These are best places to live in SC in 2026. Charleston and Greenville aren’t even in top 10

Niche is out with its new list of best places to live in South Carolina and none of the biggest cities are in the top 10.

But their nearby communities are, including Forest Acres and Lexington in the Midlands and Five Forks, Taylors and Wade Hampton in Greenville County.

All the top 10 communities have one thing in common, their schools are highly rated.

Greenville was ranked 14, Charleston 20 and Columbia 41.

Tega Cay was ranked first. The York County suburb of Charlotte with 13,615 people “offers residents a rural feel and most residents own their homes,” Niche said.

Tega Cay was founded in 1970 as a planned community by the Ervin Company on 1,540 wooded acres on Lake Wylie.

It was a joint venture between the Ervin Company and Crescent Land and Timber (a subsidiary of Duke Power). They built roads, a clubhouse, three pools, tennis courts and a golf course before house construction began.

After financial difficulties of two developers, Tega Cay became a city in 1982.

The median home value is $529,200, compared to the national median value of $332,700 and the median rent is $1,408, compared to $1,413 nationally. Public schools are highly rated,

“Many families live in Tega Cay and residents tend to lean conservative,” Niche said.

2. Central, located in Pickens County, has a population of 5,320. It is about four miles north of Clemson.

“Living in Central offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents rent their homes,” Niche said. The median rent is $876 and median home value is $256,600, both well below the national median.

“Many young professionals live in Central and residents tend to be conservative.”

3. Forest Acres has a population of 10,530.

The Richland County community “offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes,” Niche said.

The median home value is $279,300, median rent $1,263.

“There are a lot of bars, restaurants, and parks,” Niche said. “Many young professionals and retirees live in Forest Acres and residents tend to be liberal.”

4. Five Forks, located south of Greenville, is rapidly developing with high-end subdivisions and commercial business. It has a population of 18,656.

Most people own their homes. The median home value is $452,200, median rent $2,178.

“Many families live in Five Forks and residents tend to lean conservative,” Niche said.

5. Fort Mill, a suburb of Charlotte with a population of 30,775, is located in York County. It is about eight miles east of Tega Cay.

Most residents own their homes. The median home value is $487,500, median rent $1,503.

“Many families live in Fort Mill and residents tend to lean conservative,” niche said.

6. Clemson has a population of 18,072 and is located in Pickens County. Kayak recently listed it as the No. 1 most underrated college town in the United States.

Most residents rent their homes. The median rent is $1,007 and the median home value $398,400.

As with any college town, it has many bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks.

“Residents tend to be conservative,” Niche said.

7. Lexington has a population of 24,585 and most residents own their homes.

The median home value is $297,700, median rent $1,545.

“Many families and young professionals live in Lexington and residents tend to be conservative,” Niche said.

8. Taylors, in Greenville County, has a population of 24,505.

Most residents own their homes.

The median home value is $257,500, median rent $1,337.

“Many families and young professionals live in Taylors and residents tend to lean conservative,” Niche said.

9. Wade Hampton is a community in Greenville County with 20,898 people. Most residents own their homes. The median home value is $339,000, median rent $1,115.

The area includes a mix of young professionals and retirees.

“Residents tend to lean conservative,” Niche said.

10. Mount Pleasant with 93,993 is the largest municipality on the Niche top 10 and the only one in the Lowcountry. It is adjacent to Charleston Harbor and is the fourth-most populous municipality in South Carolina.

Its population doubled between 1990 and 2000

Most residents own their homes. The median Home Value is $748,500, median rent $2,159.

It links to Charleston via the Ravenel Bridge over the Cooper River.

“Many families and young professionals live in Mount Pleasant and residents tend to lean liberal,” Niche said.