You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in South Carolina. Best suburbs in South Carolina. Best counties in South Carolina.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Palmetto State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in South Carolina based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in South Carolina ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
$192,813 median income · 1.5% unemployment
$156,979 median income · 1.3% unemployment
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$106,667 median income · 0.7% unemployment
$89,635 median income · 1.6% unemployment
$110,417 median income · 0.0% unemployment
$127,500 median income · 0.0% unemployment
$77,994 median income · 1.0% unemployment
$102,279 median income · 2.1% unemployment
$81,630 median income · 6.4% unemployment
$95,000 median income · 3.2% unemployment
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is South Carolina’s statewide median.
South Carolina statewide median: $69,324
South Carolina statewide median: $304,083
South Carolina statewide median: 4.9%
On the map
Where South Carolina’s best small towns are
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In South Carolina
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in South Carolina possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 146 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 146, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in South Carolina. Top of that list — Sullivan’s Island.
This is our eleventh time ranking the best small places to live in South Carolina.
The full plate
Best Small Towns In South Carolina
Click any column to sort. Search by town name.
| Rank | Town | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sullivan’s Island | 2,087 | $192,813 | $2,348,136 | 1.5% |
| 2 | Isle of Palms | 4,362 | $156,979 | $1,616,638 | 1.3% |
| 3 | India Hook | 3,960 | $106,667 | $408,928 | 0.7% |
| 4 | Northlake | 4,390 | $89,635 | $326,038 | 1.6% |
| 5 | Newport | 4,121 | $110,417 | $401,531 | 0.0% |
| 6 | Seabrook Island | 2,204 | $127,500 | $1,006,060 | 0.0% |
| 7 | Elgin | 2,360 | $77,994 | $295,685 | 1.0% |
| 8 | Folly Beach | 1,267 | $102,279 | $1,033,882 | 2.1% |
| 9 | Shell Point | 1,439 | $81,630 | $344,354 | 6.4% |
| 10 | Pine Ridge | 2,596 | $95,000 | $262,461 | 3.2% |
| 11 | Elgin | 2,080 | $91,667 | $295,685 | 7.3% |
| 12 | Springdale | 2,742 | $77,722 | $272,187 | 5.9% |
| 13 | Kiawah Island | 2,326 | $213,594 | $2,097,986 | 1.8% |
| 14 | Surfside Beach | 4,270 | $70,106 | $352,699 | 8.6% |
| 15 | Riverview | 2,121 | $135,782 | $537,723 | 13.3% |
| 16 | Inman | 3,166 | $63,599 | $302,760 | 3.5% |
| 17 | Edisto Beach | 1,092 | $85,521 | $726,145 | 5.8% |
| 18 | Chapin | 1,394 | $79,922 | $437,981 | 2.6% |
| 19 | Pendleton | 3,594 | $61,901 | $282,414 | 2.5% |
| 20 | Reidville | 2,194 | $120,700 | $319,259 | 4.9% |
| 21 | Prosperity | 1,318 | $62,958 | $356,130 | 4.0% |
| 22 | Meggett | 1,307 | $97,865 | $723,702 | 2.0% |
| 23 | Stateburg | 2,027 | $66,481 | $242,680 | 7.3% |
| 24 | Lesslie | 3,077 | $100,618 | $303,379 | 5.6% |
| 25 | North Hartsville | 3,304 | $59,744 | $129,852 | 2.4% |
| 26 | Murphys Estates | 1,064 | $89,531 | $222,251 | 0.0% |
| 27 | Roebuck | 2,902 | $51,204 | $280,711 | 1.6% |
| 28 | Woodruff | 4,538 | $70,959 | $284,467 | 4.8% |
| 29 | Oakland | 1,060 | $68,778 | $144,645 | 6.7% |
| 30 | Golden Grove | 2,913 | $72,565 | $208,984 | 1.6% |
| 31 | Due West | 1,177 | $53,603 | $258,327 | 22.6% |
| 32 | Cane Savannah | 1,551 | $131,705 | $311,715 | 11.8% |
| 33 | Bonneau Beach | 1,516 | $60,865 | $297,978 | 0.0% |
| 34 | Ridgeville | 1,740 | $55,637 | $363,928 | 2.7% |
| 35 | Landrum | 2,620 | $44,238 | $322,783 | 2.7% |
| 36 | Pickens | 3,155 | $55,000 | $271,726 | 1.3% |
| 37 | Mayo | 2,305 | $64,050 | $263,813 | 0.7% |
| 38 | Wellford | 3,515 | $57,338 | $267,203 | 0.4% |
| 39 | Kershaw | 2,259 | $68,693 | $188,502 | 1.6% |
| 40 | Ravenel | 2,615 | $82,738 | $490,218 | 0.0% |
| 41 | Ninety Six | 2,521 | $55,417 | $169,549 | 7.2% |
| 42 | Awendaw | 1,772 | $77,010 | $804,309 | 8.9% |
| 43 | Liberty | 3,350 | $42,206 | $261,044 | 2.1% |
| 44 | Aynor | 1,112 | $73,984 | $288,032 | 3.0% |
| 45 | Arial | 1,919 | $54,286 | $212,858 | 0.0% |
| 46 | Duncan | 4,310 | $52,500 | $308,640 | 5.4% |
| 47 | Warrenville | 1,042 | $53,418 | $88,642 | 4.1% |
| 48 | St. George | 2,154 | $33,125 | $217,122 | 0.6% |
| 49 | South Congaree | 2,075 | $59,539 | $226,663 | 5.6% |
| 50 | St. Matthews | 1,645 | $51,310 | $177,361 | 8.1% |
| 51 | Westminster | 2,521 | $40,946 | $222,036 | 3.9% |
| 52 | Lake Secession | 1,268 | $51,875 | $449,198 | 5.0% |
| 53 | Dunean | 3,668 | $48,553 | $238,336 | 9.7% |
| 54 | Williamston | 4,170 | $64,389 | $279,925 | 7.9% |
| 55 | Winnsboro | 3,322 | $37,434 | $155,105 | 7.7% |
| 56 | Manning | 3,863 | $28,569 | $215,524 | 7.2% |
| 57 | Cottageville | 1,196 | $80,938 | $231,903 | 2.8% |
| 58 | West Pelzer | 1,320 | $53,750 | $218,482 | 9.8% |
| 59 | Burne | 3,135 | $50,347 | $222,838 | 6.4% |
| 60 | Bishopville | 2,910 | $39,276 | $128,136 | 3.1% |
| 61 | Cowpens | 1,840 | $39,094 | $203,977 | 1.9% |
| 62 | Batesburg-Leesville | 4,941 | $49,646 | $182,850 | 3.5% |
| 63 | Arcadia | 3,426 | $55,218 | $137,131 | 7.9% |
| 64 | Belton | 4,458 | $49,107 | $263,491 | 7.0% |
| 65 | New Ellenton | 2,837 | $58,476 | $150,396 | 9.1% |
| 66 | Wagener | 1,193 | $48,621 | $63,812 | 8.0% |
| 67 | Jonesville | 1,118 | $40,625 | $129,780 | 1.2% |
| 68 | Varnville | 2,571 | $55,714 | $164,097 | 14.5% |
| 69 | St. Stephen | 1,462 | $65,370 | $219,069 | 6.1% |
| 70 | Fairforest | 1,727 | $52,468 | $234,579 | 0.0% |
| 71 | Gloverville | 2,505 | $52,197 | $77,074 | 8.3% |
| 72 | Lakewood | 3,544 | $56,500 | $345,411 | 7.8% |
| 73 | Irwin | 1,919 | $55,885 | $207,692 | 10.7% |
| 74 | Pelzer | 1,722 | $58,134 | $209,101 | 5.7% |
| 75 | Pacolet | 2,419 | $42,359 | $165,278 | 3.7% |
| 76 | Jackson | 1,870 | $39,634 | $127,494 | 3.2% |
| 77 | McCormick | 2,506 | $41,111 | $108,014 | 1.7% |
| 78 | Latta | 1,455 | $47,985 | $118,813 | 13.4% |
| 79 | Abbeville | 4,872 | $40,575 | $211,891 | 7.5% |
| 80 | Johnsonville | 1,251 | $44,830 | $146,337 | 9.1% |
| 81 | Springdale | 2,198 | $41,398 | $272,187 | 2.8% |
| 82 | Fort Lawn | 1,388 | $60,288 | $250,055 | 10.9% |
| 83 | South Sumter | 1,626 | $46,406 | $82,067 | 11.4% |
| 84 | Holly Hill | 1,218 | $34,135 | $195,756 | 3.4% |
| 85 | Santee | 1,076 | $46,667 | $242,896 | 2.2% |
| 86 | Andrews | 3,485 | $57,247 | $153,728 | 1.3% |
| 87 | Langley | 1,310 | $53,646 | $116,350 | 10.5% |
| 88 | Calhoun Falls | 2,049 | $38,715 | $111,060 | 2.5% |
| 89 | Lincolnville | 1,064 | $40,417 | $350,981 | 3.7% |
| 90 | Cheraw | 4,960 | $26,689 | $156,880 | 11.8% |
| 91 | Utica | 1,339 | $55,179 | $170,709 | 12.2% |
| 92 | Catawba | 1,071 | $59,632 | $329,674 | 13.8% |
| 93 | Chesterfield | 1,465 | $44,526 | $174,759 | 10.0% |
| 94 | Lamar | 1,196 | $38,864 | $135,579 | 5.3% |
| 95 | Saluda | 3,055 | $42,506 | $160,085 | 3.7% |
| 96 | Clearwater | 3,319 | $51,731 | $185,620 | 11.5% |
| 97 | Joanna | 1,306 | $49,141 | $97,502 | 1.4% |
| 98 | Edisto | 1,801 | $46,788 | $84,415 | 0.2% |
| 99 | Barnwell | 4,613 | $52,006 | $169,128 | 13.8% |
| 100 | Pageland | 2,489 | $42,679 | $215,185 | 6.2% |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024 via Saturday Night Science. 146 South Carolina towns between 1,000 and 5,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these small towns in South Carolina are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in South Carolina are Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, India Hook, Northlake, Newport, Seabrook Island, Elgin, Folly Beach, Shell Point, and Pine Ridge. Not sold on South Carolina? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Small Towns In South Carolina FAQs
What is the best small town to live in South Carolina?
Sullivan’s Island is the best small town in South Carolina for 2026. The median household income there is $192,813 and the median home costs $2,348,136. Isle of Palms and India Hook round out the top three.
What are the best small towns in South Carolina?
The best small towns in South Carolina are Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, India Hook, Northlake, Newport, Seabrook Island, Elgin, Folly Beach, Shell Point, and Pine Ridge. We ranked all 146 South Carolina towns with between 1,000 and 5,000 residents.
What counts as a small town?
For this ranking, a small town is any South Carolina place with between 1,000 and 5,000 residents. 146 towns fit that window this year.
How do you rank the best small towns in South Carolina?
Each town is scored on density, unemployment, housing costs, income, education, insurance coverage, and commute times, using Census American Community Survey data. The town with the best average across all of it, Sullivan’s Island, takes the top spot.
How much does a home cost in Sullivan’s Island?
The median home in Sullivan’s Island runs $2,348,136, against $304,083 across South Carolina as a whole. Pair that with a $192,813 median household income, and you can see why it ranks so well.
