- Tampa Bay leads the list of most desirable U.S. cities, followed by Charlotte and Virginia Beach.
- Tampa’s median home price is lower than other major Florida metros like Orlando and Miami.
- Washington, D.C. is the least desirable place to live, with 33% of respondents ranking it among the five worst cities in the nation.
According to a Clever Real Estate poll, Tampa Bay tops the list of the most desirable places to live in 2024. In fact, 23% of respondents placed Tampa Bay in their top five preferred destinations, as reported in Globest.
“Tampa’s appeal is clear,” Clever noted. “With year-round warm, sunny weather, lower crime rates, and affordable homes compared to other cities its size, Tampa is an attractive option. Additionally, Florida’s lack of state income tax reduces the tax burden for residents.”
Top 10 Most Desirable U.S. Cities
- Tampa Bay, Florida
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Orlando, Florida
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Denver, Colorado
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Miami, Florida
Florida also ranked highly as a desirable state (unsurprisingly), with 35% of respondents listing it among their top five choices.
In contrast, Washington, D.C. was deemed the least desirable place to live for the second consecutive year, with 33% of respondents considering it one of the five worst places to reside in the nation.
What Influences Preferences
Safety was the top concern for 68% of respondents, who cited low crime rates as the most critical factor in choosing a place to live. Favorable cost of living (66%) and nice weather (62%) were also highly valued.
Conversely, diversity (25%), low unemployment (26%), and political alignment (26%) were considered less important.
Why It Matters
Despite 73% of Americans expressing satisfaction with their current place of residence, 84% indicated they could be persuaded to move, with 59% feeling frustrated and 43% embarrassed by their current location.
However, financial constraints are preventing half of the respondents from relocating.
