Where are the best places in the US for a charter pilot to be successful?

Any place where there are extremely rich people and the weather is always warm.

Presumably you already know that to be a charter pilot requires a minimum of 500 hours for VFR and 1,200 hours for IFR work under FAR Part 135 that governs most charter and air taxi operators. If you don't have that then you're our of luck until you get it. In the current job market, Alaska probably has the best opportunities, but due to insurance requirements if you don't have any "Alaska Time" or equivalent experience, it isn't easy to get hired unless you know somebody. It is also expensive to move up there and get yourself set up. I know, I've spent 7 years of my career there and am flying there again this year (first time in 10 years) for lack of jobs elsewhere.

For low time pilots, with 500 to 1,000 hours, the most opportunities will be where there is a lot of VFR sight-seeing, such as in the Grand Canyon region - northern Arizona, southern Utah and Las Vegas. Hawaii is another possibility. A "good living" is a euphemism for being able to pay rent and feed yourself though. Few entry-level jobs allow you to do much more than that. It's all about experience. If you don't have it you could be surrounded by opportunities and won't get hired.

Most charter pilots I know commute from all over. Some live in Texas, others live in New York. We are based in the Detroit Area. They fly in and stay at a crash pad when not on the road for the days on. So as long as you have the hours, you can commute.

There is a alot of charter companies in Van Nuys, CA, Willow Run, MI, and El Paso,TX, and Dallas, TX Areas.

Evergreen aviation headquartered in the state of Oregon does lots of charter flights for the military and many other commercial enterprises. Check out there website for current openings.

I am going to say Alaska probably tops the list. It's a huge state and relies heavily on air transportation, and there are countless villages and towns that the airlines don't serve. It would be a good idea to get your seaplane rating if you go up to Alaska. Seaplane charter pilots in Alaska are known to make quite a bit of money, especially if you own your own outfit.