The hottest place to live isn’t a huge metropolis – rather, it’s a small town in the south.
Somerville, South Carolina, is a growing hub for workers, according to remove buddhawhich named the hidden gem the “top job-magnet suburb” in the country.
Experts at the moving and storage company analyzed search data from the beginning of the year to October 1, 2024, looking at which sectors were the most popular and how their job markets fared.
“Metro areas with strong job growth are driving interest in nearby suburbs, offering newcomers the chance to build both a stable career and a comfortable life,” the report’s authors wrote.
“Together, they highlight a clear trend: As employment opportunities grow, so does the appeal of surrounding suburban areas.”
The company reported that the city of Somerville has a high commuting ratio, stating that for every one person who moves there, about 3.76 people want to move there.
According to Move Buddha, the popularity of South Carolina real estate has contributed to the economic boom, with 5,500 construction jobs added in just one year and 80,000 jobs added to the local market overall.
The report also revealed 4.2% job growth from August 2023 to August 2024 in Somerville, which has a population of more than 52,000.
The once-untapped area is a growing hub for the tech industry, with the state’s bottom country ranked fifth in the U.S., experts at Move Buddha said.high tech industry output,
But despite more people moving into the Somerville suburbs, housing prices have yet to keep up with demand. Move Buddha reports, citing Zillow data, that the median home price as of September this year is $380,000.
For comparison, the least affordable job hub – Beverly Hills, California – has a median home price of $3,511,964, with only 1.6% job growth.
“While many suburban relocations are motivated by remote work trends that allow for more affordable lifestyles in remote locations, many movers also consider living near a strong job market as a real estate advantage that makes remote It can support them if they lose their jobs, the Move Buddha authors wrote.
“As a result, suburbs and small towns – especially near jobs – remain popular.”
