This city is the best in South Carolina, report finds. Here’s why it tops the list
A Richland County town has been named the best place to live in South Carolina.
Forest Acres ranks No. 1 on a list of cities that offer residents jobs, housing and educational opportunities, according to a list published from the data website Stacker.
The Columbia-area city earned the top spot after Stacker studied data from the neighborhood tool Niche. Using figures from the U.S. government and other sources, the website said it considered multiple factors, “including the quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, employment statistics, and access to amenities.”
“On the list, there’s a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks,” Stacker said in its report, published Monday, Nov. 15. “Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history.”
Of the 190 cities evaluated in South Carolina, Forest Acres’ amenities helped it rise to the top of the list. The city received an overall A+ after getting high scores for public school enrollment, diversity, family-friendly environment, health, jobs and home values and costs, according to Niche.
Forest Acres ranked lower in other categories, earning B grades for cost of living, outdoor activities, entertainment, weather and commute times. It got a C+ for safety, a measure of death and crime rates, results show.
It’s not the only recognition Forest Acres has earned. The city of about 10,000 residents was also named the best South Carolina suburb and the state’s eighth-best suburban location for young professionals to call home, according to Niche.
Though Forest Acres gained statewide recognition, the Columbia metropolitan area didn’t make as much of a mark when it stacked up against others across the nation. The region ranked No. 54 of 150 metros on U.S. News & World Report’s 2021-22 list, which considered employment, population and quality-of-life trends.
On Stacker’s more-recent list of best places to live, other top-ranking cities were across the Palmetto State, including in the Charleston, Greenville and Charlotte, North Carolina, areas. Rounding out the top 10 were:
- Tega Cay at No. 2
- Riverview at No. 3
- Fort Mill at No. 4
- Five Forks at No. 5
- Irmo at No. 6
- Mount Pleasant at No. 7
- Lexington at No. 8
- Clemson at No. 9
- Lake Wylie at No. 10
