8. Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is an oft-overlooked Southern city with a rock-solid economy. It’s the second-largest banking hub in the U.S. behind New York City. Charlotte has gained over 206,000 residents in the past five years due to its excellent quality of life and affordable cost of living, which is about 5% lower than the national average. The average home value in Charlotte is $391,651, which is lower than the U.S. average.