2024 ‘best job magnet’ suburb revealed: Families are flocking to this safe, affordable southern haven

The hottest place to live isn’t in a massive metro — instead, it’s a small town in the South.

Summerville, South Carolina, is a growing hub for workers, according to Move Buddha, which called the hidden gem “the best job magnet suburb” in the country.

Experts at the moving and storage company analyzed research data from the beginning of the year through October. 1, 2024, looking at which areas were most popular and how their job market fared.

“Metro areas with strong job growth are driving interest in nearby suburbs, with newcomers attracted by the chance to build a stable career and a comfortable life,” the report’s authors wrote, adding that ” the American dream can take many different forms.”

“Together, they highlight a clear trend: as employment opportunities expand, so does the appeal of the surrounding suburbs.”

The city of Summerville, the company reported, has a high inward-to-outward movement ratio, which stated that for every person who moves out, approximately 3.76 people want to move there.

The popularity of real estate in South Carolina has contributed to an economic boom, with 5,500 construction jobs added in just one year, and 80,000 total jobs added to the local market, according to Move Buddha.

The report also revealed a 4.2% increase in jobs from August 2023 to August 2024 in Summerville, which has a population of just over 52,000.

The experts at Move Buddha noted that the once-untapped region is a growing center for the tech industry, with the state’s downstate ranking fifth in the U.S. for “high-tech industry production.”

But even as more people flock to the suburbs of Summerville, housing prices have yet to catch up with demand. The median home as of September of this year is $380,000, Move Buddha reported, citing Zillow data.

By comparison, homes in the least affordable job center – Beverly Hills, California. — costs an average of $3,511,964 in an area with only 1.6% job growth.

“While many suburban moves are driven by telecommuting trends that allow for more affordable lifestyles in remote locations, many movers also consider living near a strong job market as a real estate feature that can support them if lose a distant job. ”, writes the authors of Move Buddha.

“As a result, suburbs and small towns — especially near jobs — remain popular.”