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.