Having an annual salary of $150,000 is great — but knowing where to live with that money is almost as important as earning it. Finding a corner of America with the right property values, comfortable cost of living and livability to match your $150,000 salary can be crucial to your ability to enjoy your income level.
That’s why GOBankingRates recently launched a study to find the best Southern cities to live if you make $150,000. To do so, our research team searched through high livability indexes throughout the American South to find metros with the best livability levels (nothing that scored less than 85 out of 100). Then, those cities were cross-referenced against Southern cities with comfortable costs of living and affordable housing prices. What emerged from that matrix were 20 Southern cities best suited for folks who earn $150,000 or more annually.
Key Findings
- Florida commands the list: Of the 20 best Southern cities to live if you make $150,000, a whopping eight are in the Sunshine State — more than any other state in the American South.
- Lynchburg, Virginia has the most affordable housing in the top 20: The average value of a single family home in Lynchburg, Virginia is $260,863 — that’s lower than any other city listed.
- $150,000 is three times the average income in Blacksburg, Virginia: One of the best cities in the South for those who make $150,000 is Blacksburg, Virginia, which has a median household income of only $48,070 — more than three times less than $150,000.
For You: 9 States With No Income Tax — Lower Your Tax Bills by Moving to These States
Trending Now: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too
1. Wilton Manors, Florida
- Median household income: $79,390
- Average home value: $694,674
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $73,163
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $146,325
- Livability: 91
Check Out: How Much House Does $300K, $400K and $500K Buy You in Every State?
2. Fort Thomas, Kentucky
- Median household income: $100,819
- Average home value: $364,399
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $48,227
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $96,453
- Livability: 91
3. Lynchburg, Virginia
- Median household income: $59,808
- Average home value: $260,863
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $40,262
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $80,523
- Livability: 91
4. Cary, North Carolina
- Median household income: $129,399
- Average home value: $625,967
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $65,216
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $130,432
- Livability: 90
Consider This: The Living Wage a Family of Four Needs in All 50 States
5. Springfield, Virginia
- Median household income: $123,691
- Average home value: $704,500
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $74,465
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $148,930
- Livability: 89
6. Doctor Phillips, Florida
- Median household income: $101,540
- Average home value: $559,154
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $63,310
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $126,619
- Livability: 89
7. Seminole, Florida
- Median household income: $77,335
- Average home value: $417,344
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $53,095
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $106,190
- Livability: 89
Be Aware: How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State?
8. Blacksburg, Virginia
- Median household income: $48,070
- Average home value: $417,720
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $51,698
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $103,397
- Livability: 89
9. Oxford, Mississippi
- Median household income: $59,901
- Average home value: $410,585
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $49,388
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $98,775
- Livability: 73
10. Rogers, Arkansas
- Median household income: $82,993
- Average home value: $377,294
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $47,541
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $95,082
- Livability: 88
Explore More: 22 States in or Near a Recession Right Now — and What It Means for Residents
11. St. Augustine, Florida
- Median household income: $80,473
- Average home value: $446,861
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $53,443
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $106,886
- Livability: 87
12. Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Median household income: $85,825
- Average home value: $667,797
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $68,470
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $136,939
- Livability: 87
Read Next: How Far $1.5 Million in Retirement Savings Plus Social Security Goes in Every State
13. Apex, North Carolina
- Median household income: $138,442
- Average home value: $602,095
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $63,877
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $127,754
- Livability: 87
14. Safety Harbor, Florida
- Median household income: $105,813
- Average home value: $522,822
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $60,397
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $120,794
- Livability: 87
15. Decatur, Georgia
- Median household income: $140,480
- Average home value: $284,268
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $45,161
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $90,323
- Livability: 87
Find Out: How Long $2 Million in Retirement Will Last in Every State
16. Lexington, Kentucky
- Median household income: $67,631
- Average home value: $323,849
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $44,673
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $89,346
- Livability: 87
17. Jacksonville Beach, Florida
- Median household income: $115,825
- Average home value: $638,951
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $67,372
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $134,743
- Livability: 86
18. Stuart, Florida
- Median household income: $64,409
- Average home value: $466,177
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $55,287
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $110,573
- Livability: 86
Discover More: Check Out the Median Salary of Americans Your Age in Every State
19. St. Petersburg, Florida
- Median household income: $73,118
- Average home value: $368,188
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $49,757
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $99,514
- Livability: 86
20. Simpsonville, South Carolina
- Median household income: $79,233
- Average home value: $371,504
- Total cost of necessities (annually): $37,981
- Comfortable cost of living (annually): $95,962
- Livability: 86
Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed places across America to find the best to live once your salary hits $150K. First, GOBankingRates identified cities with the highest livability indexes, as sourced from AreaVibes. For each city, a number of factors were found including: total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, and median household income — all sourced from the U.S. Census 2023 five-year ACS. The cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces and, by using the national average expenditure costs for all households as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for all consumer units, the average expenditure cost can be calculated. The average single family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index and, by using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage can be calculated. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the cost of living for necessities can be calculated. Using the 50/30/20 finance rule that states needs should not exceed 50% of median household income, the cost of living for necessities was doubled to find the comfortable cost of living. Places with a comfortable cost of living above $150,000 were removed for this study. Places with a livability of 85 and below were removed, as well, as they represent places with less than ideal quality of life. The remaining cities were sorted to show the highest livability locations first, representing the best places to live once your salary hits $150K. Places with tied livability were sorted by the lowest cost of living first. All data was collected on and is up to date as of November 25th, 2025.
More From GOBankingRates
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 20 Best Southern Cities To Live on a $150K Salary
