This Old School Southern City is Renters' Newest Top Destination

For those with flexibility about where they can live and willing to relocate, the latest annual ranking from RentCafé might offer a nudge South. Hello, palm trees, Mint Juleps and charming historic architecture with verandas and pastel hues. Goodbye, snow, ice and congestion.

Charleston now represents the first choice for where renters want to live in 2023, with the allure from its apartment quality, cost of living and strong local economy. According to the RentCafé data, this city, which has a bustling port, has come to be associated with a growing IT hub due to more than 250 tech companies there. Those who come also like the feeling of living in a big city yet without compromising air quality or natural amenities. The size of Charleston apartments is also larger at 967 square feet than the national average, which was 887 square feet in 2022, according to another RentCafé survey. The food scene in this Southern city is also attracting attention on many foodies’ lists, especially as restaurants have updated their interpretation of Southern cuisine.

But if this South Carolina city isn’t calling your name, others in the South dominate the list; in fact, 36 of the top 50 cities are located in the region. The reasons are that they provide other top experiences for renters based on a host of factors. Plano, Texas, came in second, and there’s a reason it’s been dubbed the “City of Excellence.” It received good marks for its local economy, quality of life, excellent public schools, air quality, high-end apartments and number of big company headquarters–Bank of America, Hewlett Packard, FedEx, J.C. Penny and Pepsi to cite a few, as well as high job growth rates.

Still other Southern big-city notables include Miami (25) and Orlando (16) and smaller ones that made it onto the list are Raleigh, N.C., (5) Asheville, N.C., (31) and Birmingham, Ala. (47) And some cities not widely known also ranked high. Conroe, Texas, about 40 miles north of Houston, came in first for cost of living and housing and a total ranking of ninth.

Altogether, the survey looked at 140 cities and considered 20 metrics such as apartment quality, local economy, traffic, air quality and natural amenities. These metrics were then grouped into three categories: cost of living and housing, local economy and quality of life.

Other destinations beyond the South are also generating buzz. Scottsdale, Ariz., ranked third due to its kudos for being a luxury destination with upscale accommodations and resorts, as well as its quality of life, public schools and natural amenities. Sunnyvale, Calif., part of Silicon Valley’s high-tech area, wasn’t among the top 50 but won for best quality of life. Seattle (27), Dallas (32) and San Francisco (46) also scored high.

The Northeast wasn’t left out and Stamford, Conn., was ranked best for renters wanting an active life and first in quality of life and came in overall 33rd. Also noteworthy is that New Jersey overtook Florida in terms of rental competitiveness so any Jersey wanna-bes should know it’s getting more competitive and harder to find an apartment there. Or for those who yearn for Midwestern affordability combined with its healthy balance of quality  head for Minneapolis, which led the way and had an overall ranking of 21. Worst for living and housing? Sadly, New York City.