South Carolina is best known as The Palmetto State to many, but to America’s 65 and older crowd, it’s known as one of the best places to retire in the country.
If you want to retire to South Carolina, today is your lucky day. We created a list of the top ten best places to retire in this Southern charm for 2025.
To find the best places to retire, we looked at the most recent FBI and Census data for 39 South Carolina cities with 10,000 residents. We then compared factors that most retirees find important, like safety, affordability, rent, and how close the city is to an international airport.
South Carolina might not be one of the top ten safest states, but it does have some super safe places. In terms of affordability, it is one of the most tax-friendly states. It currently does not tax Social Security benefits and has very generous breaks for retirement income. And South Carolina’s property taxes are low.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In South Carolina For 2025
Where is the best place to retire in South Carolina? According to the latest numbers, Conway is the best place to retire in The Palmetto State.
You would think that most of South Carolina’s best places to retire would be centered around Myrtle Beach and Charleston, but that is not the case. The best places to retire are actually sprinkled throughout the state from Summerville to Greenville.
Why did Conway take the top spot? And where are Charleston and Columbia?
For more South Carolina state reading:
- Best Places To Live In South Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina
- Best Places To Raise A Family In South Carolina
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In South Carolina For 2025
/10
Population: 26,082
Median Income: $54,841
Median Home Price: $236,300
Median Rent: $881
Distance to Closest Airport: 13 miles
More on Conway: Data
/10
Population: 13,267
Median Income: $141,037
Median Home Price: $494,500
Median Rent: $1,307
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Tega Cay: Data
/10
Population: 37,214
Median Income: $53,679
Median Home Price: $347,700
Median Rent: $1,132
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Myrtle Beach: Data
/10
Population: 13,189
Median Income: $33,066
Median Home Price: $145,000
Median Rent: $765
Distance to Closest Airport: 62 miles
More on Orangeburg: Data
/10
Population: 23,942
Median Income: $65,330
Median Home Price: $243,100
Median Rent: $903
Distance to Closest Airport: 96 miles
More on Easley: Data
/10
Population: 31,323
Median Income: $105,463
Median Home Price: $444,500
Median Rent: $2,187
Distance to Closest Airport: 16 miles
More on Bluffton: Data
/10
Population: 19,343
Median Income: $72,111
Median Home Price: $371,900
Median Rent: $1,171
Distance to Closest Airport: 13 miles
More on North Myrtle Beach: Data
/10
Population: 14,362
Median Income: $91,516
Median Home Price: $312,800
Median Rent: $1,203
Distance to Closest Airport: 20 miles
More on Moncks Corner: Data
/10
Population: 24,928
Median Income: $90,132
Median Home Price: $220,500
Median Rent: $1,080
Distance to Closest Airport: 105 miles
More on North Augusta: Data
/10
Population: 92,662
Median Income: $121,364
Median Home Price: $667,100
Median Rent: $2,026
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Mount Pleasant: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Palmetto State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in South Carolina to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Palmetto State — 394 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 39 places from across the state.
For these 39, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 39, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Conway, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in South Carolina.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In South Carolina Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in South Carolina goes to Conway.
The best places to retire in South Carolina are Conway, Tega Cay, Myrtle Beach, Orangeburg, Easley, Bluffton, North Myrtle Beach, Moncks Corner, North Augusta, and Mount Pleasant.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Cayce
- Greer
- Port Royal
For more South Carolina reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In South Carolina
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conway | 26,082 | $54,841 | $236,300 | $881 |
| 2 | Tega Cay | 13,267 | $141,037 | $494,500 | $1,307 |
| 3 | Myrtle Beach | 37,214 | $53,679 | $347,700 | $1,132 |
| 4 | Orangeburg | 13,189 | $33,066 | $145,000 | $765 |
| 5 | Easley | 23,942 | $65,330 | $243,100 | $903 |
| 6 | Bluffton | 31,323 | $105,463 | $444,500 | $2,187 |
| 7 | North Myrtle Beach | 19,343 | $72,111 | $371,900 | $1,171 |
| 8 | Moncks Corner | 14,362 | $91,516 | $312,800 | $1,203 |
| 9 | North Augusta | 24,928 | $90,132 | $220,500 | $1,080 |
| 10 | Mount Pleasant | 92,662 | $121,364 | $667,100 | $2,026 |