While the American South has, historically, had lower income levels than the rest of the United States, there are still numerous Southern cities and communities that require an income of millions to easily afford the housing there. Curious where they are?
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Recently, GOBankingRates studied information from Zillow Home Value Index to identify which towns and cities in the South had the most expensive median home values. Some are expensive primarily due to their historical mansions; others are limited by complex zoning while also being suffused with local beauty. Other cities attract the wealthy due to convenience, offering millionaires working in nearby big cities a quiet suburb to come home to at the end of the day.
Check out the most expensive place to buy a home in every Southern state.
©Zillow Mountain Brook, Alabama
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Median home value: $1,020,885
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Population: 22,160
As reported by LAS Real Estate, Mountain Brook has a very limited housing availability, coupled with an equally high demand (thanks to a close proximity to Birmingham’s large economy and employment opportunities, as well as the area’s natural beauty). Additionally, the town is notable for very severe zoning policies. That makes the development of new homes and properties rather difficult, keeping demand for housing high (and expensive).
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Ingo Dörenberg / Getty Images Goshen, Arkansas
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Median home value: $700,302
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Population: 2,488
Goshen has been defined by a growth rate of nearly 128% since 2010, per Home Stratosphere — thanks to its relative closeness to the industrial hub Fayetteville, custom homes on large expanses of acreage and stunning mountain views from its very desirable real estate.
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aimintang / iStock.com Jupiter Island, Florida
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Median home value: $9,514,524
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Population: 871
Jupiter has recently attracted a number of wealthy and celebrity residents (such as Celine Dion, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods) thanks to a mix of beautiful locales, low taxes, a gorgeous coastal view and a very close proximity to Miami and West Palm Beach. All are reasons Jupiter’s property values have skyrocketed, making it a go-to spot for wealthy East Coasters.
Milton, Georgia
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Median home value: $983,116
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Population: 41,305
Milton is the wealthiest city in the Georgia, with an equally high-end housing market. The city offers the relaxed living of a suburb, while maintaining a close proximity to Atlanta. Meanwhile, most of the houses in Milton are built atop large, expansive lots that can stretch for several acres, increasing their value and cost.
繼續閱讀 ©Zillow Prospect, Kentucky
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Median home value: $662,863
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Population: 4,518
Housing in Prospect is rather expensive due in part to the town’s positioning alongside the Ohio River — not only does this create incredible (and pricey) views from homes, it also attracts wealthy residents who are also boat owners who frequent the nearby Louisville’s Yacht Club.
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Larry Gibson / iStock.com Madisonville, Louisiana
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Median home value: $384,072
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Population: 971
Like Prospect, Kentucky, Madisonville sits right alongside a large body of water — in this case, the mouth of the Tchefuncte River, which provides gorgeous scenery and views surrounding the town’s rather expensive houses.
©iStock.com Madison, Mississippi
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Median home value: $402,748
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Population: 27,775
The Chandler Group real estate company has described Madison as a powerhouse real estate market defined by a strong local economy, very limited housing availability (thanks to controlled housing development), the area’s natural beauty and the high quality of life (low crime, strong schools and numerous recreational activities). All of these factors intertwine to make demand for housing in Madison far exceed the available real estate.
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
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Median home value: $2,106,896
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Population: 2,679
Wrightsville Beach is exactly that — a beach — automatically making the coastal town a very expensive one due to its natural beauty and beachfront housing. Further, Wrightstville Beach is a very small geographic space, making that coastline real estate very rare and in demand, per Homes For Sale.
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DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
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Median home value: $974,356
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Population: 3,838
Real estate firm Wyatt Poindexter has described Nichols Hills as a “prestigious community” defined by its “charm, sophistication and vibrant lifestyle.” The town was designed in 1929 to be an upscale suburb created around the surrounding area’s natural beauty, and is populated with a number of Colonial and Georgian mansions. There are also a number of country clubs in Nichols Hills, along with a multitude of parks, fine dining restaurants and expensive shopping options, all of which attract the wealthy of Oklahoma.
omersukrugoksu / Getty Images/iStockphoto Sullivans Island, South Carolina
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Median home value: $4,087,636
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Population: 2,127
Conveniently located near Charleston, Sullivans Island is inherently limited in terms of space and real estate, which automatically drives up housing prices across its three square miles of land. Further, it is yet another town defined by its beachfront properties that are both beautiful and rather expensive.
Purdue9394 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Brentwood, Tennessee
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Median home value: $1,420,054
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Population: 45,272
Brentwood is a town suffused with beautiful landscapes, close access to Nashville (and all the business and culture that comes with it) and a number of wealthy and celebrity homeowners. That drives up housing prices in the ritzy suburb.
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Ansem27 / Wikimedia Commons Highland Park, Texas
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Median home value: $3,059,874
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Population: 8,774
Why is Highland Park the most expensive community in Texas? According to WFAA Dallas, Highland Park’s very close proximity (four miles) to Dallas helps, offering a place for the hyper-wealthy millionaires with offices in Dallas to retire to at the end of every day.
©Christie's International Real Estate McLean, Virginia
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Median home value: $1,746,064
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Population: 50,232
The community of McLean is very close to Washington, D.C., making it a hotspot of suburban living for the wealthy who work in our nation’s capital. The area is also marked by very historic and expensive estates, further driving up the average real estate price for the community.
ablokhin / iStock.com Shepherdstown, West Virginia
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Median home value: $480,392
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Population: 1,399
The oldest community in West Virginia, Shepherdstown features a number of historic (and thus expensive) houses and mansions. The city is close to the Potomac River, near Washington, D.C., and is a popular art scene.
Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
Methodology: To find the most expensive place to buy a home in every state, GOBankingRates analyzed every state to find the cities with the most expensive median home values, as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. For each city, the total population was sourced from the U.S. Census American Consumer Survey as supplemental data. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 28, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Most Expensive Place To Buy a Home in Every Southern State
