BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA

South Carolina’s natural beauty, attractions, festivals, thriving economy, and nearly perfect year-round weather makes it a great place to live. It is home to almost 5 million people, a number that keeps growing by the day. A recent study by United Van Lines shows that South Carolina continues to be in the top 5 most popular states for new residents.

South Carolina’s major cities: Mount Pleasant, Charleston, and Greenville remain the best places to live in the state. Across its cities and towns, Niche.com picked out the best places to live in South Carolina, in which 9 out of the top 25 were from the Upstate, SC area.

Click the name to see the population, median home price and rent, median household income, and the cost of living for each city and town.

25. Charleston

Charleston

Quick Facts:

Population: 153,672 (2022 Est)

Median Home Price: $438,900 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,517 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $83,891 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 112 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Charleston

24. India Hook

india hook

Quick Facts:

Population: 3,817 (2020 census)

Median Home Price: $185,700

Median Gross Rent: $1,121

Median Household Income: $66,438

Cost of Living: 100.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

23. Greenville

greenville

Quick Facts:

Population: 72,310 (2022 Est)

Median Home Price: $403,300 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,919 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $65,519 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Greenville

22. Lake Wylie

Lake Wylie

Quick Facts:

Population: 13,655 (2020 census)

Median Home Price: $425,000 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,431 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $111,424 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 100.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Lake Wylie

21. Sullivan’s Island

Sullivan’s Island

Quick Facts:

Population: 1,891 (2020 Census)

Median Home Price: $1,797,100

Median Gross Rent: $1,898

Median Household Income: $110,870

Cost of Living: 112 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Sullivan’s Island

20. North Augusta

NORTH AUGUSTA

Quick Facts:

Population: 25,258 (2022 Est.)

Median Home Price: $210,000 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $969 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $85,093 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 84.6 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

19. Mauldin

MaULDIN

Quick Facts:

Population: 26,918 (2022 Est)

Median Home Price: $220,600 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,342 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $75,565 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Mauldin

18. Isle of Palms

Isle of Palms

Quick Facts:

Population: 4,360 (2019 Estimates)

Median Home Price: $809,600

Median Gross Rent: $1,898

Median Household Income: $79,353

Cost of Living: 112 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Isle of Palms

17. Greer

Greer

Quick Facts:

Population: 42,090 (2022 Estimates)

Median Home Price: $239,400 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,060 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $73,534 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Greer

16. Simpsonville

SIMPSONVILLE

Quick Facts:

Population: 26,748 (2022 Estimates)

Median Home Price: $240,000 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,190 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $79,937 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Simpsonville

15. Reidville

Reidville

Quick Facts:

Population: 678 (2019 Estimates)

Median Home Price: $243,318 (2019)

Median Gross Rent: $800 (2019)

Median Household Income: $102,441 (2019)

Cost of Living: 84.8 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Reidville

14. Irmo

Irmo

Quick Facts:

Population: 11,942 (2022 Est)

Median Home Price: $168,200 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,329 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $77,656 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 87.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Irmo

13. Wade Hampton

Wade Hampton

Quick Facts:

Population: 21,482 (2020 census)

Median Home Price: $275,700 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,022 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $71,564 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

12. Northlake

NorthLake

Quick Facts:

Population: 3,818 (2020 Census)

Median Home Price: $205,800 (2016-2020)

Median Gross Rent: $942 (2016-2020)

Median Household Income: $51,371 (2016-2020)

Cost of Living: 87.7 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

11. Central

Central

Quick Facts:

Population: 5,296 (2021)

Median Home Price: $140,600 (2017-2021)

Median Gross Rent: $759 (2017-2021)

Median Household Income: $36,596 (2017-2021)

Cost of Living: 88.2 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Central

10. Seven Oaks

Seven oaks

Quick Facts:

Population: 14,652 (2020)

Median Home Price: $181,300 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,119 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $61,615 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 90.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

9. Taylors

Taylors

Quick Facts:

Population: 23,222 (2020 Census)

Median Home Price: $220,800 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,160 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $70,234 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

8. Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant

Quick Facts:

Population: 94,545 (2022 Est)

Median Home Price: $608,600 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,901 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $115,167 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 112 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Mount Pleasant

7. Lexington

Lexington

Quick Facts:

Population: 24,626 (2022 Est)

Median Home Price: $239,700 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,270 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $78,164 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 90.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Lexington

6. Clemson

Clemson

Quick Facts:

Population: 17,843 (2022 Est)

Median Home Price: $347,800 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,916 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $50,263 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 88.2 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Clemson

5. Five Forks

Five Forks

Quick Facts:

Population: 17,737 (2020 census)

Median Home Price: $396,800 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $2,053 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $133,750 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Five Forks

4. Forest Acres

Forest Acres

Quick Facts:

Population: 10,403 (2022 Est)

Median Home Price: $232,100 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,095 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $68,110 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 87.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Forest Acres

3. Pendleton

Pendleton

Quick Facts:

Population: 3,489 (2020 Estimates)

Median Home Price: $167,300 (2019)

Median Gross Rent: $732 (2019)

Median Household Income: $28,052 (2019)

Cost of Living: 87.7 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Pendleton

2. Fort Mill

FORT MILL

Quick Facts:

Population: 30,940 (2022 Est)

Median Home Price: $414,600 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,325 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $128,125 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 100.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Fort Mill

1. Tega Cay

Tega Cay

Quick Facts:

Population: 13,689 (2022 Est)

Median Home Price: $462,900 (2018-2022)

Median Gross Rent: $1,253 (2018-2022)

Median Household Income: $140,172 (2018-2022)

Cost of Living: 100.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.

Learn more about Tega Cay

Whether you are a first-time home buyer, a seasoned home buyer, or relocating to South Carolina, there’s an ideal neighborhood for you. South Carolina has a variety of living options- each with its own merit.

The 2024 Best Places to Live in South Carolina ranking is based on several key factors including location, the quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, employment statistics, and local amenities to measure the overall quality of an area.

Greenville is located east of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Upstate South Carolina, a lush, rolling midpoint between Atlanta, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Set against the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville SC has stunning natural beauty combined with traditional southern charm. Greenville’s downtown area is one of America’s Best Downtowns. It is also named one of the 10 Fastest Growing Cities in the US and is consistently ranked among the country’s top cities to do business and best places to live.

Click here to learn more information about why Greenville is a nice place to live.

Comparison to other similar-sized cities

Comparison of the city of Greenville, SC to other similar cities

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Sources:

Niche.com

Census.gov