The southeastern United States is unlike any other place on Earth. With its own distinct personality, the South is loved for its melodic drawl, mild weather, and friendly folks. If there’s a better place to live, well, Southerners just aren’t buying it. Here are a few of the best things about living in the South.

1. The Food

There is something about living in the south that makes your food taste better. They don’t call it Southern Fried Chicken for no reason. It’s because it truly is the best. Usually, a southern grandma can make it even better than that. Most people think there’s nothing more to Southern cuisine than fried chicken and barbecue. However, Lowcountry meals are so much more than that: they’re unpretentious, flavorful, and will make you feel right at home. They’re the reason Southern hospitality is a thing. Biscuits and gravy, Southern BBQ, Shrimp and grits, Mac and cheese, Fried Green Tomatoes, Collard greens, Sweet Tea – these are all must-haves when in the South.

2. The Weather

Some southern states see perfect weather. I’m talking Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter all balancing each other out, all four seasons are represented equally. Just around the time one may get tired of summer it turns into a beautiful colorful fall (which I don’t think I’d ever get sick of). Then gorgeous white snow in winters and amazing rain and flowers in spring. We have the best weather.

3. Homes

Homes for Sale in Birmingham are roughly equivalent to the national average, but housing prices will vary greatly by neighborhood. However, everyday expenses such as groceries and health care are generally lower in Birmingham than in other major metropolitan areas. Renovated houses in the most desirable downtown neighborhoods, with tree-lined streets, fetch over $200k. The new luxury condos they’re building downtown also fetch a high price.
You can still get houses for under $50k if you’re willing to do some work or live in a more modest neighborhood. There are lots of charming craftsman bungalows waiting to be restored.

4. Southern Hospitality

It really is a thing. (Almost) everyone you meet is friendly, or at least they aren’t unfriendly. Most people here will hold a door open for you or help you with something even if you don’t ask. And manners are impeccable. There are so many please’s and thank you’s and yes sir/ma’am or no sir/ma’am. You can’t go wrong with the genuinely nice people you meet in the South.

5. Y’all

Let’s just take a minute to appreciate the word “y’all”. If you grew up in the South, you use it all the time. It sounds so much nicer than “you guys” or whatever other way people would indicate a group of people. Or if it’s a large group of people, that would be “all y’all”.