14 Best Southeast Cities Where You Can Buy a Home for Under $300K in 2026
It can be tough to find a nice home for under $300,000 in much of the United States. One place that may offer you affordable options is the Southeast.
As part of its list of best places to live in the U.S., Livability selected several Southeast cities. Along with prioritizing affordability, the list editors looked at the overall health and “fun factor” of cities across the country and the Southeast. They included only cities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000 on the list, calling that the “sweet spot” size.
Here’s a look at the 14 best Southeast cities from the list and what experts want you to know about looking for your next home in this part of the country.
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What Are the 14 Best Southeast Cities?
Read below to see the Southeast cities that topped the list of best places to live in the U.S. You’ll notice they’re spread across several states and include well-known cities and some you may never have heard of before.
Huntsville, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Charleston, South Carolina
Concord, North Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Tampa, Florida
Asheville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Knoxville, Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Gainesville, Florida
Athens, Georgia
Lexington, Kentucky
Why the Southeast?
“I personally think most people overlook the Southeast when they're house hunting and that's a mistake,” said Jasmine Charbonier, travel expert and founder of Your Tampa Bestie. “The Livability list places heavy emphasis on affordability this year and the Southeast dominates the rankings.”
Charbonier added that cities like Huntsville, Alabama, which topped the list, have median home values well under $300,000 while offering a growing job market in aerospace and tech.
“Fayetteville, Arkansas, sits around $250,000 median and Memphis, Tennessee, hovers near $185,000 to $225,000,” she said. “These aren't ‘settling’ cities. They have good schools, low property taxes and real job growth.”
Cody Schuiteboer, president and CEO of Best Interest Financial, said he processes home purchase loans across markets on a weekly basis and there's no better market for buyers unwilling to overspend than the Southeast market.
“Homebuyers looking to buy under $300,000 aren't simply playing a game of ‘price match’, they're playing a game of ‘wisdom’,” he added. “It remains one of the only regions in the U.S. that can provide homebuyers a detached, single-family dwelling with yard space, good commuting options and quality schools for less than $300,000.”
What To Look for Beyond the Price Tag?
“Living in Florida, I've watched a lot of people chase low sticker prices only to get slammed by property taxes, insurance and cost of living,” Charbonier explained. “The Livability methodology is smart because it factors in income-to-housing ratios, not just raw prices.
"Alabama has some of the lowest property tax rates in the country, around 0.36%, which makes that $250,000 home way cheaper to own long-term than a similarly priced home in a higher-tax state. My tip is to run the full cost picture, including insurance, taxes and HOA fees, before committing to any market.”
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This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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