SC has 2 of the best places to live on East Coast in 2024, US News says. They beat NY and Miami

South Carolina is home to two of the best places to live on the U.S. East Coast, a new ranking shows.

U.S. News & World Report recently unveiled the annual ranking, which analyzed the metro areas within 100 miles of the Atlantic coast that rank highest among the publication’s Best Places to Live in 2024. That listing, which came out a few months ago and looked at 150 cities, considered a variety of metrics, from housing affordability and household income, to quality of education, access to health care, crime rates, air quality and more. The data is weighted based on the factors people consider most important, as determined by a U.S. News survey of Americans that asks what matters when picking a place to live.

So, which South Carolina cities are among the best places to live on the East Coast this year? Check them out below. To see the full list of 25 cities ranked, click here.

Charleston

Charleston ranked second as best place to live on the East Coast. The historic city came in at 13th best place to live in 2024, according to U.S. News.

The unique Southern city is filled to the brim with entertainment and great restaurants, but also features plenty of history, including preserved architecture and cobblestone streets. There are also a few beaches nearby for residents to enjoy.

“The city has 209 sunny days per year on average, earning Charleston eighth place out of 150 top U.S. cities for its pleasant weather,” U.S. News wrote. “Charleston also gets high marks for its vibrant job market ranging from hospitality positions to technology to sales and marketing.”

Myrtle Beach

The touristy beach city of Myrtle Beach ranked sixth on the list of best places to live on the East Coast. Also a popular retirement spot, the city ranked high due to having the highest number of restaurants, attractions and drinking establishments per 100,000 people, U.S. News states.

“Myrtle Beach also ranks highest on the East Coast for price parity (the overall affordability of goods, housing, utilities and other necessities) – though it’s important to note, compared to more affordable inland cities, Myrtle Beach ranks 67th in this category,” U.S. News wrote. “The draw of this beach lifestyle grew the city’s population by 3.75% between 2021 and 2022, making it the 11th-fastest growing city on the overall Best Places list.”

25 best places to live on the East Coast

1. Virginia Beach, Virginia
2. Charleston, South Carolina
3. Portland, Maine
4. Washington, D.C.
5. Melbourne, Florida
6. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
7. Jacksonville, Florida
8. Richmond, Virginia
9. Orlando, Florida
10. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
11. Port St. Lucie, Florida
12. Boston, Massachusetts
13. Daytona Beach, Florida
14. Manchester, New Hampshire
15. Savannah, Georgia
16. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
17. Providence, Rhode Island
18. Baltimore, Maryland
19. Miami, Florida
20. New York, New York
21. Salisbury, Maryland
22. Allentown, Pennsylvania
23. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
24. Worcester, Massachusetts
25. York, Pennsylvania

This story was originally published August 23, 2024 at 6:00 AM.

Patrick McCreless

The State

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Patrick McCreless is the Southeast service journalism editor for McClatchy, who leads and edits a team of six reporters in South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi. The team writes about trending news of the day and topics that help readers in their daily lives and better informs them about their communities. He attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama and grew up in Tuscaloosa, AL.