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A mix of economic opportunity, affordability, outdoor access, and quality of life make this state the most sought-after place to relocate.
While the South has long been known for its warm hospitality and beautiful destinations, the region has also become the fastest-growing area in the country. In fact, according to U.S. Census data, the South experienced the highest average population growth of any region between 2020 and 2025, thanks in part to affordable housing, lower cost of living, better work-life balance, and distinct culture.
However, one state seems to be one step ahead. We asked five real estate experts to pick the best place to live in the South, and they all chose North Carolina.
“A big driver of the growth we’ve seen across North Carolina has been job opportunities and the lifestyle draw, especially post-pandemic with the rise of remote work,” says Maria Kazakos, president of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Carolinas Companies, adding that the state also offers a temperate climate. “You also have proximity to both the mountains and the coast, and four seasons. A lot of people who left the Northeast for Florida are now moving here for something in between.”
However, what has made the Tar Heel State a magnet for high-skilled workers is its strong economy. Charlotte is the nation’s largest banking hub after New York City, while the Research Triangle of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill is a center for technology, manufacturing, academia, and life sciences. “The reality is that whether someone works in a corporate environment or with their hands, there are opportunities here,” adds Kazakos.
Ready to move to North Carolina? Here are three spots to consider, according to our real estate experts.
The Research Triangle
Known colloquially as the Research Triangle for being home to three of the best research universities—Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University—the area encompassing Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh has evolved into a major economic powerhouse in the state. “Each university has its own identity, culture, and areas of expertise, whether that’s medicine, technology, research, business, or veterinary sciences,” says Matt Good, regional vice president at Howard Hanna Allen Tate Real Estate/Luxury Portfolio International. “Whenever you have that kind of academic ecosystem, you also tend to have exceptional healthcare, innovation, and employment opportunities.”
Both Good and Kazakos agree that the area’s central location and all the perks that come with it—most notably, proximity to the Atlantic Coast and the mountains—are a major draw. (Good admits that even though he was raised in Florida, he continues to be impressed with North Carolina’s beach towns, which “have an incredible character and charm of their own”).
Raleigh, in particular, has over 200 parks, along with an extensive network of greenways and walking trails, which Good says makes it easy to stay active and spend time outdoors. Sports are also a major part of life in the Research Triangle.
“If you’re a sports fan, it’s hard to find many places in the South that can compete with the combination of college athletics, professional sports, and community pride that exists throughout the area,” Good explains.
Raleigh’s housing market offers a balance of price points and properties. Michael Jackson of Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty says that the area inventory has increased, which offers buyers more choices. He notes that Raleigh neighborhoods inside the Beltline, including Downtown, Mordecai, Wade, Five Points, Midtown, and Glenwood, “feel like smaller towns within the larger city,” while the adjacent North Hills area is experiencing a lot of growth and is a major retail destination. In both areas, newcomers will find a variety of home options—from sleek condo high-rises and townhouses to detached homes. Zillow estimates the average Raleigh home value at about $440,000; for Durham, it’s $400,000; and for Chapel Hill, it’s $640,000.
Charlotte
“The greater Charlotte area offers one of the most well-rounded urban lifestyles in the Southeast,” says Jochen Lucke, founder, CEO, and broker at Silver Creek Real Estate Group/Luxury Portfolio International. He says that the area manages to achieve a well-rounded balance between its economic expansion and its authenticity. The city has a distinct identity, showcasing its Southern roots along with global influences, which translates into an incredibly vibrant cultural life, with plenty of museums, galleries, festivals, and other creative events and initiatives. At the same time, outdoor pursuits are plentiful, and residents don’t have to go far to reach them. The city is home to the Whitewater Center, with the largest human-made whitewater river in the world, spanning 1,300 acres along the Catawba River with dozens of land and water activities. “Golf and outdoor recreation are deeply embedded in the local culture, reinforcing the area’s balance between work and lifestyle,” Lucke adds.
For a banking hub of this size and influence, Charlotte’s real estate remains affordable compared to similar metro areas. The average home value is now about $400,000, according to Zillow, and residents can choose between urban neighborhoods, lake communities, and family-friendly suburban areas.
“You have Lake Norman to the north and Lake Wylie to the south, so within about an hour you can access everything from urban living to lakefront communities to more suburban or rural settings. That flexibility is a major reason people land there,” says Kazakos, adding that younger people are increasingly relocating to Charlotte for the diversity it offers across lifestyles, careers, and cost of living.
The Piedmont Triad
Anchored by Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point, the Piedmont Triad sits in central North Carolina, and it’s a major economic force in the South. Most recently, aircraft manufacturer JetZero announced it’s building a $4.7 billion factory near Greensboro, which is expected to create 15,000 jobs, making it the largest economic project in North Carolina’s history. And while the aviation industry is booming in the region, other major players in the automotive, manufacturing, energy, and life sciences industries are also creating well-paying jobs in the Triad.
Tony Jarrett, regional vice president at Howard Hanna Allen Tate Real Estate/Luxury Portfolio International, calls Winston-Salem “one of the most underrated cities” in the South. “If you think about some of the coolest downtowns in the state, Winston-Salem is right there in the conversation. The city was built on tobacco, so there are historic warehouses throughout downtown that have been reinvented into restaurants, retail, apartments, offices, and gathering spaces,” Jarrett says.
Despite its growth, Winston-Salem still maintains its small-town character—Jarrett says that you can generally get anywhere in the city within 20 minutes or so—and Old Salem “feels like stepping back in time” thanks to its cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and Moravian heritage.
And with the Blue Ridge Mountains about an hour away, the state’s Atlantic beaches roughly a four-hour drive away, and the Yadkin Valley wine region located less than an hour away, Winston-Salem is at the heart of all that North Carolina has to offer.
Kazakos also highlights the Triad region’s quality of life and easy access to lakes, trails, and green space. “It’s a very family-friendly region, but also increasingly attractive to empty nesters looking for space and simplicity,” she says.
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
