Terri Ramsey Beavers Over the last two years, Americans have been leaving their hometowns in droves to find more affordable places to live and improve their quality of life.
When the majority of Americans found themselves working from home during the pandemic, they found themselves more mobile than ever before. This triggered a huge societal shift and drove the workforce to think long and hard about where they really wanted to live.
Read on to discover three of the best places to live in the U.S.
1. Austin, Texas
Austin has enjoyed a top spot on every ‘best places to live’ list for the last decade – and it’s not hard to see why. The city in the Lone Star state is generally laid-back and quirky – its residents live by the motto “Keep Austin Weird.” People move to the best surburbs of Austin TX for top job opportunities in the thriving tech market, outdoor attractions, and a generally high quality of life.
Located squarely in the middle of the “Texas Triangle” – an area created by drawing imaginary lines between San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston – Austin is a major economic powerhouse for the United States. It is set to grow to a population of 21,6 million by 2030.
Austin’s central location makes it easy to travel to other cities – and the coast is just a three-hour drive away.
2. Raleigh, North Carolina
The capital city of North Carolina really has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, sports, good food, a college student scene, or you want to get your startup off the ground.
Raleigh has a long history of celebrating entrepreneurs and researchers in the clean energy industry, and it’s also the home of many musicians and inventive culinary artists. With three major museums that celebrate the arts, natural sciences, and history, you’re sure to have a cultural experience.
Suppose you’re looking for career opportunities in the clean tech industry. In that case, there’s no shortage of IT, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing jobs. Significant employers in Raleigh include the State of North Carolina, Duke University, Wake County Public School System, and IBM.
3. Tampa, Florida
Like Austin, Florida has no state income tax. But that’s not the only reason Americans are flocking to the Sunshine State – or, more specifically, Tampa.
Tampa boasts an affordable cost of living and has nearly 80 colleges, technical schools, and universities. Tampa Bay residents are lucky enough to enjoy a laidback, coastal lifestyle with the amenities of a large metropolitan – it’s the best of both worlds!
Many young jobseekers relocate to Tampa for its thriving job market – just a few high-profile companies that have made Tampa their home are Citigroup, USAA, and Raymond James. With a young, skilled workforce, Tampa is regarded as one of the most remote-friendly places to work in America.
With a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, Tampa is also an incredibly diverse city. You’ll find people from all walks of life here – more than 130 nationalities call Tampa home.