In the Southeast Region of the U.S., four of the seven major metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) are located in Florida (i.e., Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville).

The other three are in Georgia (Atlanta), North Carolina (Charlotte) and Tennessee (Nashville).

The boundaries of MSAs include suburbs as well as city centers. The Southeast Region’s MSA with the best demographic and economic indicators at this time is Orlando, although almost equally noteworthy is second-place Nashville.

Attention should be paid to the country music capital of America, which is coming on strong. Charlotte won’t be pleased to find itself in last place.

Population size: Miami (6.0 million) has the largest population count in the Southeast, but it is challenged by second-place Atlanta (5.7 million). With respect to the other three big cities in Florida, Miami is well ahead of Tampa (3.0 million), Orlando (2.4 million) and Jacksonville (1.4 million). Nashville (1.8 million) is still small enough to provide a sense of shared community.  

Seven Cities (MSAs) in
Southeast Region Ranked by:

When two or more cities have the same number in a table, their ranking is a tie.

Data sources: Census Bureau, NAR, NAHB, BLS, Statistics Canada, CMHC, CREA / Chart: ConstructConnect™.

Population change: The fastest rates of population growth, averaged over the two years spanning July 1 2013 to July 1 2015, have occurred in Orlando (+2.53%) and Nashville (+2.03%). Charlotte (+1.93%) and Jacksonville (+1.91%) have fallen just a little short of +2.0%. The slowest rate of population advance in the region has been registered by Miami (+1.29%), although that city has still beaten the worst performers in every other region of the country. Plus, it has topped the national rate of population gain (+0.79%) by a decent margin.

Seven Cities (MSAs) in
Southeast Region Ranked by:

When two or more cities have the same number in a table, their ranking is a tie.

Data sources: Census Bureau, NAR, NAHB, BLS, Statistics Canada, CMHC, CREA / Chart: ConstructConnect™.

Housing Starts: Atlanta (15,927 units) has an astonishingly large lead in housing permits so far in 2016. Nashville (9,749 units) is a good distance back. The Census Bureau’s permit numbers are generally viewed by analysts as interchangeable with housing starts, especially since there are no official (i.e., government) figures at the city level for the latter. In the Southeast Region, Jacksonville (3,938) has the weakest record in residential building permits so far this year.

Seven Cities (MSAs) in
Southeast Region Ranked by:

When two or more cities have the same number in a table, their ranking is a tie.

Data sources: Census Bureau, NAR, NAHB, BLS, Statistics Canada, CMHC, CREA / Chart: ConstructConnect™.

Change in homebuilding activity: As for the year-to-date change in residential building permits, Nashville (+48.0%) is the clear frontrunner, with a climb of nearly half. Atlanta (+29.0%) has been no slouch either. Orlando (+12.0%) and Tampa (also +12.0%) are tied for third spot, while also being the leaders in Florida. Two cities, Charlotte (-14.0%) and Miami (-18.0%) have not kept up with their January-to-May 2015 new home groundbreaking levels.

Seven Cities (MSAs) in
Southeast Region Ranked by:

When two or more cities have the same number in a table, their ranking is a tie.

Data sources: Census Bureau, NAR, NAHB, BLS, Statistics Canada, CMHC, CREA / Chart: ConstructConnect™.

Resale Housing Prices: While there is some degree of disparity between the costliest and the cheapest resale home prices in the Southeast Region, it is not nearly as vast as in some other areas (e.g., along the Pacific coastline). Miami ($286,700) is currently priciest and Atlanta ($167,800) least expensive. Notwithstanding an occasional departure from validity, single-family house prices in this article’s city ranking model stand in as proxies for relative affluence.

Seven Cities (MSAs) in
Southeast Region Ranked by:

When two or more cities have the same number in a table, their ranking is a tie.

Data sources: Census Bureau, NAR, NAHB, BLS, Statistics Canada, CMHC, CREA / Chart: ConstructConnect™.

Change in Home Prices: The Southeast Region is similar to the Pacific Coast Region in that all seven of its major urban centers have experienced good year-over-year resale home price increases. The gains range from a low of +5.9% for Charlotte to a high of +14.6% for Tampa. Nationwide, Tampa’s +14.6% is number one vis-à-vis Portland’s +12.9% in second position and Orlando’s +11.6% in third, according to data collected by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Go north of the border, though, and Toronto’s resale home prices have shot up 16.8%.

Seven Cities (MSAs) in
Southeast Region Ranked by:

When two or more cities have the same number in a table, their ranking is a tie.

Data sources: Census Bureau, NAR, NAHB, BLS, Statistics Canada, CMHC, CREA / Chart: ConstructConnect™.

Employment Growth: With the Great Recession fading further behind in the rearview mirror, Americans are beginning to relax and allow more leisure-time activity into their lives. Therefore, it’s no great surprise that the blue ribbon for speediest year-over-year increase in employment in the Southeast Region is awarded to the amusement park oasis of Orlando, +4.2%. Among all U.S. cities, the next closest to Orlando is Austin, +3.9%. Vancouver, though, is +6.3%.

Seven Cities (MSAs) in
Southeast Region Ranked by:

When two or more cities have the same number in a table, their ranking is a tie.

Data sources: Census Bureau, NAR, NAHB, BLS, Statistics Canada, CMHC, CREA / Chart: ConstructConnect™.

Jobless Rate: Nashville is asked to step into the spotlight once again to receive applause for its ultra-low unemployment rate, 3.0%. Austin is the only other U.S. city that can claim a tighter figure, 2.9%. In what may be more than mere coincidence, the most populous cities in the Southeast, Miami and Atlanta, have the highest unemployment rates, 4.6% in both instances.    

Seven Cities (MSAs) in
Southeast Region Ranked by:

When two or more cities have the same number in a table, their ranking is a tie.

Data sources: Census Bureau, NAR, NAHB, BLS, Statistics Canada, CMHC, CREA / Chart: ConstructConnect™.

Overall Rating: A broader composite ranking of the cities in the U.S. Southeast Region has also been compiled, taking into account most of the demographic and economic factors set out in the accompanying tables. Its results, from best to worst, are: (1) Orlando; (2) Nashville; (3) Tampa; (4) Jacksonville; (5) Atlanta; (6) Miami; and (7) Charlotte.