The best places to live in the South

Top 5 cities to move to in the South

Safe, affordable and vibrant cities are ready to be found in the South — as long as you know where to look. Check out the five Southern cities that scored the highest on our list.

1. Cary, North Carolina

Non-Southerners will feel right at home in Cary, North Carolina. Locals have affectionately nicknamed their hometown Containment Area for Relocated Yankees. The community experienced a particularly large boom from 1990 to 2000, when its population grew 115%. Located in the heart of North Carolina’s Research Triangle, Cary boasts an extremely educated population: 70% of its residents hold a bachelor’s or advanced degree.

There’s a lot of fun to be had in Cary, too. Cary’s walkable downtown, recurring concert series and array of cultural programs make it so residents never have to look far for weekend plans. If your tastes lean towards more rigorous activities, Cary has you covered with over 200 miles of bike-friendly greenways and roads across the town. North Carolina is also one of the best states for renters, so prospective residents can try out a lease before signing a mortgage.

Key findings:

• Strong economy: Cary’s unemployment rate is only 3.4% — below the national average — and the town has one of the strongest home value appreciation rates in North Carolina (5.2% between 2023 and 2024).
• Great affordability: Cary is the eighth-most affordable place to live in the South, so people looking for a lower cost of living shouldn’t skip this North Carolina city. Housing costs consume about 16% of Cary’s median income, the lowest share among the South’s largest cities.

2. Hoover, Alabama

Great things come in small packages when it comes to Hoover, Alabama. With a population of only about 92,000, Hoover is one of the smallest cities on our list. It’s also one of the youngest: Hoover was incorporated in 1967.

Centrally located in the Yellowhammer State, just outside of Birmingham, Hoover residents have their pick of outdoor activities, with 605 acres of parkland. People who relocate to Hoover live right next door to the Cahaba River, one of the most ecologically diverse rivers in the United States. The river is home to 139 rare and endangered species of fish and mussels.

Other key points about Hoover:

• Safe and secure: Violent crime is rare in Hoover; it has the lowest rate of any city on our list (0.78 violent crimes per 1,000 people).
• The buck stops here: Hoover ranks second overall for affordability, with median monthly rent coming in at just over $1,200, the lowest of Alabama’s largest cities.

3. Allen, Texas

Allen is located about 26 miles north of downtown Dallas — but it isn’t just any suburb. This city started as a small town along U.S. 75 but grew into a bustling community with an award-winning parks and recreation department. Today, Allen and its surrounding areas are among the fastest-growing places in the United States. Allen also ranks among the best places to move to in Texas.

Allen offers a safe, welcoming community for new residents. It comes in fifth on our list for safety, with the lowest property crime rate of the largest Texas cities (8.46 crimes per 1,000 residents).

Important metrics:

• Good walkability: Allen has the highest Walk Score among our five best cities to live in the South.
• Great access to parks: 87% of Allen’s residents can walk to a park within 10 minutes, the fourth-best rate in the South.

4. Roswell, Georgia

Roswell, Georgia’s ninth-largest city, has experienced a meteoric rise in population since 2000. Residents are flocking to the Peach State for a taste of Roswell’s safe streets, generally affordable cost of living and 900 acres of parkland. For those considering a move to Georgia but put off by heat and humidity, Roswell might be the perfect solution: On any given day, the city only has a 6.8% chance of muggy weather, the lowest percentage of any Georgia city on our list.

Roswell was founded in 1839, making it a city with a long and fascinating history. It’s so old that when telephone lines were first installed in 1901, all of the city’s phone numbers were only one digit. Roswell has also been home to some famous figures over the years, including sewing machine inventor Francis Goulding and Martha Bulloch Roosevelt, the mother of President Theodore Roosevelt.

More key points:

• Highly educated: Roswell ranks fourth in education, with 65% of residents holding a bachelor’s or more advanced degree.
• Bustling economy: Roswell homeowners have one of the strongest home value appreciation rates on our list, at 6.6% from 2023 to 2024. That’s the second-highest rate in Georgia, behind only Savannah.

5. Frisco, Texas

Frisco’s strong economy — fifth-best on our list — earned it a spot in the best places to live in the South. Major companies including T-Mobile, Thomson Reuters and TIAA employ thousands of people in Frisco.

It’s far from “all work, no play” in Frisco. Known as Sports City, USA, the Frisco area is home to multiple professional teams, including the Dallas Cowboys. It also boasts the PGA of America Headquarters. For those looking beyond athletics, in 2025, Frisco residents are voting on the addition of a new arts center.

Other stats about Frisco:

• Safety … with a cost: Frisco ranks 15th out of 150 for safety, with particularly low rates of violent crime (0.88 violent crimes per 1,000 people), but it is one of the more expensive cities on our list. The median rent is $1,933, the 34th-highest.
• Low poverty levels: Only 3.5% of Frisco residents live below the poverty level, compared with about 14% of all Texans. This is the lowest poverty rate among the cities on our list.

What are the worst places to move to in the South?

Many Southerners take pride in their hometowns no matter what, but some cities may not be ideal for newcomers looking for safety, low cost of living and mild weather. Here are the worst places to move to in the South out of the region’s 150 largest cities.

150. Memphis, Tennessee

Not only does Memphis have some of the worst drivers in the nation, but overall safety is also a major concern. The Home of the Blues ranked as the worst place to move to in the South due to having the highest violent crime rate among the largest Southern cities (about 26 violent crimes per 1,000 people). 

Economic struggles add to the challenges. Memphis has one of the highest unemployment rates (8.3%) and poverty rates (22.5%) in the South.

149. Miami Gardens, Florida

Miami Gardens, a suburb of Miami, landed near the bottom of our list in part because of its high cost of living. Median rent comes in at $2,834, the third-most expensive among the largest Southern cities. Housing costs consume about 32% of the median income in Miami Gardens, exceeding the recommended 30%.

148. Miami, Florida

Miami is the least affordable of the South’s largest cities, with a median rent of $3,012. We hope those pricey homes come with air conditioning — Miami is also the stickiest city on our list, with a 20.7% chance of muggy conditions on the average day.

147. New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a popular vacation destination, especially during Mardi Gras. It’s not so affordable for residents, though. New Orleans suffers from poor economic conditions, including high unemployment and poverty rates and a steep home value depreciation (-6.5% between 2023 and 2024, one of the worst drops in the South).  

146. Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham is just a hop, skip and jump away from Hoover, the second-best city on our list. However, its struggles with crime (146th out of 150) and high poverty rate (25.2%) make Birmingham one of the worst places to move to in the South.

How do Southern cities compare?

Whether you’re a Southerner at heart or looking to experience famous Southern hospitality, take some time to determine what qualities are most important to you in a new home. Everyone will define and prioritize factors like safety, affordability and quality of life differently. As you dive into the data below, keep your own personal preferences in mind to help figure out which city could be the best fit.

Things to know before moving to the South

If you're moving to the South from another region or country, expect a distinct climate, unique weather patterns and a culture known for its hospitality. Here are some basic aspects of Southern living to help you settle in smoothly.

• The heat and humidity are no joke: Summers can be long, hot and humid, especially in states like Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Air conditioning is a must, and afternoon thunderstorms are a regular (and welcome) way to cool things down. Be careful what you wish for, though — hurricanes and tornadoes can wreak havoc on your Southern home.
• Southern hospitality is real: People smile, wave and make small talk — even with strangers. Holding doors open and using “ma’am” and “sir” are common signs of respect.
• Be ready for bugs and wildlife: The South is home to wild creatures. Mosquitoes, fire ants and lovebugs thrive in the warm climate, and in some areas, you might even spot an alligator or armadillo. Termites are a common issue in humid regions, so homeowners should always get inspections.

Methodology

To identify the best cities to move to in the South, the ConsumerAffairs Research Team evaluated the 150 most populous cities in the South region across five weighted categories of metrics. For each metric, the city that performed the best was given the highest possible score, with others earning relative scores. We added together category scores to get overall scores out of a maximum of 100 points.

Note: While the U.S. Census Bureau classifies Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Delaware as part of the South, we omitted them from this analysis to reflect the more common understanding of the region.

• Safety (30 points): This score is based on rates of violent crime (15 points) and property crime (15) per 1,000 residents. Data is from NeighborhoodScout.
• Affordability (30 points): This category includes median housing costs as a share of median household income (15 points) and median rent for December 2024 (15). Data is from the U.S. Census Bureau and Zillow.
• Economy (20 points): The economy score considers each city’s unemployment rate (5 points), the percentage of residents below the poverty level (8) and home appreciation from 2023 to 2024 (7). Data is from the U.S. Census Bureau and Zillow.
• Education (10 points): This category evaluates the highest level of educational attainment for the city's population, including the percentage with a high school diploma or equivalent (2 points), a bachelor's degree (4) and a graduate or professional degree (4). Data is from the U.S. Census Bureau.
• Quality of life (10 points): The quality of life score considers walkability (“Walk Score”) (3 points), the percentage of residents who live within a 10-minute walk to a park (3) and the average likelihood of “muggy conditions” (i.e., a dew point above 65 degrees) (4). Data is from The Trust for Public Land, NYU Langone Health and Weather Spark. For cities without walkability data from NYU Langone Health, we used Walk Score as an alternative.

For questions about the data or if you'd like to set up an interview, please contact acurls@consumeraffairs.com.

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