Asheville ranks among top 10 cities in the Southeast for livability: Here's why

Yahoo

18-04-2025

In a study on 2025's best places to live, Livability.com ranks Asheville among the top 10 for towns in the Southeast.
Livability.com uses data on thousands of U.S. cities, then sorts through the data and partners with Applied Geographic Solutions to curate a list of Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. yearly. These places are chosen based on nearly 100 data points, according to the website.
Only mid-size cities with populations between 75,000-500,000 are considered for the list. According to Livability.com, "that's the sweet spot in size for getting plugged in, finding your people and feeling at home fast." Similarly, only cities with median home values of $500,000 or less are considered.
In this year's analysis, Asheville ranks No. 8 throughout all Southeastern towns considered. Here's why, plus more information on the lists and what makes a city livable.
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Asheville places among the top 10 best cities for livability in the Southeast according to Livability.com, ranking at No. 8 with a 699 out of 1,000 possible points - and there was plenty of data to back up this ranking.
"Nestled in a beautiful setting, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, the city is a picture-perfect paradise," Livability.com writers said of Asheville. "Plus, there's a fun and funky vibe here, with eclectic shops and galleries (in a walkable downtown!), trend-setting independent restaurants, a top-notch craft beer scene, art deco architecture and festivals that celebrate anything and everything."
Livability.com also includes the following data in their study of Asheville:
Average Commute - 18 minutes
Median Home Value - $407,100
Median Household Income - $103,704
Total Population - 97,470
Median Property Tax - $2,503
Median Monthly Rent - $1,146
Though Asheville is still recovering from the effects of Tropical Storm Helene, Livability.com called the city a "resilient place," with a tight-knit community that has "only grown closer" in the aftermath of the storm.
With this in mind, the website reminds the public that, as one of the town's biggest industries is tourism, planning a trip is one way to help the community recover. Here's what writers suggest for a visit to Asheville:
Classic favorites such as the Biltmore Estate and Folk Art Center.
Cultural celebrations such as Hola, a festival highlighting Latin culture, and the annual Goombay Festival to celebrate the African diaspora and Asheville's African American community.
Small theater shows and larger events at venues such as the Wortham Center.
Historical spots such as Thomas Wolfe's childhood home.
Quirky stops like the Pinball Museum, Lexington Glassworks and plenty more.
Outdoor enthusiasts can "find tranquility" through forest bathing tours, NC Arboretum, WNC Nature Center and other ample outdoor opportunities.
"Shop until you drop" at local boutiques and vintage stores on Lexington Avenue and throughout downtown Asheville.
To see more of the many suggestions from Livability.com, visit their page on Asheville at livability.com/nc/asheville.
The top 10 cities chosen for livability in the Southeast:
Roswell, Georgia
Hoover, Alabama
Raleigh, North Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Coral Springs, Florida
Durham, North Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Louisville, Kentucky
The overall top 10 best cities for livability in the U.S.:
Flower Mound, Texas
Carmel, Indiana
Sugar Land, Texas
Naperville, Illinois
Roswell, Georgia
Overland Park, Kansas
Troy, Michigan
Columbia, Maryland
Olathe, Kansas
Round Rock, Texas
Livability.com calculates livability scores as a number out of 1,000 possible points using the following factors:
Economy, including data points like unemployment rate, employment stability and opportunity and industrial diversity.
Housing and cost of living, including data points like tax rates, home and rental affordability measures and discretionary income.
Amenities, including data points like cultural amenities (museums, arts, dining variety, etc.) and leisure amenities (parks, golf, sports venues, nightlife, etc.).
Transportation, including data points like walkability, median commute time and average vehicles per household.
Environment, including data points like population density, air quality and various natural disaster risks.
Safety, including data points like various crime rates.
Education, including data points like school quality and educational attainment.
Health, including data points like life expectancy, doctor and hospital access and prevalence of health concerns like diabetes, asthma and cancer.
Top categories in which Asheville shines, according to findings from Livability.com, include environment, amenities and education.
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Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Things to do in Asheville, why livability ranks top 10 in Southeast