Safe and Wealthy Southern Cities To Watch in 2026

The safest and richest midsize cities in the Southern U.S. have median household incomes over $109,000, average home values ranging from $382,000 to $676,000, and total annual living costs between $51,000 and $73,000. Property crime rates vary from 10.21 to 26.40 per 1,000 residents, while violent crime rates range from 0.71 to 2.19 per 1,000. Texas has the most cities meeting these criteria.