South Carolina is best known as The Palmetto State to many, but to America’s 65 and older crowd, it’s known as one of the best places to retire in the country.
If you want to retire to South Carolina, today is your lucky day. We created a list of the top ten best places to retire in this Southern charm for 2024.
To find the best places to retire, we looked at the most recent FBI and Census data for 39 South Carolina cities with 10,000 residents. We then compared factors that most retirees find important, like safety, affordability, rent, and how close the city is to an international airport.
South Carolina might not be one of the top ten safest states, but it does have some super safe places. In terms of affordability, it is one of the most tax-friendly states. It currently does not tax Social Security benefits and has very generous breaks for retirement income. And South Carolina’s property taxes are low.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In South Carolina For 2024
Where is the best place to retire in South Carolina? According to the latest numbers, Conway is the best place to retire in The Palmetto State.
You would think that most of South Carolina’s best places to retire would be centered around Myrtle Beach and Charleston, but that is not the case. The best places to retire are actually sprinkled throughout the state from Summerville to Greenville.
Why did Conway take the top spot? And where are Charleston and Columbia?
For more South Carolina state reading:
- Best Places To Live In South Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina
- Best Places To Raise A Family In South Carolina
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In South Carolina For 2024
/10
Population: 25,121
Median Income: $48,161
Median Home Price: $283,094
Median Rent: $883
Distance to Closest Airport: 13 miles
More on Conway: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,816
Median Income: $140,172
Median Home Price: $565,388
Median Rent: $1,253
Distance to Closest Airport: 12 miles
More on Tega Cay: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 23,135
Median Income: $62,551
Median Home Price: $298,368
Median Rent: $852
Distance to Closest Airport: 96 miles
More on Easley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 36,064
Median Income: $50,558
Median Home Price: $301,360
Median Rent: $1,093
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Myrtle Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,220
Median Income: $29,340
Median Home Price: $142,887
Median Rent: $722
Distance to Closest Airport: 62 miles
More on Orangeburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,582
Median Income: $60,366
Median Home Price: $368,692
Median Rent: $1,016
Distance to Closest Airport: 36 miles
More on Beaufort: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 29,375
Median Income: $99,575
Median Home Price: $494,049
Median Rent: $2,050
Distance to Closest Airport: 16 miles
More on Bluffton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,456
Median Income: $83,079
Median Home Price: $354,593
Median Rent: $1,129
Distance to Closest Airport: 20 miles
More on Moncks Corner: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 32,014
Median Income: $65,712
Median Home Price: $248,666
Median Rent: $1,093
Distance to Closest Airport: 101 miles
More on Aiken: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 149,960
Median Income: $83,891
Median Home Price: $530,719
Median Rent: $1,517
Distance to Closest Airport: 7 miles
More on Charleston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Palmetto State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in South Carolina to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Palmetto State — 394 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 39 places from across the state.
For these 39, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 39, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Conway, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in South Carolina.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In South Carolina Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in South Carolina goes to Conway.
The best places to retire in South Carolina are Conway, Tega Cay, Easley, Myrtle Beach, Orangeburg, Beaufort, Bluffton, Moncks Corner, Aiken, and Charleston.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Cayce
- Anderson
- Greer
For more South Carolina reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In South Carolina
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conway | 25,121 | $48,161 | $283,094 | $883 |
| 2 | Tega Cay | 12,816 | $140,172 | $565,388 | $1,253 |
| 3 | Easley | 23,135 | $62,551 | $298,368 | $852 |
| 4 | Myrtle Beach | 36,064 | $50,558 | $301,360 | $1,093 |
| 5 | Orangeburg | 13,220 | $29,340 | $142,887 | $722 |
| 6 | Beaufort | 13,582 | $60,366 | $368,692 | $1,016 |
| 7 | Bluffton | 29,375 | $99,575 | $494,049 | $2,050 |
| 8 | Moncks Corner | 13,456 | $83,079 | $354,593 | $1,129 |
| 9 | Aiken | 32,014 | $65,712 | $248,666 | $1,093 |
| 10 | Charleston | 149,960 | $83,891 | $530,719 | $1,517 |
