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 2026.
To find the best places to retire, we looked at the most recent FBI and Census data for 40 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 2026
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 2026
/10
Population: 27,263
Median Income: $56,650
Median Home Price: $286,177
Median Rent: $866
Distance to Closest Airport: 13 miles
More on Conway: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,615
Median Income: $142,000
Median Home Price: $611,048
Median Rent: $1,408
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Tega Cay: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 38,371
Median Income: $60,394
Median Home Price: $320,925
Median Rent: $1,261
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Myrtle Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 33,157
Median Income: $111,281
Median Home Price: $498,492
Median Rent: $2,256
Distance to Closest Airport: 16 miles
More on Bluffton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,871
Median Income: $78,365
Median Home Price: $426,444
Median Rent: $1,406
Distance to Closest Airport: 14 miles
More on Hardeeville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 24,841
Median Income: $66,299
Median Home Price: $315,979
Median Rent: $947
Distance to Closest Airport: 96 miles
More on Easley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 13,253
Median Income: $38,635
Median Home Price: $162,436
Median Rent: $848
Distance to Closest Airport: 62 miles
More on Orangeburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 32,521
Median Income: $76,746
Median Home Price: $272,072
Median Rent: $1,180
Distance to Closest Airport: 101 miles
More on Aiken: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 19,855
Median Income: $72,722
Median Home Price: $390,621
Median Rent: $1,263
Distance to Closest Airport: 13 miles
More on North Myrtle Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 25,653
Median Income: $86,092
Median Home Price: $265,723
Median Rent: $1,169
Distance to Closest Airport: 105 miles
More on North Augusta: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Palmetto State for 2026
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 40 places from across the state.
For these 40, 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 40, 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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, Bluffton, Hardeeville, Easley, Orangeburg, Aiken, North Myrtle Beach, and North Augusta.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Port Royal
- Cayce
- Simpsonville
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 | 27,263 | $56,650 | $286,177 | $866 |
| 2 | Tega Cay | 13,615 | $142,000 | $611,048 | $1,408 |
| 3 | Myrtle Beach | 38,371 | $60,394 | $320,925 | $1,261 |
| 4 | Bluffton | 33,157 | $111,281 | $498,492 | $2,256 |
| 5 | Hardeeville | 10,871 | $78,365 | $426,444 | $1,406 |
| 6 | Easley | 24,841 | $66,299 | $315,979 | $947 |
| 7 | Orangeburg | 13,253 | $38,635 | $162,436 | $848 |
| 8 | Aiken | 32,521 | $76,746 | $272,072 | $1,180 |
| 9 | North Myrtle Beach | 19,855 | $72,722 | $390,621 | $1,263 |
| 10 | North Augusta | 25,653 | $86,092 | $265,723 | $1,169 |