Ten of the best places to live in South Carolina
South Carolina also known as the “Palmetto State”, holds some of the most attractive places to live. You can immerse yourself in the gracious atmosphere south of Charleston, where you can find more than 1,400 churches, historic homes and other buildings lining the streets. Or if you love the beachside, then Myrtle Beach has some of the most pristine sands that line any coast.
Immerse yourself into America’s oldest landscape gardens, fully furnished and still keeping the original style, at Middleton Place. Considered unique in the country they are America’s last grand Romantic-style gardens. Get to see more than 300 species of birds at Huntington Beach, which is considered one of the best birding locations in South Carolina.
This and many more await you in South Carolina. Pair it up with some of the cheapest cities in South Carolina and you get the ideal scenario that might make you think about relocating here. Let’s see what are the best ten places to live in South Carolina.
Five Forks
This small suburb of Greenville is a town of about 16,000 people. The prosperous economy of the city of Five Forks created this community that is very well situated compared to the rest of the state as far as living conditions go.
With a median household income of about $110,000, the median home value of about $280,000 represents no issue for the locals. Five Forks is considered by many the best place to live in South Carolina. It’s proximity to downtown Greenville makes it easy and convenient for many locals. Living in this city is enjoyable thanks to the amenities which allow for plenty of activities and the real estate market is very attractive in the area.
2.Tega Cay
With a population of approximately 8,000 people, the city of Tega Cay is a suburb of Charlotte that offers a small-town feel to its residents. Rated as one of the safest communities in the state of South Carolina the close to zero crime rate in Tega Cay offers peace of mind to its residents.
Although the city of Tega Cay has a median home price in the six-figure range that is quite high compared to the rest of the state, there is a lot of diversity amongst the residents that is very appealing for many people. However, because of the high rent prices situated around $1,300 on average, most people choose to buy instead of rent.
3. Charleston
The city of Charleston is known as one of the oldest in the state, and its residents like to preserve the classic looks. The cobblestone streets along with the antebellum houses painted in pastel colors give it a unique charm.
It is an expensive place to live but many residents say that it is worth it. Home value averages around $250,000 but with most households earning more than $60,000 a year the pricey exterior becomes more affordable. Also, the city of Charleston has one of the best school districts in South Carolina, with more than 68 schools serving thousands of students.
4. Fort Mill
Located just east of Tega Cay the city of Fort Mill SC is one of the best places to live in South Carolina. This is due to the fact that this city is conveniently located between two major cities, Rock Hill and Charlotte, but Fort Mill is a suburb of Charlotte.
It is an affordable area to live in and jobs are readily available in the city. The homes are a bit pricey in Fort Mill and on average a home might require an investment of about $200,000. With some of the best realtors in Fort Mill SC, you might be able to negotiate the price down with the seller depending on what you are looking for. Take that into consideration when browsing for homes in Fort Mill.
5. Sullivan’s Island
Definitely, an island geographically speaking, but not that far from the state of South Carolina. Cars have two access points on the island through two bridges that connect the north and the east side of the city. To the east, a bridge spanning Breach Inlet connects Sullivan’s Island to Isle of Palms, and to the north, the Ben Sawyer Bridge connects Sullivan’s Island to Mount Pleasant.
The island has a total area of about 3.4 square miles of which 2.5 square miles is land and 0.93 square miles is water. This idyllic spot only has about 2,000 people and while many consider this city to be one of the best places to live in, it doesn't come cheap.
Sullivan’s Island is one of the best places to live in South Carolina but with the best prices as well. There the median home value here stands at around a whopping $1,000,000. If you want to live here you need to be situated in the 7 figure category in order to make it affordable.
6. Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant in South Carolina is definitely very pleasing for many people that's why we include it on our list of best places to live in South Carolina. Within the reach of Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms, the versatile landscape of this city offers plenty of opportunities to go outdoors and explore it.
This breathtaking landscape does come at a high cost. The median household income in Mount Pleasant is about $78,000 and the median home value is about $370,000. However, you can purchase your next home in Mount Pleasant with careful consideration and smart investments with the help of a real estate agent.
7. Clemson
Spanning across two counties, Pickens County and into Anderson County, this city is known for the prestigious Clemson University. This schooling facility brings many students every year that make the place feel fresh, vibrant and full of youth year-round.
Also, the average rent price of $700 makes it very appealing to students especially but not only. About 60% of the city's population lives in rented homes, therefore, making it one of the best places to live in South Carolina.
8. Forest Acres
A suburb of Columbia, Forest Acres is home to about 10,000 people. The city looks humble and its affordability is great for any average working family. Forest Acres is home to many professionals and retires. Many of them own their homes and the residents of Forest Acres have moderate political views.The city is an all-rounder in terms of costs of living, diversity of residents and accessibility.
Thanks to the highly-rated public schools in the area, the neighborhoods of Forest Acres have high rates of educated residents. In Forest Acres, you will be surrounded by hard-working families that have a median household income of about $60,000. The median property value in Forst Acres is about $185,000 therefore, it is an affordable city and one of the best places to live in South Carolina.
9. Lexington
Much like Forest Acres, the family-friendly community of Lexington is home to about 20,000 people. This suburb of Columbia has beautiful natural landscapes thanks to its proximity to the mountains and lakes. Also, it’s just a 2-hour drive from the city to the coastline.
This community is also very affordable, with a median home value of about $180,000 it is easy for anyone with a humble double income to buy a home here. The diversity and the idyllic landscape definitely make the city of Lexington one of the best places to live in South Carolina.
10. Greenville
While we have discussed suburbs so far, it is fair to present a more imposing city such as Greenville. This city has every social opportunity you could possibly think of. The extremely affordable rent makes it the perfect place to live. With a rent that is averaging about $750, you are able to live in a very modern home that would otherwise cost you way more in some other areas.
With this, we are topping our list of best places to live in the state of South Carolina. Ranging from historical cities to coastal cities, from big to small, from expensive to cheap, we put together a list of some of the best places so you can plan your next move accordingly.
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