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If you look at the number of people moving into each state, South Carolina tops the charts with the highest move-in-to-move-out ratio of 2.05. Surprisingly (or perhaps not), the Palmetto State has been among the leading relocation destinations for a while. You can pin this on the fact that Americans are generally moving towards the Southeast. However, South Carolina also boasts several impressive features, including pleasant weather and low property taxes. Some also love the region because of its conservative politics. That said, rural areas often present significant downsides, including access to jobs and amenities. That is why it is not surprising that the best places to live in South Carolina are well-known cities or places close to big cities. Ready for the revelation? Starting with Columbia, discover below the 9 best places to live in South Carolina.

Columbia

Columbia is big and buzzy, although it has a hint of rural charm and flavor, especially because of how it is speckled with oak, pecan, and magnolia trees. Interestingly, traffic in Columbia is relatively mild, meaning commutes are rarely tense, nerve-fraying affairs. And with the University of South Carolina at your doorstep, life here is enticingly upbeat and sprightly. Residents spend time at the Colonial Life Arena watching basketball games, visiting the nearby Congaree National Park, or sampling the town's art and music scene at places such as the Columbia Museum of Art. Considering houses sell for a median listing price of just $252,883 USD, the degree of affordability here is hard to beat. And don't mention hospitals because you are in the middle of several excellent facilities. That said, on security, you will find small pockets of good areas and bad areas. It is not unusual in many big cities and metropolitan areas. The trick, especially if you are keen on places with fewer triggers, is to look for surrounding neighborhoods. Lexington, for example, boasts a burglary rate that is almost a third of the entire state.

Tega Cay

Tega Cay is a fun, friendly town just 25 minutes from Charlotte, North Carolina’s largest city. This means you can stay here and work in Charlotte, especially with nearby highways such as I-77 that offer quick and convenient accessibility. Keep in mind that you are in the Fort Mill School District, officially known as York County School District 4 — the top-performing district in South Carolina. Also, with Charlotte just a blink away, residents can access some of the best hospitals in the region on a whim. Another good part is that you are in a safe, relatively crime-free area that seldom witnesses burglary incidents, according to the FBI Crime Data Explorer. Things to enjoy here include paddling down the Catawba River, hiking the trail-laden Westminster Park, and playing volleyball at Tega Cay Beach Club. The median listing home price in Tega Cay is $553,333. USD

Fort Mill

Fort Mill is close to Tega Cay and, like its neighbor to the west, is temptingly close to Charlotte, a major hub for employment in the region. Surgery Center of Edgewater is a short, 5-mile drive to the west, but if you need more options, downtown Charlotte is just 25 minutes down the road. You will enjoy quite a bit of action here, especially with the SC Strawberry Festival (you will love the vintage cars), the spellbinding Anne Springs Close Greenway (for horseback riding), and the Fort Mill Golf Club. Don’t forget that you are in the best-performing school district in the entire state. Is Fort Mill safe? The answer is a resounding yes, especially considering the burglary rate here is 8.75 per 100,000 residents, which is way down than the statewide rate of 24.64. The median listing home price in Fort Mill is $502,817 USD.

Clemson

Living in Clemson is a fun, enjoyable experience, especially considering it is a college town with all the connotations that go with it: vibrancy and diversity. Clemson University, whose history goes back more than a century, offers a delicious mix of employment and educational opportunities. According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, the burglary rate here is virtually zero, so no worrying about crime incidents, including the thought of a stranger yanking your purse or handbag. You have the immaculately designed South Carolina Botanical Garden for evening walks and beautiful views, Littlejohn Coliseum to catch a basketball game, the glimmering waters of the Seneca River and Lake Hartwell — and several other outdoor pleasure spots. On healthcare access, the award-winning Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital is a doorbell away in Seneca. If you add the fact that Clemson is not outrageously expensive (houses have a median listing price of $491,667 USD), then you almost have a perfect score.

Aiken

Aiken boasts awesome accessibility to big cities, especially with Augusta just 30 minutes to the south and Columbia an easy one hour away. This means you can stay in Aiken while working in either city. Aiken itself is a quiet, family-friendly town with lots of delicious local restaurants, fun golf courses, and a decent library with an impressive collection of good reads. Golfers have Palmetto Golf Club, the mind-bending Old Barnwell, and the Aiken Golf Club, all stellar options, all incredibly beautiful, swoon-worthy places. The burglary rate in Aiken is 3 per 100,000 residents, which is significantly lower than the statewide rate. Moreover, you are at the doorstep of Aiken Regional Medical Centers and a heartbeat away from the highly ranked Piedmont Augusta. The exciting part is that you can own a house on the cheap, especially considering houses sell for a median price of $356,567 USD.

Bluffton

Bluffton is a safe, peaceful town with many yummy restaurants and shopping centers. It is 30 minutes to Savannah, Georgia, meaning one can stay here while working in one of Georgia’s largest cities. As a resident, you savor the chance to relax at the beach, play golf at the May River Golf Club, or mingle with residents at the Bluffton Oyster Factory Park, a waterfront space with scenic views and a historic old house. The burglary rate in Bluffton is 5.25 per 100,000 residents — almost a quarter of the statewide rate. On healthcare access, you have several options, including at places such as Hilton Head, Savannah, Beaufort, and Hardeeville. It is worth pointing out that Hilton Head Regional Medical Center is a 2023 winner of the Surgical Care Excellence Award. That said, houses in Bluffton sell for a median price of $585,000 USD.

Mount Pleasant

You will hardly find a place like Charleston, especially if you have experienced its cobblestone walkways, buzzy nightlife, and sophisticated art galleries. Except for summer, the weather is always pleasant for just about every kind of activity. Residents enjoy outdoor yoga classes, a delicious range of water sports, top-notch eateries, the centuries-old Charleston City Market, and an eclectic art scene featuring well-known names such as the Gibbes Museum of Art. But since life in Charleston’s inner core can be hectic, seek out nearby neighborhoods for relative calm and tranquility. Mount Pleasant, for instance, which offers the perfect mix of city and suburban living, has a burglary rate of just 4.15 per 100,000 residents. Keep in mind that you are at the doorstep of East Cooper Medical Center, a 2025 winner of the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award. Finally, houses in Mount Pleasant have a median listing price of $920,333. But that should not be a deal-breaker. Interestingly, the median selling price is significantly lower: a more pocket-friendly $762,942 USD.

Mauldin

Mauldin, just 8 miles away, is among the best places to live around Greenville. Boasting a strong job market, especially with the presence of big names such as BMW, Greenville offers several opportunities for building income and career. The beautiful BridgeWay Station in Mauldin, with its restaurants and shops, is often a fun place to hang out. But you have Sunset Park for an occasional evening walk — and Ingles Markets for almost all your grocery needs. Outdoor lovers have the famous Swamp Rabbit Trail, a picturesque running and biking route. With Greenville a doorbell away, residents enjoy fantastic access to several excellent hospitals, including the award-winning Bon Secours St. Francis Health System-St. Francis-Eastside. On safety, the burglary rate here is 13, one of the lowest in the Greenville area. The best part is that Mauldin is affordable, with houses fetching a median listing price of just $304,967 USD.

Hilton Head

Hilton Head — with its beautiful beaches and laid-back atmosphere — is among the best places to live in South Carolina. You will enjoy walking along the shore, especially in the morning or evening hours, playing golf at places such as the Country Club of Hilton Head, a Reese Jones course with lots of wildlife and great views, and dabbling in pickleball at Hilton Head Island Recreation Center. With Savannah, Georgia, just 40 minutes down the road, there is no need to worry about jobs or part-time gigs. On healthcare access, you have the highly ranked Hilton Head Regional Medical Center just around the corner. Houses in Hilton Head have a median listing price of $726,150 USD.

The Takeaway

Boasting mind-bending beauty in almost every direction — whether the upstate or the Lowcountry — South Carolina can lift the mood of any first-time resident. You have pretty beaches on one side and towering peaks on the other. Fortunately, you can access both the state’s beaches and mountains in minutes and from just about any location. If you are keen on amenities, jobs, and a lively social scene, several South Carolina cities will meet and exceed your expectations, including Mauldin and Mount Pleasant.