The New York Post writes, "A new report ranking life in the nation’s capital cities saw one region come out ahead.
In the analysis by WalletHub, all 50 US state capitals were judged on 48 metrics across affordability, quality of life, economic well-being and quality of education and health.
The results heralded especially good news for hopeful Southern homebuyers — three Southern cities commanded the top slots.
Austin ranked first in economic well-being, as well as quality of education and health care. It earned second in affordability and 10th place for quality of life.
A post-pandemic building boom flipped the popular metro into a buyer’s market in recent years.
An oversupply of vacant rentals and for-sale homes has offered incoming residents ample opportunities for discounted sale prices and generous landlord concessions.
An accompanying influx of tech headquarters and new businesses, including Tesla and Oracle, has afforded locals generous pay days. Austin now claims the country’s highest median household income when adjusted for cost of living, at $93,902.
The off-beat Texas city also enjoys an above-average public school system and an active arts and dining scene.
The Lone Star capital was followed in the rankings by Raleigh, North Carolina, a fast-growing city located smack dab in between the Blue Ridge mountains and a desirable Atlantic coastline.
Raleigh, also known as the City of Oaks, numbers among the top US cities for new building permits per capita, according to Wallethub, and its popularity among homebuyers shows.
Other inducements range from Raleigh’s proximity to top-ranked research institutions and universities, like the University of North Carolina and Duke University, and its much-loved NHL team, the Carolina Hurricanes. In fact, the Southern city ranks third-best for hockey fans, according to WalletHub.
Atlanta, Georgia claimed third place in the round-up. It also came in third for adjusted median household income, at $85,352, and median income growth.
The cultural hub hosts an attractive range of nightlife options and affordable restaurants, according to WalletHub, but don’t worry about it all going to your hips. The Georgia capital claims the second most gyms per capita, and the eighth-lowest adult obesity rate in the nation.
While these Southern capitals are vibrant cities with strong economies, others, like Jackson, Mississippi, face issues like poverty and low educational attainment. Jackson ranked last place in WalletHub’s round-up, falling just behind Augusta, Maine, and Trenton, New Jersey."
Source: The New York Post
Written by: Emily Davis
Published: February 18, 2026
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