The 10 Best Places To Live In South Carolina In 2023


The best places to live in South Carolina for 2023 are Tega Cay, James Island, and Mount Pleasant. Find out where your city or town ranks.

If you’re thinking of relocation, then you should definitely consider the best places to live in South Carolina.

South Carolina is the best state for those looking for good old-fashioned fun. The energy the residents of South Carolina exude attracts many people in search of a little piece of southern charm amidst a quaint backdrop. What does the perfect place to live in South Carolina look like?

We believe that the best places in South Carolina have strong economies, excellent schools, and plenty of things to do. You also need to be close to Myrtle Beach and within a day trip to Congaree National Park.

So, one can imagine how difficult it was for us to narrow down the best places to live in South Carolina. We suggest you grab some of great granny’s sweet tea and a basket of hush puppies and read on.

What city is the best place to live in South Carolina for 2023? According to the US Census and FBI data, Tega Cay is the best place to live in South Carolina if you care about home values, low crime, and high quality of life.

Look at the list below to find the best places to live in The Palmetto State. We give you a detailed look into the top ten best places to live in South Carolina, where you can have it all.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the best states in America or the best places to live in America.

For more South Carolina reading, check out:

The 10 best places to live In South Carolina for 2023

Tega Cay, SC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10
Population 12,336
Rank Last Year 2
Median Home Value $394,500
Unemployment Rate 2.1%

No, we have not fudged the numbers, Tega Cay’s numbers are legit, they’re just so good that they’re hard to believe. But, believe it, and if you’ve ever thought about moving here, do it now because not only is Tega Cay South Carolina’s best city, it is also one of the fastest growing places in the state.

Do we think this is why the median home price here is the 3rd highest in the state? Absolutely: classic case of supply and demand. In terms of affordability, however, the Tega Cay’s overall cost of living isn’t too bad, but living expenses like groceries and health services will take a bite out of your paycheck. So, make sure you find a job that pays a combined household income of $130,571/year.

More on Tega Cay: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living

James Island, SC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10
Population 11,618
Rank Last Year 3
Median Home Value $355,400
Unemployment Rate 1.5%

The grass is definitely greener on the side of South Carolina that houses the state’s 2nd best place to live, James Island. Located just south of the Charleston Harbor where the Stono and Folly Rivers meet, James Island has managed to protect its small town feel while looking out for its 11,618 residents’ bottom line.

James Island’s cost of living might be slightly higher than the rest of the state, but the city’s median income is $87,615/year. The median home price in James Island is the 7th highest in South Carolina at $355,400. And if you know anything about property taxes, they are based on home prices and higher property taxes generally mean better schools. Folks, James Island has some pretty great schools. In fact, the test scores and graduation rates from the Charleston 01 School District are surpassing the rest of the state.

More on James Island: Real Estate | Cost Of Living

Mount Pleasant, SC

Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10
Population 88,900
Rank Last Year 1
Median Home Value $499,600
Unemployment Rate 3.3%

Of course the word “pleasant” is in the name of South Carolina’s #3 best place to live, Mount Pleasant. But, it’s not only because the city has great weather and is close to the Atlantic Coast, it’s more about its low crime rate, low unemployment rate, and the fact that the locals here make close to $106,216/year.

To put Mount Pleasant’s safety record into perspective, you have a greater chance of a Palmetto Tree falling on you than being involved in a crime as the crime rate here is below the national level. Heck, the people here are too busy working to be naughty–Mount Pleasant’s unemployment rate is the 12th lowest in the state at 3.3%. The cost of living is a bit higher in Mount Pleasant; so, be prepared to pay a bit more for your living expenses.

More on Mount Pleasant: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living

Fort Mill, SC

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10
Population 24,069
Rank Last Year 5
Median Home Value $340,500
Unemployment Rate 2.6%

Mix a little southern charm with a little southern hospitality and you have the 4th best place to live in South Carolina, Fort Mill. Yes, this little piece of heaven from the Southeastern United States, is about as close to a perfect place as you can get. The 24,069 residents here are pretty lucky as the city’s unemployment rate is the 8th lowest in the state at 2.6% and the median income is $120,665/year. This salary is super handy when it comes to paying the 9th best median home price in the state at $340,500 and the city’s slightly higher cost of living.

The crime rate in Fort Mill is also super low. In fact, there were only 185 committed here last year making it one of the safest places in the state.

More on Fort Mill: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living

Bluffton, SC

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10
Population 27,596
Rank Last Year 7
Median Home Value $336,100
Unemployment Rate 1.7%

One of the fastest growing communities in South Carolina, Bluffton had just over 1,200 residents in 2000. Now? The population has swelled to 27,596. The influx of people comes as Bluffton ranks as the number 5 top place in the state to call home.

Built along the Atlantic Coast in the southern-most part of the state, Bluffton has an excellent location. It is about half hour north of Savannah, Georgia, the region’s major population center. It’s also about two hours south of Charleston. Want more of a resort experience? The famed Hilton Head Island sits just over the bridge.

Given these local draws, Bluffton boasts a thriving economy. It has the 4th highest median income in the state, with a figure of $89,245. The unemployment rate is similarly healthy. The local pace of 1.7% represents the 3rd best rate in South Carolina.

Schools in the area are above average, with ratings of 7/10 from Great Schools. The crime rate is almost 50% below the national average. Living in Bluffton can get expensive, with a cost of living about 10% above the U.S. standard. Home prices are also high, with a median home value of $336,100.

More on Bluffton: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living

Mauldin, SC

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10
Population 24,735
Rank Last Year 6
Median Home Value $180,100
Unemployment Rate 4.7%

So, you’re tired of paying South Carolina’s rental prices and now you want to buy a home? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Mauldin is not only The Palmetto State’s 6th best place to live, it has the 32nd lowest median home price in the state at $180,100.

With the number of people who currently live here, it’s obvious that Mauldin must be pretty great. Heck, anyone who wants a job here can have one as the unemployment rate is the 30th lowest in the state at 4.7%. Not to mention, the median income here is one of the highest in South Carolina at $73,755/year. It’s also super safe here; in fact, Mauldin’s crime rate is below the national average with a majority of the crimes reported property related.

More on Mauldin: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living

Forest Acres, SC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10
Population 10,621
Rank Last Year 8
Median Home Value $201,700
Unemployment Rate 3.2%

If you are looking for acres and acres of South Carolina’s 7th best place to live, Forest Acres, has this and more. Yes, Forest Acres scored an 8/10 on our SnackAbility scale with an emphasis in affordability, amenities, and commute times. One of only a few places to make our list from South Carolina’s interior, Forest Acres is a bedroom community of 10,621 residents just outside of Columbia. Forest Acres is not even 10 minutes from the “big city.”

And it’s true what they say about “all good things come in small cities.” Forest Acres has the 26th lowest median home price in the state. The overall cost of living here is lower than the national average, and if you choose to live in Forest Acres you will save on most major living expenses.

More on Forest Acres: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living

Lexington, SC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10
Population 23,068
Rank Last Year 9
Median Home Value $208,600
Unemployment Rate 3.4%

No, this is not fake news, people, the 8th best city in South Carolina, Lexington, really is super affordable and super fun.

Folks, when we pulled Lexington’s housing numbers, we discovered that the median home price here is the 8th lowest in the state at $208,600. Lexington’s overall cost of living follows the same trend. Not to mention, the locals here make upwards of $73,785/year making it one of the wealthiest cities in the state as well. And in terms of fun, Lexington is located on the southeast banks of Lake Murray, so you can swim, boat, and bike here until your heart’s content.

More on Lexington: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living

Port Royal, SC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10
Population 12,734
Rank Last Year 4
Median Home Value $244,000
Unemployment Rate 1.7%

Port Royal, South Carolina is an island town about an hour northeast of Savannah. The island life transfer nicely to being one of the best places to live in South Carolina.

As you would expect, some of the best perks of living on island close to the water have to do with the outdoors. Those perks include access to the Cypress Wetlands, the Port Royal Farmer Market, and The Sands beaches and boardwalk. And after a day on the beach you can grab dinner at Fishcamp on 11th street for some seafood or the Old Burn Tavern if turf is more to your liking.

On the numbers side of things, Port Royal really shines for its best commute times and safety – the city has the 7th lowest levels of property crime in the state. So you’ll know your wallet is safe to keep on your beach towel at the beach.

More on Port Royal: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living

Simpsonville, SC

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10
Population 23,190
Rank Last Year 10
Median Home Value $208,400
Unemployment Rate 3.0%

With a citywide median household income of $76,412, you’ll never run out of money in the 10th best place to live in the state, Simpsonville. You can use that income for South Carolina’s famous peach pie, boiled peanuts, and/or a year pass to the waterslides at Discovery Island Waterpar.

This substantial salary is important if you want to buy a home where the median home price is the 23rd in the state at $208,400. It will also help with the city’s overall cost of living. Simpsonville might be one of the most affordable places to live in South Carolina, but living expenses like groceries, health services, and transportation will cost you a bit more here.

More on Simpsonville: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living

Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in South Carolina

Best Places To Live In South Carolina Size Requirement

Before we even started to collect data on the best places to live in South Carolina, we had to answer a tough question: Is it fair to pit Columbia with a population of 137,276 against places with a population of 18?

We firmly decided no, that just isn’t fair.

So to create our ranking, we broke the best places to live into three tiers:

  • Cities — Populations over 5,000
  • Towns — Populations between 1,000 and 5,000
  • Small Towns — Populations below 1,000

This left us with 64 cities, 141 towns, and 130 small towns.

We then decided, no matter how much anyone loves their town, the best cities to live in South Carolina have more of everything and therefore you need to have over 5,000 people to truly be ‘the best’.

Now we also realize that city living might not be your cup of tea, so we ran the same analysis on the best towns and then again for the best small towns.

You can see the results of those best place rankings at the end of the article.

Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In South Carolina

Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them.

We ranked each place in South Carolina across a number of criteria from one to 64, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, with the city posting the lowest overall score being crowned the winner of the title “Best Place To Live In South Carolina”.

The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:

  • Median Home Values
  • Median Income
  • Population Density (Higher better)
  • Unemployment Rate
  • Commute Time
  • Crime
  • Education Levels
  • Health Insurance Coverage
  • Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data and FBI Crime Data. You can download the best places data here.

After the dust settled, what was the best place to live in South Carolina? That would be Tega Cay.

If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in South Carolina.

Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Tega Cay at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Summary: The Best Places In South Carolina

If you’re looking at areas in South Carolina with the best economic situations, where there’s lower than average crime, and a lot to do, this is an accurate list.

Tega Cay made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in South Carolina for 2023.

Best Towns To Live In South Carolina

  1. Northlake (Pop. 4,086)
  2. Pinopolis (Pop. 1,303)
  3. Sullivan’s Island (Pop. 2,049)
  4. India Hook (Pop. 4,192)
  5. Blythewood (Pop. 2,612)
  6. Isle of Palms (Pop. 4,320)
  7. Springdale (Pop. 2,740)
  8. Pine Ridge (Pop. 2,138)
  9. Folly Beach (Pop. 2,732)
  10. Quinby (Pop. 1,192)

Best Small Towns To Live In South Carolina

  1. Arcadia Lakes (Pop. 991)
  2. Briarcliffe Acres (Pop. 407)
  3. Pawleys Island (Pop. 67)
  4. Boykin (Pop. 98)
  5. Reidville (Pop. 827)
  6. Edisto Beach (Pop. 647)
  7. Rockville (Pop. 153)
  8. Little Mountain (Pop. 219)
  9. Hodges (Pop. 148)
  10. Glendale (Pop. 161)

If you’re curious enough, here are the worst places to live in South Carolina according to the data:

  1. Marion (Pop. 6,472)
  2. Orangeburg (Pop. 12,779)
  3. Chester (Pop. 5,283)

For more South Carolina reading, check out:

Best Places To Live In South Carolina

Rank City Population Unemployment Rate Home Value
1 Tega Cay 12,336 2.1% $394,500
2 James Island 11,618 1.5% $355,400
3 Mount Pleasant 88,900 3.3% $499,600
4 Fort Mill 24,069 2.6% $340,500
5 Bluffton 27,596 1.7% $336,100
6 Mauldin 24,735 4.7% $180,100
7 Forest Acres 10,621 3.2% $201,700
8 Lexington 23,068 3.4% $208,600
9 Port Royal 12,734 1.7% $244,000
10 Simpsonville 23,190 3.0% $208,400
11 Charleston 147,928 3.4% $369,500
12 Lyman 5,841 3.8% $196,400
13 North Augusta 24,013 4.0% $179,500
14 Hanahan 20,381 2.6% $267,200
15 Clemson 17,238 4.4% $293,000
16 Greenville 69,725 3.4% $349,300
17 Goose Creek 44,502 3.7% $218,100
18 Hilton Head Island 38,068 2.8% $520,700
19 Summerville 50,318 6.6% $229,800
20 Moncks Corner 12,685 2.5% $220,700
21 Hollywood 5,319 4.6% $361,800
22 Aiken 31,516 4.7% $199,000
23 Beaufort 12,899 3.9% $265,100
24 Irmo 11,581 8.3% $154,000
25 Travelers Rest 7,670 4.9% $218,900
26 Greer 35,151 3.9% $202,600
27 Hardeeville 7,228 6.9% $381,300
28 Easley 22,643 4.3% $182,100
29 Rock Hill 72,883 5.8% $187,000
30 West Columbia 17,265 3.6% $158,800
31 Central 5,229 5.2% $140,600
32 Florence 39,816 4.3% $159,800
33 Columbia 137,276 7.3% $193,100
34 Seneca 8,734 12.2% $172,500
35 Fountain Inn 10,237 9.0% $176,300
36 North Myrtle Beach 18,502 7.7% $293,500
37 Clover 6,566 9.0% $179,800
38 Cayce 13,637 5.6% $135,200
39 Camden 7,666 5.0% $211,100
40 Myrtle Beach 35,116 5.2% $246,300
41 Sumter 42,920 10.1% $142,100
42 Spartanburg 37,990 6.8% $143,300
43 North Charleston 114,542 4.1% $203,100
44 Anderson 28,796 7.9% $150,600
45 Dillon 6,354 4.3% $133,800
46 Laurens 9,251 3.6% $106,200
47 Batesburg-Leesville 5,322 5.0% $109,300
48 Newberry 10,496 8.0% $89,100
49 Conway 22,001 10.6% $167,000
50 Hartsville 7,565 7.7% $140,400
51 Georgetown 8,435 12.1% $158,100
52 Bennettsville 7,306 7.0% $82,000
53 Greenwood 22,363 7.3% $90,600
54 Cheraw 5,090 14.0% $121,300
55 Walterboro 5,514 2.0% $113,400
56 Lancaster 8,489 16.8% $163,400
57 Clinton 7,753 10.1% $128,200
58 Gaffney 12,560 12.4% $106,200
59 Union 8,119 15.6% $82,100
60 York 8,423 7.8% $134,200
61 Darlington 6,153 10.1% $130,700
62 Marion 6,472 7.9% $126,900
63 Orangeburg 12,779 13.0% $113,700
64 Chester 5,283 9.6% $79,800
Editor’s Note: We updated this article for 2023. This is our tenth time ranking the best places to live in South Carolina.

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.