12 Best Places for Black People to Live in 2023-24

When it comes to choosing the best place to live, thoughtful consideration is paramount. It even becomes more crucial if you’re a Black person, as you’ll need a place where you can thrive and feel community support.

According to the Pew Research Center, 47.2 million people self-identified as Black in 2021, making them the second largest minority group in the United States. Around 56% live in the South, where they initially came from. Mostly, they go back to the South for economic and cultural reasons.

In this article on the best places for Black people to live, we’ve curated the top places to live if you’re Black. You’ll find your perfect spot here whether you’re looking to relocate for career growth, quality of life, safety, community acceptance, or just want some change.

From bustling cities to serene small towns, we offer you valuable insights that will help you discover places that can bring safety, happiness, peace, and love.

Our Methodology of Selecting the Best Places for Black People

We curated our list of the best places for Black people to live by considering factors that affect your daily living. These factors include:

• Cost of living: Things that drive the cost of living are housing, transportation, utilities, healthcare, shopping, and other daily expenses. We assessed affordability for these places to help you pick one that meets your budget.
• Concentration of the Black people: When a place has a higher number of Black residents, it shows the community is diverse and inclusive. In our top picks, we have considered and provided you with places with a high Black population.
• Crime rate: We considered the crime rate for these places. It’s good to note while a city may have a low crime rate, some neighborhoods may have high crime incidents and vice versa. This makes it essential to do thorough research on the specific neighborhood. 
• Job opportunities: If you’re looking to relocate and find a job in that area, you’ll need to choose a place with a higher chance of getting it. We have considered places with a strong job market and diverse employment opportunities.
• Education system: Quality education comes with many benefits, including fighting poverty. When researching and evaluating the best places for Black people to live, we considered access to high-quality and affordable schools, colleges, and universities.
• Healthcare access: Unfortunately, racism is also in our healthcare services. In some places, black people are denied equitable healthcare, which can lead to deterioration of health or even severe outcomes. When picking the best places for Black people to live, we consider access to quality healthcare with fewer chances of discrimination.
• Culture vibrancy: Everyone loves fun; one way to achieve this is through culture. Culture can be in the form of music, arts, and food, among other forms of cultural expression. We considered things that bring you some vibrancy in your life, including museums, art galleries, theaters, and cuisines.

Our rankings are based on a deep understanding of Black communities, compiling information from different sources, including census data, government reports, and community surveys. We also looked at crime reports, education ratings, and reviews from Black people. The information we provide here is backed up by facts and statistics to ensure you make an informed decision.

Best Places for Black People to Live

Here is a list of our top best places for Black people to live:

12. Oakland, California

Oakland is an attractive place for Black people to live because of its rich cultural heritage and vibrant arts scene that thrives in neighborhoods. The estimated population of Oakland is 430,553, with the Black population at 22%, which is the top minority group in this city.

Oakland has massive job opportunities, the topmost being from industries such as food processing, technology, healthcare services, finance, and the arts.

The cost of living is higher in Oakland, which is 46% higher than the national average. Housing expenses are 99% higher than the national average, while utility and groceries are 30% higher.

 The city has quality education, including colleges and universities. Like any other city, some neighborhoods are considered to have higher crime rates, and others are generally safe.

11. Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis, the “home of blues,” is a majority Black city, accounting for over 64% of the city’s population. One thing we love about Memphis is the cost of living. PayScale says the cost of living in Memphis is 13% lower than the national average. The housing expenses are 20% lower than the national average.

Memphis can be a good city to raise your family, especially if you want affordability. With its hospitable culture, kid-friendly environment, incredible music scenes, and excellent education system, your kids’ future is well catered for.

Memphis has a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and mild winters. This kind of climate is favorable for those with kids as you can enjoy outdoor activities throughout the year.

With its rich musical heritage and artistic scenes, the city hosts events such as music festivals, art galleries, museums, and theaters, showcasing its cultural richness.

10. New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is one of the best cities for Black people to live in. The Black population in Raleigh is 58%, making it the only city in this list having a higher number of Blacks than any other race. With its positive environment and rich history of African-American culture, you can be sure you will relocate to a friendly place where you can live peacefully with your family.

Furthermore, the Blacks have played a significant role economically and culturally for this city to reach where it is today.

New Orleans’s education system is higher than the national and state average. Black Education For New Orleans (BE NOLA) is a non-profit organization that supports Black educators and schools for every Black child to ensure each child receives a good quality and culturally affirming education.

New Orleans offers a plethora of good healthcare accessible to most neighborhoods.

9. Nashville, Tennessee

Also known as the “city of music,” Nashville is popular for its thriving music and vibrancy. It’s also known for its rich history and diverse culture. Its diversity is evident in its cuisine and festivals.

The Black accounts for 27.2% of the 683,622 of its total population. Nashville offers affordable housing and a relatively low cost of living. Furthermore, it boosts a strong job market, ranking first on the list of top job markets. So, if you’re looking for a job, Nashville should be at the top of your list.

The city also offers excellent educational opportunities since the opening of McKee, the first free Black school in Nashville. Healthcare services are excellent in this city as it is home to large hospitals and medical centers, and that’s why it’s known as “a health services hospital. Nashville has over 500 healthcare service companies, and the famous Vanderbilt University Medical Center(VUMC) is at the top of the list.

The city’s weather is mild; however, winters are cold. Further, the city is considered generally safe, but like any other city, there are crimes from time to time, especially property crimes.

8. New York City, New York State

New York has the largest Black population, which is around 2 million. The city’s vibrant job market and diverse industries bring a wealth of job opportunities. It also has a great potential for higher earnings. While the city’s cost of living may be higher, 128% higher than the national average, you can offset this with higher earnings.

Furthermore, the cultural offerings, amenities, and diversification make it a desirable place to live. New York is among the best cities for Black singles over 40 because of the many job opportunities, different cultures, world-class lifestyle, and socializing opportunities.

If you’re single, your expenses are much lower than those with a family, meaning you can easily afford the New York lifestyle.

When you choose this city, you’ll live in one of the safest places in the U.S. New York also has a quality education system, meaning you can advance your studies in the best institution. Being home to the largest healthcare facilities, you can be sure the health services you’ll get from here are unmatched.

7. Dallas, Texas

Dallas is known for its big business hub, culinary scene, and sports enthusiasm. Around 24% of blacks reside in Dallas, meaning you will live among other Black families if you relocate to this city.

Due to its industrial and cultural diversification, Dallas has become a hotspot for job seekers. Job opportunities are high due to the diverse economy from finance, technology, and healthcare industries. Dallas is home to several Fortune 500, meaning it has a stable economy.

The cost of living is lower than in other major cities. However, the cost is 3% higher than the national average. Housing, food, and transportation are all lower than the national average, while goods and services, healthcare, and utilities are higher than the national average by 10% or more.

This city’s luxurious apartments and homes make it more attractive for black people to live a better life at little cost. For example, Dallas can be a go-to option if you are looking for the best cities for Black singles over 40, and New York feels a little expensive.

The education system is generally good, with one of the best public magnet high school systems. Furthermore, Dallas has a humid subtropical climate, meaning you can enjoy more time outdoors and other recreational activities.

6. Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte in North Carolina is among the best cities for Black professionals, all thanks to the numerous job opportunities. The year-over-year employment rate for Charlotte was 4.6%. If you’re looking for an occupation, the leisure and hospitality industry is growing tremendously. For example, in the month of September 2023 alone, there was an addition of 91,000 jobs. Furthermore, there have been 73,000 jobs added to government jobs in the past year.

While compared with other cities, Charlotte has a reasonable cost of living. Its cost of living is 2% lower than the national average. In addition, Charlotte City records a rate lower than the national average for housing, utilities, groceries, and transportation.

The schools are top-notch and accommodate Black students, and the community is generally welcoming and Black-friendly. Charlotte is also an artistic city with cultural diversity. And if you love leisure and entertainment, this city has the best, from amusement parks to exciting sports.

And if you love the nightlife, Charlotte city has perfect spots to visit. Charlotte is also ranked as one of the best cities for Black singles. Furthermore, the city’s weather is mild, which is favorable to all age groups.

5. Orlando, Florida

As of July 2022, Orlando’s population was 316,081, 23.5% being Black or African American. It’s the home to Disney World and Universal, so if you have kids, it might be the place to raise a family. The city is also known for theaters, amusement parks, sports centers, art galleries, and great restaurants.

Besides being a tourist hotspot, Orlando’s education system is top-notch, with numerous learning institutions available. It is this world-class education system that boosts Orlando’s economy. Orlando has numerous industries such as tourism, technology, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and much more to boost its economy. The city’s unemployment rate was 2.6% in January, and a 6.2% increase in jobs for the private sector.

Orlando’s economy will continue to soar with its housing market as people continue to invest.

This place has a thriving community and diverse population rated at 95 over 100. This diversity has seen the city hold multicultural events fostering respect and understanding of different cultures.

The cost of living in Orlando City is reasonable. The monthly cost for a family of four in Orlando is around $4,072.1 without rent. Housing, healthcare, grocery, and transportation are less expensive, meaning you can do more when living in Orlando.

4. Raleigh, North California

Raleigh is famous for the “Triangle,” or “The City of Oaks,” which is a great city for wealth building for Black families. Its diverse population and strong educational systems make it one of the best places for Black families to live.

With a lower-than-average cost of living, Ralegh has affordable neighborhoods. The housing, transportation, and grocery expenses are lower than the national average by 2%, 5%, and 8%, respectively. You can use roughly $1,293.7 for monthly costs and $1,337 for rent.

Healthcare and education systems are top-rated, making them an attraction to many. Furthermore, the city of Raleigh city is safe, with crime rates that are lower than the state average. The high-quality schools, medical services, and a safe environment make this city the best place to live with family.

Arts, culture, and music scenes bring more vibrancy to this city, with events such as the African American Cultural Festival. 

With a Black population of around 136,303, you will not be alone as a Black person but have a supportive community.

3. Houston, Texas

Houston’s population as of 2022 was around 2.3 million. 22.6% are Black or African American alone. This makes the Blacks the second highest race living in this diverse city. Houston has had 1.1 million new residents in the last decade, registering significant population growth.

The city offers a strong job market mostly from industries, particularly oil, and others like health, aerospace, and logistics. Houstons is expected to have around 60,000 job openings in 2023.

One thing we love about Houston is that it has a lower cost of living compared to other metropolitan areas. In fact, it is ranked to have the third lowest living costs, estimated at 5.8% below the nationwide average. This makes it a go-to option if you’re looking for affordability. It’s also one of the best places for Black families to live, thanks to the quality education, family-friendly environment, and accessibility.

While Houston experiences crime like many other large metropolitan areas, the city’s violent crime decreased by 9% and murders by 8%.

2. Washington DC

Washington might be a perfect choice if you’re looking for the best place to live and start your business. It ranks as the best city for Black entrepreneurs. Washington, D.C., has a thriving job market and diverse population. The city is a backyard for great ideas, innovation, and invention, making it among the best cities for Black professionals.

Washington, D.C., is home to two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and ranks high in education attainment.

The Black population is around 45%, which is the 1st minority group in Washington, D.C. This makes the ratio between Blacks and whites about one-to-one.

Its cost of living is a bit higher, with a single person expected to have monthly costs of around $1593.2, exclusive rent. However, it’s not all that bad as you can offset these costs with the higher average income levels.

The artistic and cultural scenes can bring vibrancy into your life and give you the desire to explore more of the city’s art appeal and institutions.

1. Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is a well-known place for the Black population to thrive and has been known as the Black Mecca for decades. Black population in Atlanta was 47% in 2020. With its vibrant culture, Atlanta offers a strong sense of community, giving you peace and a feeling of belonging.

It also has robust economic opportunities and is a perfect city, especially for those with middle-class incomes.

If you’re looking for a place to raise your kids, Atlanta offers a kid-friendly environment where they can even enjoy outdoor activities. On top of this, Atlanta ranks top in education attainment, with six HBCUS within its locality.

Crime in Atlanta has continually dropped, making most people consider it as probably the safest place to live as a Black.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below are some of the most-asked questions about the best places for Black people to live: