10 Best Places To Live In South Carolina And How To Choose

Choosing a new place to live is a big decision. It’s important to assess your priorities to decide the factors that will have the biggest impact on your daily life, and to choose a location that matches those priorities as closely as possible. For those who’d like to live somewhere with hot summer days and mild winter nights, South Carolina could be the perfect fit.

This coastal state not only offers subtropical beaches and scenic mountain ranges, but also cities, suburbs and small towns that are worth further exploring when choosing where to live.

With its warm weather and beautiful beaches, South Carolina has some great cities to live in. Read our guide with the 10 best places to live in South Carolina.

Top 10 Best Cities To Live In South Carolina

There are many cities to choose from when choosing where to live in South Carolina. For this study, our team analyzed: violent crime rate, property crime rate, unemployment rate, Google search volume, median rent, well-being index, housing cost-to-income ratio and the home affordability index. These factors were each weighted and the following cities ended up on top.

1. Fort Mill

Fort Mill is a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina, located just across the border in South Carolina. It is a midsized city for the state, with a population just over 24,000 people.

Fort Mill has a good cost of living and better affordability than many of the other mid- to large-sized cities nearby.

For people who work in and around Charlotte but prefer the slower and less expensive lifestyle of a smaller city, Fort Mill can be a great option.

Does Fort Mill sound perfect for you? Check out the homes for sale in Fort Mill and explore the Fort Mill housing market report.

2. Tega Cay

Located in the northern region of South Carolina, Tega Cay is also considered a suburb of Charlotte. While residents may have to travel farther for work, this charming town makes up for it in other ways.

The quaint 3.87-square-mile peninsula is a close-knit, lakeside community, where residents gather throughout the year to take part in events like the City Birthday Party and Community Yard Sale. Boating and water sports are favorite pastimes and highly rated local schools make Tega Cay a great community for families.

Does Tega Cay sound perfect for you? Check out the homes for sale in Tega Cay and explore the Tega Cay housing market report.

3. North Augusta

North Augusta is a small city located on the southern border of South Carolina, just adjacent to Augusta, Georgia. This town has notable schools and a very low cost of housing and living, making it attractive for families.

The Savannah River runs along North Augusta, giving residents opportunities for riverside living and outdoor activities. Additionally, its proximity to Augusta National Golf Course will provide opportunities each year to be immersed in the PGA Masters Tournament festivities.

Does North Augusta sound perfect for you? Check out the homes for sale in North Augusta and explore the North Augusta housing market report.

4. Fountain Inn

Fountain Inn is a suburb of Greenville, South Carolina. It is a small town, with a population around 10,000 people. But, the residents still have access to the amenities of a bigger city by being so close to Greenville.

This small town has its own unique charm and has access to the Swamp Rabbit Trail – a popular 22-mile hiking trail across upstate South Carolina.

Fountain Inn has a low cost of living and great affordability, plus highly rated schools, making it a wonderful place for families to settle down.

Does Fountain Inn sound perfect for you? Check out the homes for sale in Fountain Inn and explore the Fountain Inn housing market report.

5. Mauldin

Mauldin is another small town in upstate South Carolina, just outside of Greenville. It has a suburban feel, with a focus on family-friendly activities, neighborhoods and schools.

Mauldin is home to Lake Conestee and is very close to the mountains, so it is a great choice for those who enjoy hiking, kayaking and other outdoor activities.

Does Mauldin sound perfect for you? Check out the homes for sale in Mauldin and explore the Mauldin housing market report.

6. Greer

With a population of 35,000, Greer is one of the larger cities to make our list. Greer is located halfway between Spartanburg and Greenville and offers easy access to each of these cities and their amenities.

But, Greer has maintained its small town charm and offers a great escape from the bigger cities, too. While the price of real estate has increased in recent years, it is still much more affordable than some of the surrounding areas.

Greer is also home to a large BMW manufacturing plant and museum, offering jobs and activities.

Does Greer sound perfect for you? Check out the homes for sale in Greer and explore the Greer housing market report.

7. Goose Creek

With a population of over 44,000 people, Goose Creek might sound like a big city for South Carolina. But, it is actually one of the smaller suburbs outside of Charleston. While Charleston did not make our list due to an overall lack of affordability of housing and high cost of living, Goose Creek can be a great more budget-friendly option.

Goose Creek is not too far from downtown Charleston and less than an hour’s drive to the beach. There are also a lot of large employers in the area, making for lots of job opportunities. Just remember that the general area does have a very high cost of living and even if you get affordable housing, you will still be paying a premium on many other things.

Does Goose Creek sound perfect for you? Check out the homes for sale in Goose Creek and explore the Goose Creek housing market report.

8. Bluffton

Bluffton is a city located just inland of Hilton Head Island and is a popular place for people who love the area’s beaches to settle down.

Bluffton is a beautiful place to live with easy access to the beach, tennis and golf and many outdoor activities. And, it’s home to many alligators.

Living near the coast is almost always going to be more expensive than living upstate, but Bluffton offers a more budget-friendly and less tourist-centric option than Hilton Head proper.

Does Bluffton sound perfect for you? Check out the homes for sale in Bluffton and explore the Bluffton housing market report.

9. Lexington

Lexington is located just outside of Columbia, South Carolina. While the capital city might not be considered a very desirable place to live, this suburb is a more family-friendly alternative.

Lexington has a suburban feel, with a lower cost of living and quality public schools. For this reason, it’s a popular place for families to live while commuting into the city for work.

Does Lexington sound perfect for you? Check out the homes for sale in Lexington and explore the Lexington housing market report.

10. Simpsonville

Simpsonville is a town just outside of Greenville. Located in the rolling hills of the upstate, there are lots of opportunities for hiking, biking and outdoor entertainment.

There are a lot of manufacturing jobs in Simpsonville, which keeps unemployment low and the overall cost of living low too.

Does Simpsonville sound perfect for you? Check out the homes for sale in Simpsonville and explore the Simpsonville housing market report.

Other Cities To Live In South Carolina

There are some other popular cities in South Carolina that did not make our list, but you might still want to consider.

1. Charleston

Charleston is one of the most beautiful cities in the state of South Carolina and an extremely popular tourist and wedding destination. With a historical downtown and easy access to multiple beaches, it draws in many visitors who spend their drives home scrolling real estate listings in the area.

But, Charleston is a very expensive place to live. Especially in the last few years, as more people are able to work remotely, many high-earners have chosen to move to Charleston and driven the real estate and general living costs up considerably.

It is important to take a long and hard realistic look at your finances and the housing market in Charleston before moving to the area. Consider looking at Summerville, Goose Creek or Johns Island for lower cost options in the same suburban area.

Does Charleston sound perfect for you? Check out the homes for sale in Charleston and explore the Charleston housing market report.

2. Columbia

Columbia is the capital city, located in the geographic center of South Carolina, and is the home to the University of South Carolina.

While it is a large city population-wise, it is not a popular city for people to move into. Columbia has very high crime rates and generally families prefer to look at suburbs outside of the city, such as Lexington, to actually put down roots.

Does Columbia sound perfect for you? Check out the homes for sale in Columbia and explore the Columbia housing market report.

3. Clemson

Clemson is located in the upstate of South Carolina, just outside of Greenville. This is a university town, through and through, and everything revolves around the school.

Having the university in town means lots of fun events and a really exciting football season. But, it also drives up the costs, especially of rent, and you’re going to deal with a lot of people in a small town on game days.

Does Clemson sound perfect for you? Check out the homes for sale in Clemson and explore the Clemson housing market report.

How To Decide The Best Place To Live In South Carolina

Here are the best steps for deciding the best place to live for those considering a move to South Carolina:

1. Consider the cost of living: The most important factor in moving somewhere is that you can afford it. Research the housing, utility and day-to-day living costs to be sure they are within your budget.
2. Scope out job opportunities: If you will need a new job to move, then you should check out the job market. Different areas have different industries, and it’s important that you should live somewhere with job options in case you need them.
3. Research the neighborhood: Towns matter, but don’t forget to research the neighborhood too. Neighborhoods can vary greatly, even within one town, and have a huge impact on your quality of life.
4. Look into the school districts: If you have school-aged kids, pay attention to the districted schools. It might be worth paying a little bit more for a very good school district.
5. Explore local activities: Think of your hobbies and what you like to do, and be sure that the city offers activities that are compatible with them.
6. Visit the city: Definitely visit the area and try to do non-touristy things to see if you’d enjoy living there. Consider visiting during temperature extremes, like July in South Carolina, to be sure you can handle it!

The Bottom Line: The Best Places To Live In SC Have A Lot To Offer Home Buyers

South Carolina is a beautiful place to live and a great way to escape the cold weather and higher cost of living in other parts of the country. You will need to take some time to think about your lifestyle and preferences and compare them to the top cities to decide which might be right for you. If you are ready to move, start an approval application with Rocket Mortgage^Ⓡ today.

Methodology

Rocket Homes^SM collected and analyzed the most recent data on 12 key local and countywide metrics to give us insight into the top cities best for living. The 85 most populated cities analyzed are home to 48% of U.S. residents living in South Carolina. The metrics used in this study include the violent crime rate, property crime rate, unemployment rate, google search volume, median rent, well-being index, median monthly income, median monthly housing costs, median days on market for homes, median home list price and Freddie Mac primary mortgage market survey interest rates. Some of these metrics were then used to calculate housing cost to income ratio and home affordability index. These metrics were chosen based on public data availability and topical relevance. Metrics from the U.S. Census are based on 2021 ACS 5-year estimates and 2022 ACS 1-year estimates. In one case, county-level data was used because data is not recorded at the local level.

The housing cost to income ratio was calculated by taking the median monthly housing costs divided by the median monthly income to get the average percentage of income spent on housing costs in a household. The home affordability index was calculated using median sale price for homes in that city, interest rate from Freddie Mac primary mortgage market survey, and median yearly income. To interpret the indices, a value equal to or greater than 1 means that the average person has enough income to qualify for a mortgage in that area. The calculation assumes a down payment of 20% of the home price and a qualifying ratio of 25%.

Each data category was normalized and transformed into a range of points for scoring and comparison. Cities with violent crime rates greater than or equal to 55 and property crime rates greater than or equal to 65 were removed from the ranking. Weights were then applied to each metric depending on their individual importance in the study. The weighted scores for each metric were summed to create the overall Best Places To Live Score for each city. The final scores are sorted to produce the final rankings.

Other metrics considered without weight: