Best Southern small towns to live in

Justin T. Gellerson for The Washington Post via Getty Images Whether considering a new move or just daydreaming of living in a town with a dose of Southern charm, Stacker has you covered with a list of the best suburban or rural areas of the South. The U.S. South, considered by the U.S. Census Bureau to start at Maryland and Delaware, and then stretch all the way west to Texas and Oklahoma, is one of the fastest-growing regions in the U.S., and was, even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Known for its hospitality, regional cuisines, and sprawling landscapes, the region boasts many towns with family-friendly historic attractions and outdoor activities. Some suburban and rural areas offer residents a crime-free life with great public education and job options. Stacker referenced Niche’s 2022’s “Best Places to Live” study, narrowed the results to the American South–and then narrowed them further to the suburbs or rural areas, those towns with under 5,000 residents. Niche rated the best places to live according to factors such as cost of living, safety, and access to healthy living, good jobs, and education. While this data is the most current available, some housing statistics Niche uses to calculate its rankings, such as median home values and housing costs, are not entirely reflective of the current housing market. #25. Chevy Chase Town, Maryland Nicole Glass Photography // Shutterstock – Population: 2,913 – Median home value: $1,383,400 (97% own) – Median rent: $3,501 (3% rent) – Median household income: $250,001 Chevy Chase Town offers its residents a rural feel, according to Niche. More than two-thirds of residents have master’s degrees, and the public schools are ranked in the top 20 in the state. Housing prices are far above national averages. It’s a close-in suburb of Washington D.C., with easy public-transit access to any of the parks and attractions in the nation’s capital. #24. Taylor Lake Village, Texas Mark Taylor Cunningham // Shutterstock – Population: 3,694 – Median home value: $289,700 (94% own) – Median rent: $2,555 (6% rent) – Median household income: $138,438 Niche ranks Taylor Lake Village, a suburb of Houston, as the best suburb for buying a house in the Houston area. It’s a great place for outdoor activities, raising a family, and housing, and offers a decent nightlife. There are waterfront homes on two lakes, a large shoreline community park, and a strong volunteering spirit. #23. Riverview, South Carolina Canva – Population: 1,989 – Median home value: $447,800 (60% own) – Median rent: $578 (40% rent) – Median household income: $116,840 Ranked by Niche as the best place to buy a house in South Carolina, Riverview, a suburb of Charlotte, is a great place to raise families. Jobs, schools, housing, and the cost of living all get A+ grades. However, residents must travel to Charlotte to do most shopping or to enjoy some nightlife. #22. Avondale Estates, Georgia ElenaAdanPhotography // Shutterstock – Population: 3,494 – Median home value: $442,300 (87% own) – Median rent: $1,647 (13% rent) – Median household income: $122,009 Niche ranks Avondale Estates as the seventh best place to retire in Georgia. It’s just east of Atlanta and is described as having a “sparse suburban feel.” Niche also reports Avondale Estates has relatively low crime and is a great place for families, outdoor activities, public education, and job prospects. It’s home to the unique Waffle House Museum. Other nearby attractions include the science exhibitions at the Fernbank Museum for dinosaur fossils, the Fernbank Science Center for hands-on experiences, or hiking trails through the Fernbank Forest. #21. Olmos Park, Texas Hannamariah // Shutterstock – Population: 2,432 – Median home value: $703,400 (79% own) – Median rent: $1,087 (21% rent) – Median household income: $146,944 Olmos Park, located north of downtown San Antonio, was developed in the 1920s. H.C. Thorman, a renowned real-estate developer and oilman from Ohio, purchased the property and built homes, creating this posh enclave. Thorman used stone veneer over structural concrete to evoke the style of English stone cottages in the homes he built, many of which still exist. #20. Hurstbourne, Kentucky STONE8HENGE // Wikimedia Commons – Population: 4,644 – Median home value: $441,200 (63% own) – Median rent: $1,370 (37% rent) – Median household income: $107,423 Though the area was first settled in 1779, the town didn’t really begin until the mid-1960s as an extension of the growth of nearby Louisville. Today, the primarily residential community has a country club at its center, with commercial activity primarily right along its edges. #19. Indian Hills, Kentucky Spiroview Inc // Shutterstock – Population: 2,878 – Median home value: $609,100 (100% own) – Median rent: No data available – Median household income: $163,750 A suburb of Louisville, Indian Hills provides a rural feel while with accessibility to coffee shops and restaurants. Two sons of noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed several wooded areas in town. Almost everyone in town owns their home. #18. Hedwig Village, Texas WhisperToMe // Wikimedia Commons – Population: 2,343 – Median home value: $1,200,900 (73% own) – Median rent: $1,201 (27% rent) – Median household income: $166,250 A suburb of Houston, Hedwig Village offers its residents a diverse urban-suburban feel with a commercial district alongside I-10, and wooded lots throughout most of the rest of the 1-square-mile city. It has excellent public schools and is good for families, but housing prices are high, which increases the overall cost of living. #17. Martin’s Additions, Maryland