What are some great small to mid-size towns in the southeast?

Second for Knoxville or Chattanooga. Asheville is a cool place but the cost of living is super high and unless you can work your current job remotely or work in healthcare there really aren't any decent jobs around.

Boone NC would be a decent option as well.

Old Hobby Jogger wrote:

Funny how everyone claims to hate the south, but people move here from all parts of the country, especially the northeast and west coast. If it is such a god awful place, why do so many come and never leave? I used to travel the US in a former job, and all parts of the country are full of lousy big and small cities and some great ones too. Racism exists in many areas of our country too. Atlanta is known as a Mecca for Black professionals. So which is it? But if you don’t want to move to the south, by all means, don’t.

If you’re not from the south and decide to move there, you couldnt make yourself out west or northeast.

Only thing desirable about the south is the cost of living and there’s a reason why it’s cheap to live there.

In my 20s, I was one of those who couldn’t make it living in California, so moved to cheaper cost of living in Texas, then to Carolinas. I hated the south. Again, only positive was that it’s cheap but there’s no upward mobility at all.

I got out of there finding a great paying job back on the west coast and have been here for the past five years and couldn’t be happier.

if you have swamp person genetics (by that I mean you have gills so that you can breathe in extreme humidity) then go for it i guess

otherwise you're better off living in Roanoke or Boston

Some of the College Towns are great: Athens GA, Auburn AL, Oxford MS. All have great locally owned dining, great endurance communities, trails, etc. Athens especially is worth a visit.

Beyond that, Chatty TN, Tally FL, and Huntsville are really nice. You can find some nice parts in Orlando, Birmingham and ATL... but ATL would drive me crazy if you have any real driving to do. The traffic is ridonc.

Avoid Jackson MS, Memphis, Montgomery... they are headed downhill quickly.

and +1 on Knoxville

What did you dislike about the south?

OP, I know it's not really part of the southeast, but northwest Arkansas meets most of your criteria.

I am from Atlanta area, and I don't even like to be near there anymore. Birmingham AL is alright. The north Georgia mtns. are nice. It is absurdly hot and humid in the south, visit in the summer and imagine yourself living there before you commit. That being said, I don't think I could move back south due to the weather. Chattanooga, Athens GA, Huntsville Alabama, Nashville, are all ok. Be sure to consider proximity to decent health care.

I can understand living in the south if you have family there. To me, here are the negatives:

It’s hot and humid.

Less career opportunities.

Once you see mountains and beaches out west, scenery is not great. Seriously, Appalachian mountains are mountains but they don’t look that pretty.

Attractive people are few and far between.

I’ve lived in LA and Seattle, and both places, I can easily walk out the door and go running bc of many sidewalks and paths that’s more pedestrian friendly. When I lived in the south, there’s just not a good network of paths as everyone just use their cars everywhere.

Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Asheville all have extensive trails systems available for runners. Knoxville in particular is close to both Oak Ridge, which has a ton, and Maryville, which also does.

TheNoBeardRunner wrote:

You'd be surprised how great Birmingham is.

Only thing we lack is professional sports. But we're rabid for college football.

That is actually a huuuuuuuge drawback to living in Birmingham. Nothing worse than relocating to an area that is full of rabid college football fans.

Athens, GA

Gainesville, GA

I've spent a few months living in each of these cities and they were quite nice. Athens is probably the better city due to the University of Georgia being there. Summers can be hot and humid but it's not SE Asia hot so it's not that bad.

Atlanta

Old Man Runner wrote:

Avoid any place that's been featured on the TV show "Cops" or "LivePD"

I love watching LivePD and the Richland County PD!!

The OP should DEFINITELY move to Colombia, SC...f it...West Columbia.

It’s a nice little quaint college town.

GO COCKS!!

Alan

Selma, Alabama

Not this time, Alan. Columbia is nothing but heat and sprawl. It’s a pit stop on the way to Charleston or Myrtle Beach.

Annapolis

Charlottesville, va

New Bern, NC

Roanoke

Woodstock, GA

Asheville, NC are

Wilmington, NC area.

Niceville, FL

Richmond. More of a small city but it's epic right now.