20. Atlanta, Georgia
Population: 5,612,777
Average annual salary: $50,720
Median home price: $192,892
Median monthly rent: $1,003
Quality of life: 5.8
Value index: 7.0
An attractive blend of big city and big country, Atlanta is attracting transplants far and wide with its award-winning restaurants, culture centers, and flourishing job market. More than a dozen Fortune 500 companies call the city home, including Delta, The Home Depot, and The Coca-Cola Company, and it's an increasingly popular spot for film productions.
In addition, "The Chattahoochee River that traverses the metro area, and Stone Mountain, the world's largest chunk of exposed granite, located just northeast of the city proper, also offer a quick escape from any urban anxiety," says one local expert.
19. Jacksonville, Florida
Population: 1,424,097
Average annual salary: $45,140
Median home price: $184,508
Median monthly rent: $984
Quality of life: 6.7
Value index: 6.3
Jacksonville's beach-adjacent location makes it ideal for outdoor activities. In addition to spending lazy days in the sand, residents can also visit the area's prime golf courses or go hiking, camping, and kayaking in the nearby parks. Jacksonville also continues to grow, with burgeoning art and music scenes, as well as new business development, according to a local expert.
18. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Population: 654,589
Average annual salary: $44,100
Median home price: $140,633
Median monthly rent: $714
Quality of life: 6.5
Value index: 7.1
The cost of living in Winston-Salem is a bargain. The city's average housing costs remain well below the national average — renters pay about $200 less per month for a one-bedroom apartment than their counterparts around the country.
Residents can also take advantage of the city's cultural offerings with visits to the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.
17. Fort Myers, Florida
Population: 680,970
Average annual salary: $40,420
Median home price: $210,133
Median monthly rent: $984
Quality of life: 6.3
Value index: 5.2
The charming streets of Fort Myers attract people of all ages, even if the southwestern Florida city is better known as a retirement destination. More than a third of the rapidly growing population is under 34 years old. Residents take advantage of Fort Myers' vibrant downtown, and the city's convenient location on Florida's Gulf Coast lends itself to water activities like boating and fishing. People in Fort Myers tend to pay a little extra for real estate and transportation, but they save thanks to Florida's lack of state income taxes.
16. Charleston, South Carolina
Population: 728,271
Average annual salary: $44,500
Median home price: $232,983
Median monthly rent: $1,009
Quality of life: 6.2
Value index: 6.2
Charleston's charming, historic, and sophisticated ambiance is exemplary of southern culture. "Not only is the area overflowing with entertainment and good food, but this low country locale is also gorgeous," said a local expert.
Tourism is booming in Charleston, creating plenty of jobs, especially in the summer months. Year-round, jobs in tech, sales, marketing, and advertising keep the city's economy strong.
15. Sarasota, Florida
Population: 751,422
Average annual salary: $41,870
Median home price: $224,613
Median monthly rent: $1,032
Quality of life: 7.3
Value index: 5.3
Sarasota boasts "warm temperatures year-round, award-winning beaches, and a thriving arts and cultural scene," said a local expert. The biggest employers in Sarasota are in education, trade, and transportation, and the leisure and hospitality sector touts a low unemployment rate powered by a recent increase in tourism and a flood of new residents.
14. Greenville, South Carolina
Population: 862,064
Average annual salary: $42,290
Median home price: $159,692
Median monthly rent: 762
Quality of life: 6.7
Value index: 7.2
Once a sleepy small town, Greenville has witnessed a cultural revival in recent years, complete with an influx of new restaurants and businesses. Though the summers can get hot, the city's typically mild weather make it possible to explore downtown on foot anytime of the year.
An influx of manufacturing jobs have also boosted Greenville's economy, with brand-name companies, such as GE and Michelin, setting up shop in town.
13. Melbourne, Florida
Population: 560,683
Average annual salary: $46,520
Median home price: $163,042
Median monthly rent: $936
Quality of life: 7.1
Value index: 6.2
Between fishing, boating, and a plethora of bars and restaurants, there's never a shortage of things to do in the Melbourne area. The city's ripe with retirees and "snowbirds" — people who split their time between colder climates in the summer and Florida in the winter — who can enjoy days on one of the many nearby golf courses and nights out exploring the local shops and art galleries.
12. Houston, Texas
Population: 6,482,592
Average annual salary: $52,870
Median home price: $216,575
Median monthly rent: $955
Quality of life: 6.9
Value index: 7.1
Houston is a major player in the oil and gas, manufacturing, aerospace, and healthcare industries — it's also home to 26 Fortune 500 companies. According to one local expert, "a paycheck goes further in Houston than it does in other major cities, with affordable housing and free or cheap attractions." Plus, the city has an affinity for food, counting some 11,000 restaurants within its boundaries.
11. Asheville, North Carolina
Population: 441,724
Average annual salary: $40,330
Median monthly rent: $815
Quality of life: 7.2
Value index: 6.3
It's no surprise why the mountain town of Asheville, North Carolina, is beloved by tourists and residents alike. Nestled in between the Blue Ride and Appalachian mountains, Asheville is a magnet for outdoors lovers as well as fans of music, art, and craft beer.
10. Charlotte, North Carolina
Population: 2,381,152
Average annual salary: $49,600
Median home price: $200,942
Median monthly rent: $893
Quality of life: 6.4
Value index: 7.5
A "melting pot effect" draws all types of people to Charlotte, a place with "equal parts old-fashioned southern charm and high-energy cosmopolitan bustle," touted one local expert. NASCAR and motorsports are a cultural cornerstone of Charlotte. The Queen City houses Bank of America's headquarters and major offices for Wells Fargo, making it one of the largest financial hubs in the country.
9. Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
Population: 495,193
Average annual salary: $43,620
Median monthly rent: $782
Quality of life: 7.1
Value index: 7.8
Lexington, Kentucky, is known as the horse capital of the world, and residents are especially proud of their city's reputation for equestrian. On top of world-famous horse parks and race courses, the area has more than 1,000 horse farms, not to mention streets named after Triple Crown winners and a bevy of horse statues in parks around the city. But a love of equestrian isn't the only thing Lexington offers.
Younger residents move there for its college-town feel and appreciation for local sports and music. And the area is a haven for fans of the outdoors — the nearby Red River Gorge and Cumberland Falls are scenic places for residents to explore their surroundings.
8. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Population: 6,957,123
Average annual salary: $50,350
Median home price: $210,181
Median monthly rent: $969
Quality of life: 7.0
Value index: 7.1
A healthy balance of urban and rural, Dallas offers residents "big-city excitement and quiet, suburban living," shared one local expert. There's local bars, retail shops, and plenty of sports spirit to satisfy the huge population. The city — with large large employers in business, finance, and education — is teeming with young professionals.
7. San Antonio, Texas
Population: 2,332,345
Average annual salary: $45,210
Median home price: $200,667
Median monthly rent: $909
Quality of life: 7.0
Value index: 7.0
At once a destination city and a down-home community, San Antonio offers up a variety of cuisines, music styles, and art for visitors and locals. The city hosts "more than 50 major events and festivals throughout the year," a number of which honor the area's Spanish heritage, said a local expert. San Antonio is home to four military and air force bases and camps, collectively known as Joint Base San Antonio.
6. Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
Population: 1,786,119
Average annual salary: $52,669
Median home price: $227,814
Median monthly rent: $947
Quality of life: 6.7
Value index: 7.8
Raleigh-Durham and Chapel Hill are collectively known as the Triangle, an area anchored by its foundation in research and tech. The Triangle employs nearly 40,000 residents at companies like IBM, SAS Institute Inc., and Cisco Systems as well as surrounding colleges Duke, North Carolina State, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A strong job market coupled with a burgeoning microbrewery and dining scene draws 80 new residents every day, said a local expert.
5. Nashville, Tennessee
Population: 1,794,570
Average annual salary: $45,780
Median home price: $236,267
Median monthly rent: $899
Quality of life: 6.1
Value index: 7.3
Honky-tonk culture and an entrepreneurial spirit define Nashville. "A blossoming job market and an exploding entertainment scene [are] fueling an appetite (and thirst) for all things locally sourced and artisanal in craft," a local expert said. Thousands of residents work in healthcare at the area's large hospitals and research centers, small startups, and business accelerator programs.
4. Washington, DC
Population: 6,011,752
Average annual salary: $68,000
Median home price: $368,642
Median monthly rent: $1,541
Quality of life: 6.4
Value index: 7.4
The District's neighborhoods each give off their own vibe, but across the city residents often "gather for block parties, mingle at dog parks, and converse at coffee shops," explained a local expert. While Washington, DC, is known as a hub for politics, there's also a strong job market for education and health services.
3. Huntsville, Alabama
Population: 440,230
Average annual salary: $52,960
Median monthly rent: $759
Quality of life: 7.0
Value index: 8.8
The once-sleepy town of Huntsville, Alabama, gained fame in the 1960s when it became a hub for NASA. Now Huntsville is undergoing another renaissance, with tech companies, craft breweries, and artists all flocking to the town in recent years.
Huntsville is the fastest-growing city in Alabama, and residents are enjoying an emerging downtown shopping and and dining scene even as the city maintains a low cost of living. If you can handle the heat and humidity, you might find yourself at home there.
2. Fayetteville, Arkansas
Population: 503,642
Average annual salary: $44,980
Median home price: $182,508
Median monthly rent: $752
Quality of life: 7.5
Value index: 7.9
Fayetteville sits among the Ozark Mountains and is home to the University of Arkansas' flagship campus. The surrounding area of northwest Arkansas is home to headquarters for seven Fortune 500 companies including Walmart and Tyson Foods. The city has experienced immense growth, according to a local expert, who said the region has evolved "from a small town to a center of higher education, culture, commerce, and entrepreneurialism."
1. Austin, Texas
Population: 1,942,615
Average annual salary: $50,830
Median home price: $278,608
Median monthly rent: $1,098
Quality of life: 7.1
Value index: 7.1
The capital of Texas gains about 50 new residents daily, many seeking out the city's "music, outdoor spaces, and cultural institutions," said a local expert.
Austin is beloved for its live music scene and is host to some of the country's biggest music and culture festivals, including South by Southwest and Austin City Limits. The city was nicknamed "Silicon Hills" in the 1990s for its status as "among the top areas for venture capital investment in the country."