 value to income.
- Typical rent for all home types using Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)
- Percentage of renters who pay more than 30% of income to rent (“rent burdened”) from U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 1-year Estimates
- Median annual homeowners insurance premiums from Quadrant
- Unemployment rates at the county level from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Regional price parity: Values are a percentage of the overall national price level (a lower value is better) from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
- Percentage of the population with a bachelor’s degree from U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey 1-year Estimates
Data used from Quadrant is representative of publicly sourced data and should not be interpreted as bindable quotes.
Questions about our study? Please contact Homefront at press@homefront.usatoday.com.
Reference policy
We encourage journalists to share our findings on the best cities in the South. If you choose to do so, please link back to our original story and credit USA TODAY Homefront for the research.
