10 best places to live in SC, US News & World Report says. Charleston & Greenville aren’t no.1
South Carolina is filled with wonderful places to live that are brimming with natural splendor and rich history. Still, some places are better than others for a variety of reasons, be it for job availability, quality of life or housing affordability.
Do you believe you’re living in one of the best places in the Palmetto State?
U.S. News & World Report compiles rankings of the best places to live in each state every year to help readers make informed decisions when choosing to settle down. The publication uses data from sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, the Department of Commerce, the Federal Reserve and the Bureau of Economic Analysis to rank places based on categories such as quality of education and health care, environmental risk, the local economy, housing affordability, cost of living, crime rates and the job market.
Below are the 10 best places to live in South Carolina for 2025, according to U.S. News and World Report. To look at best places to live in the state beyond the top 10, click here.
#1 Mount Pleasant
- Population: 91,655
- Average commute: 22 minutes
- Median home value: $623,354
- Median monthly rent: $1,669
- Median household income: $117,048
- Learn more: Mount Pleasant tourism
#2 Greenville
- Population: 79,420
- Average commute: 17 minutes
- Median home value: $420,025
- Median monthly rent: $1,071
- Median household income: $73,817
- Learn more: Greenville tourism
#3 Florence
- Population: 40,618
- Average commute: 16 minutes
- Median home value: $186,847
- Median monthly rent: $619
- Median household income: $186,847
- Learn more: Florence tourism
#4 Charleston
- Population: 158,129
- Average commute: 20 minutes
- Median home value: $463,644
- Median monthly rent: $1,387
- Median household income: $90,050
- Learn more: Charleston tourism
#5 Rock Hill
- Population: 77,824
- Average commute: 20 minutes
- Median home value: $305,773
- Median monthly rent: $1,102
- Median household income: $64,843
- Learn more: Rock Hill tourism
#6 Columbia
- Population: 142,731
- Average commute: 17 minutes
- Median home value: $249,080
- Median monthly rent: $944
- Median household income: $55,671
- Learn more: Columbia tourism
#7 Sumter
- Population: 43,190
- Average commute: 15 minutes
- Median home value: $178,166
- Median monthly rent: $930
- Median household income: $54,371
- Learn more: Sumter tourism
#8 Spartanburg
- Population: 41,131
- Average commute: 17 minutes
- Median home value: $207,734
- Median monthly rent: $777
- Median household income: $51,979
- Learn more: Spartanburg tourism
#9 North Charleston
- Population: 112,075
- Average commute: 22 minutes
- Median home value: $309,852
- Median monthly rent: $1,170
- Median household income: $63,971
- Learn more: North Charleston tourism
#10 Hilton Head
- Population: 48,209
- Average commute: 15 minutes
- Median home value: $633,316
- Median monthly rent: $1,375
- Median household income: $98,779
- Learn more: Hilton Head tourism
