The Five Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2021

Guys and gals, we’ve done it. We’ve made it to the end of 2020, the garbage fire of a year that it was, and entered into a brand new year full of new and exciting possibilities. We see favorable developments with the pandemic situation, and we might soon see loosened or completely revoked restrictions. Good things are on the horizon, and we’ve got a lot to hope for. 

If you’re looking to start this year off differently from the last, we know of a great way to just that: buying a new home! Whether you’re looking to set up shop in a new home halfway across the country or just want accommodation in a different neighborhood within the city limits of your own home town, this is a great way to start the new year. 

Buying a new home, whether it’s in a different city or your hometown, is the perfect way to mark the difference between this year and the last. You’ll start 2021 with a new mindset and a new living space, reminding you each day how different this year is going to be. As the saying goes, out with the old, in with the new! 
For those who want to move away from their hometown, there’s another question that needs to be answered: where are you going to live? You’ve got your sights set on moving, but what city is going to come out on top as your destination of choice? It’s with this in mind, then, that we’ve taken it upon ourselves to come up with this list. Read on to find out our top picks!

What makes a city a good place to live?

When it comes to choosing a city in which to live, there’s a lot you’ll need to consider. Whether or not a city is a good place to live comes down to many different factors, not the least of which is a personal preference. Ultimately which city you choose depends on you and your taste, personal preference, and innate biases. 

Despite the importance of personal preferences and biases, you can consider a lot of factors when trying to narrow down your choices for places to live in 2021. You can consider crime rates, median home prices and the job market, in addition to social scenes, cultural backgrounds and more. With some of these factors, you may even need to consider subcategories such as property crime as it pertains to the overall crime rate. 

In this article, we’ll go into as much detail as we can on all of these factors and more, doing our best to make sure you know as much as possible about these cities before you make your final decision. We’ll be giving you all the information you’ll need to consider and also doing what we can to share as many relevant details as possible about the things that may affect your decision from a personal perspective. Let’s get into it! 

St. Augustine FL

For the first entry on this list, we’ve chosen a city that holds claim to the singular honor of being the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America. With a title like this, it’s no surprise that history plays a big part in determining the face of the town and what attractions can be seen there. As you might expect, there are several fascinating historical sites and museums that are great ways to spend a day or two. 

There are other attractions in Saint Augustine as well, as you probably know already if you’re at all familiar with the city. The beaches are immaculate, the bars, restaurants, and clubs are top notch, the natural scenery surrounding the town makes for a fantastically immersive hiking, bicycling or trail walking experience. 

While it stands out in the previous two areas, there’s a lot more to St. Augustine than just its history and attractions. As it turns out, there’s a lot to say to this city’s credit from a practical point of view. The median home value is low, property appreciation rates are high and the job market is thriving. There’s almost nothing bad to say about this town! 

Now, we did say almost. While St. Augustine stands out in a good way when considering most factors, its crime rates stand out in a completely different way. While this is somewhat understandable when you consider the large numbers of tourists who frequent the town each year, it still may pause to any prospective homebuyers. 

Nevertheless, this city is still overall a simply delightful place to live in 2021. If you want to make this gorgeous city your home, you’ll want to get in touch with the local real estate agents in St. Augustine FL. These experienced, professional realtors will do everything they can to make sure that you find a home that suits your needs and your budget, as quickly as possible. 

Hampstead NC

If 2020 was just a bit too chaotic for your taste, you might be looking for something a bit more laid back and peaceful. If that’s the case, then we’ve got a town we think you’ll love: the charming little town of Hampstead NC. This delightful community has everything you might want from such a place, and definitely fits the bill as a peaceful, relaxed place to live. 

Despite its relatively small and laidback appearance, there’s actually quite a bit to see and do in one of the most charming little towns of North Carolina. From delicious places to eat and drink to outdoor activities and classic American pastimes, Hampstead’s coastal location and vibrant, friendly populace make having fun a simple and gratifying affair. 

Then there are the practical upsides of owning a home in Hampstead NC; from its competitive job market to its high property appreciation rates, living in this town is not just enjoyable, it’s also profitable! With some prescient investing and foresightful money management, you can easily see returns on any investments in a relatively short time frame. 

As for safety, Hampstead is one of the safest towns in the state, laying to rest any worries you might have about moving your family here. This city beats almost every other location in the state concerning both violent and property crimes, making it a great choice if safety is one of your primary concerns. 

Are you convinced yet? If you are, then you’re going to want to get in touch with one of the real estate agents in Hampstead NC, and see what’s on the market. With a bit of searching, you’ll easily find a home that suits your needs and budget in the least amount of time possible. Before long, you might be calling the town of Hampstead home! 

Gatlinburg TN

For some, the most essential factor in choosing a home is the location. Whether you want to spend your free time lazing it up on the beach or hiking through scenic hilly landscapes, you want to live in a place that has something to look at besides man-made structures. If you’re looking for a mountainous paradise like this, then look no further than Gatlinburg TN. 

Gatlinburg traces its origins back to the hearty Scotsmen who first settled it, seeking the protection of its wild and untamed terrain that offered safety from oppressive colonial powers. While it’s been thoroughly modernized in the years since, it’s still a haven of scenic natural beauty and hearty, hospitable townsfolk. 

As far as practical factors are concerned, Gatlinburg isn’t exactly the most attractive city for budget home buyers or investors. Nevertheless, it’s still fairly competitive when it comes to median home pricing and cost of living. When you take into consideration its scenic vistas and charming cityscapes, its practical downsides can easily be overlooked. 

When it comes to crime rates, things are acceptable, if not particularly impressive. Crime rates in Gatlinburg are substantially lower than those in the state and national capitals but are still higher than the national average. Nevertheless, by taking common-sense safety measures to heart, you can reduce your chances of falling victim to one of these crimes to nearly 0. 

If you want to explore this beautiful city as a resident, then you’ll want to get in touch with the local realtors in Gatlinburg TN. These skilled, professional real estate agents will do their best to find you a home that suits your needs and your budget. Once you’re there, you can get to hiking, biking, and sightseeing in earnest! 

Ashburn VA

For the next entry on this list, we’ve chosen a place that isn’t even a city! Nestled in the gently rolling hills of the Dulles Technology Corridor in northern Virginia, the unincorporated area of Ashburn is a home buyer’s dream come true. This charming little community is more important than you might know; let us tell you why! 

First of all, Ashburn is the home of the crucial internet nexus, the junction through which over 70% of the internet traffic passes on its way to and from its destination. There’s more to this community than just internet traffic though; with over 40,000 residents, there’s also plenty to see and do in the community of Ashburn! 

As one might expect, with an important technological center like the internet nexus, there is an abundance of jobs available in the surrounding area, regardless of whether you work in the tech sector or not. Property values are very high (as you might expect), but appreciation rates are also very solid, making this area a great place to invest. 

If you were worried about crime, don’t! This is one of the most peaceful communities in the state, and crime rates are substantially lower than the state and local averages. With a community that’s this peaceful, you should have no qualms about moving here if you have a family or other incentives to relocate to a low-crime area. 

Want to make this delightful little community your home? You can! By giving one of the real estate agents in Ashburn VA a call, you can find out what’s on the market, and go about the process of making this community your home. Once you hear what’s available, you might find yourself moved in before you know it! 

Alpharetta GA

This last entry on our list might seem a bit odd, compared to previous entries. Alpharetta isn’t a coastal city, nor does it have the vast and exquisite mountain vistas of some of the others. What it does have, however, is the investment value. If you’re looking to turn a profit with your purchase of a home, then this is the place for you. 

Before we talk about its investment potential, however, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the innate charm of the city itself. With a sizable population of 66,000 residents, this town has what we believe to be the perfect number of residents. There are plenty of things to do and see, but you won’t have undue trouble with traffic or noise like you might in a larger city. 

Now, let’s talk investment. With a median home price substantially higher than the national median, Alpharetta lacks in affordability more than makes up for investment potential. While the current appreciation rate is nothing to scoff at, experts predict that Alpharetta’s property values are going to skyrocket in the next year. If you do the appropriate research, you could walk away from this town with a healthy profit. 

Then there are the crime rates; they’re virtually nonexistent! With property and violent crime rates far, far below the national and state average, you can rest assured that your chances of becoming a statistic are low to none. With the help of some common-sense safety measures, you can practically eradicate it altogether! 

If you want to make this delightful city your home, you’ll need to talk to one of the realtors in Alpharetta GA. With their help, you should be able to find a home that suits your needs at the best price possible. They’ll also know which houses offer the best investment value, so you can make your purchase as future-proof as possible! 

Conclusion

If you wanted to start 2021 off differently than last year by purchasing a new home, we hope we’ve piqued your interest and given you some good options to consider. Whether you’re moving far from home or within view of your current bedroom window, we’re sure that these cities will all make great places to live. We wish you the best with your move! 

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