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Is Asheville, NC a great place to live?
Southern Living named Asheville the #3 best city in the South for 2026, based on votes from more than 17,000 readers, marking the second consecutive year Asheville has landed in the magazine's top three. The city ranked behind only Charleston, the ten-time defending champion, and Savannah. Southern Living credited Biltmore Estate, the Blue Ridge Mountains and its hiking trails, the local craft beer and culinary scene, and a close-knit community of artists for the city's enduring appeal. Asheville also earned a spot on Travel + Leisure's 2026 list of the 50 best places to travel, specifically in the nature lovers category.
Every year, a handful of "best places" lists make the rounds, and it's easy to assume they're just marketing. But when the same city keeps landing in the same top tier, year after year, it's worth asking what's actually behind it. Asheville just did it again, and the reasons are worth understanding, whether you're a longtime local or considering a move here for the first time.
A two year streak in the top three
Asheville's position on Southern Living's South's Best Cities list has been climbing steadily: fifth place in 2024, third place in 2025, and third place again in 2026. That's not a one-time fluke or a lucky year. It's two consecutive years holding a top-three spot in a region full of legitimate competition, with the rankings based on tens of thousands of reader votes rather than a single editor's opinion.
Charleston, South Carolina has held the number one spot for ten years running, and Savannah, Georgia took second. Landing at third, ahead of every other Southern city on the list, puts Asheville in genuinely rare company for a mountain town competing against some of the most iconic coastal and historic cities in the region.
Why readers keep voting for Asheville
Southern Living pointed to a specific set of reasons for Asheville's appeal, and they're worth taking seriously because they're the same things that show up again and again in conversations with people considering a move here.
Biltmore Estate anchors a huge part of the area's identity, drawing visitors and residents alike into its history, seasonal events, and surrounding neighborhoods. The Blue Ridge Mountains and their hiking trails offer a level of outdoor access that's difficult to find within city limits almost anywhere else in the country. The craft beer and culinary scene has become genuinely nationally recognized, not just a local point of pride. And the city's close-knit community of artists gives Asheville a creative, independent character that Southern Living described as its "quirky flair," a personality that's hard to manufacture and even harder to replicate elsewhere.
It's not just Southern Living. Travel + Leisure agrees.
Asheville's appeal isn't limited to one publication's rankings. The city also made Travel + Leisure's 2026 list of the 50 best places to travel worldwide, landing specifically in the nature lovers category alongside destinations spanning the globe. The recommendations for visitors included exploring the River Arts District's Marquee Asheville, discovering Affrilachian and Black Highlander art at the YMI Cultural Center, whitewater rafting and e-biking with local outfitters, and trail recommendations from the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.
A city still writing its comeback story
It's worth being honest about the full picture. Travel + Leisure specifically noted that Tropical Storm Helene significantly impacted parts of the River Arts District and Biltmore Village, and recovery in those areas is still ongoing. That context matters. What's genuinely remarkable is that even in the middle of an active recovery, national publications and tens of thousands of readers are still ranking Asheville among the very best cities in the South. That's not a city coasting on old reputation. It's a city whose fundamental appeal has held up even through real hardship.
What this means if you're considering a move here
Rankings like these are more than a nice headline. They're a signal of durable demand. A city that keeps landing in the top three of a major regional ranking, year after year, based on tens of thousands of independent votes, tends to be a city where property values and buyer interest hold up over time. For anyone weighing a move to the Asheville area, that kind of consistent, broad-based appeal is worth factoring in alongside the numbers on any single listing.
Frequently asked questions
What ranking did Asheville receive from Southern Living in 2026? Asheville ranked #3 on Southern Living's 2026 South's Best Cities list, based on votes from more than 17,000 readers, behind Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.
Has Asheville ranked this high before? Yes. Asheville ranked #5 on the same list in 2024 and #3 in 2025, meaning 2026 marks its second consecutive year in the top three.
Why does Southern Living rank Asheville so highly? The publication cited Biltmore Estate, the Blue Ridge Mountains and hiking trails, the local craft beer and culinary scene, and Asheville's close-knit community of artists as key reasons for the city's appeal.
Did Asheville receive any other national recognition in 2026? Yes. Asheville was also named to Travel + Leisure's 2026 list of the 50 best places to travel, specifically in the nature lovers category.
Is Asheville still recovering from Hurricane Helene? Parts of the area, including sections of the River Arts District and Biltmore Village, are still in recovery from Tropical Storm Helene's impact. Even so, the city has continued to earn top rankings and national recognition during that recovery.
Curious what makes Asheville worth considering for your next move?
Rankings tell part of the story, but the best way to understand Asheville's appeal is to actually spend time here. Contact us to talk through what living in the Asheville area actually looks like, or read more about Asheville and learn more about what makes it such a popular place to call home.