Best counties to raise a family in South Carolina

- Population: 56,204
- Median home value: $106,100 (70% own)
- Median rent: $765 (30% own)
- Median household income: $41,330
- Top public schools: Grassy Pond Elementary School (grade B+), Northwest Elementary School (grade B), Corinth Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: The Village School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: East Gaffney (grade B minus), Gaffney (grade B minus), Blacksburg (grade B minus)

- Population: 13,525
- Median home value: $86,300 (73% own)
- Median rent: $638 (27% own)
- Median household income: $44,408
- Top public schools: Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School (grade B minus), Richard Carroll Elementary School (grade B minus), Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Andrew Jackson Academy (grade C+)
- Top places to live: Bamberg (grade B minus), Denmark (grade C), Ehrhardt (grade B)

- Population: 14,198
- Median home value: $114,500 (82% own)
- Median rent: $874 (18% own)
- Median household income: $52,491
- Top public schools: Sandy Run School (grade B minus), Calhoun County High School (grade B minus), St. Matthews School (grade C)
- Top private schools: Calhoun Academy (grade B), Upward Way Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Cameron (grade B minus), St. Matthews (grade B minus)

- Population: 25,938
- Median home value: $149,000 (75% own)
- Median rent: $697 (25% own)
- Median household income: $55,183
- Top public schools: Fox Creek Charter High School (grade B+), Merriwether Middle School (grade B), Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton Middle School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Francis Hugh Wardlaw Academy (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Murphys Estates (grade B minus), Edgefield (grade B minus), Trenton (grade B)

- Population: 43,655
- Median home value: $83,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $740 (29% own)
- Median household income: $45,046
- Top public schools: Jefferson Elementary School (grade B), Plainview Elementary School (grade B), Chesterfield High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: South Pointe Christian School (grade C+), Faith Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Jesus Is Lord Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Pageland (grade B minus), Cheraw (grade C+), McBee (grade B)

- Population: 62,992
- Median home value: $199,500 (81% own)
- Median rent: $998 (19% own)
- Median household income: $55,719
- Top public schools: Waccamaw Elementary School (grade A minus), Waccamaw Middle School (grade B+), Waccamaw Intermediate School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Lowcountry Preparatory School (grade A), The Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences (grade A+), Little Smurfs CDC (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Murrells Inlet (grade A minus), Georgetown (grade C+), Andrews (grade C+)

- Population: 105,537
- Median home value: $129,200 (65% own)
- Median rent: $879 (35% own)
- Median household income: $49,040
- Top public schools: Millwood Elementary School (grade B), Hillcrest Middle School (grade B minus), Shaw Heights Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Wilson Hall (grade A), Thomas Sumter Academy (grade B+), St. Anne & St. Jude Catholic School (grade A)
- Top places to live: Stateburg (grade B+), Cane Savannah (grade B+), Oakland (grade B)

- Population: 63,433
- Median home value: $105,300 (69% own)
- Median rent: $743 (31% own)
- Median household income: $40,704
- Top public schools: South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics (grade A+), Mayo High School for Math, Science & Technology (grade A), Carolina Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Trinity Collegiate School (grade A), Emmanuel Christian School (grade B minus), Thomas Hart Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: North Hartsville (grade A), Hartsville (grade B+), Darlington (grade C+)

- Population: 19,008
- Median home value: $112,700 (77% own)
- Median rent: $698 (23% own)
- Median household income: $46,451
- Top public schools: Hollywood Elementary School (grade B+), Saluda High School (grade B minus), Saluda Middle School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: W. Wyman King Academy (grade B)
- Top places to live: Saluda (grade B minus), Ridge Spring (grade B minus), Ward (grade C+)

- Population: 69,338
- Median home value: $127,900 (64% own)
- Median rent: $777 (36% own)
- Median household income: $44,513
- Top public schools: Ninety Six Elementary School (grade B), Edgewood Middle School (grade B), Ninety Six High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Greenwood Christian School (grade B+), Cambridge Academy (grade B minus), Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood (grade A)
- Top places to live: Greenwood (grade B minus), Ninety Six (grade B+), Ware Shoals (grade B minus)

- Population: 37,842
- Median home value: $119,300 (76% own)
- Median rent: $848 (24% own)
- Median household income: $50,950
- Top public schools: Mid-Carolina Middle School (grade A minus), Little Mountain Elementary School (grade B+), Prosperity-Rikard Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: New Berry Academy (grade A minus), Newberry Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Newberry (grade B), Little Mountain (grade B+), Prosperity (grade B)

- Population: 224,806
- Median home value: $216,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,263 (27% own)
- Median household income: $70,786
- Top public schools: Berkeley County Middle College High School (grade A), Stratford High School (grade A minus), Marrington Middle School of the Arts (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Bishop England High School (grade A), St. John's Christian Academy (grade B), Faith Christian School & Daycare (grade C)
- Top places to live: Hanahan (grade A minus), Goose Creek (grade B+), Ladson (grade B+)

- Population: 137,276
- Median home value: $139,900 (65% own)
- Median rent: $811 (35% own)
- Median household income: $51,902
- Top public schools: Lucy T. Davis Elementary School (grade A minus), Royall Elementary School (grade A minus), John W. Moore Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The King's Academy (grade A minus), Florence Christian School (grade B+), Carolina Academy (grade B)
- Top places to live: Quinby (grade A minus), Florence (grade B+), Lake City (grade C+)

- Population: 24,374
- Median home value: $104,100 (76% own)
- Median rent: $733 (24% own)
- Median household income: $45,710
- Top public schools: Wright Middle School (grade A minus), Cherokee Trail Elementary School (grade B+), Abbeville High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Cold Springs Mennonite School (grade unavailable), Shiloh Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Abbeville (grade B minus), Due West (grade A), Calhoun Falls (grade B)

- Population: 67,148
- Median home value: $117,800 (72% own)
- Median rent: $790 (28% own)
- Median household income: $46,754
- Top public schools: Clinton Elementary School (grade B+), Clinton High School (grade B minus), Laurens Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Laurens Academy (grade B), Fountain Inn Christian School (grade unavailable), Lighthouse Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Joanna (grade B), Clinton (grade B), Laurens (grade B minus)

- Population: 94,653
- Median home value: $225,400 (80% own)
- Median rent: $821 (20% own)
- Median household income: $67,407
- Top public schools: Harrisburg Elementary School (grade A minus), Indian Land Middle School (grade A minus), Van Wyck Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Carolina Christian Academy (grade A minus), Field of Dreams - Edgewater (grade unavailable), The Goddard School - Indian Land (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Elgin (grade B minus), Springdale (grade B minus), Irwin (grade C)

- Population: 344,865
- Median home value: $199,100 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,033 (26% own)
- Median household income: $54,688
- Top public schools: HCS Early College High School (grade A), Socastee Middle (grade A), Ocean Bay Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach (grade B+), Conway Christian School (grade B+), Calvary Christian School (grade B)
- Top places to live: Socastee (grade A minus), Surfside Beach (grade A minus), Red Hill (grade B+)

- Population: 64,989
- Median home value: $150,200 (82% own)
- Median rent: $770 (18% own)
- Median household income: $56,449
- Top public schools: Pine Tree Hill Elementary School (grade B+), Lugoff-Elgin Middle School (grade B), North Central High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Camden Military Academy (grade A), Cornerstone Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Lugoff (grade B+), Camden (grade B), Elgin (grade B)

- Population: 168,045
- Median home value: $159,600 (75% own)
- Median rent: $892 (25% own)
- Median household income: $57,572
- Top public schools: North Augusta High School (grade A minus), Tall Pines STEM Academy (grade A minus), Chukker Creek Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Mead Hall Episcopal School (grade A), South Aiken Baptist Christian School (grade B+), Victory Christian School (grade B)
- Top places to live: North Augusta (grade A), Aiken (grade A minus), Belvedere (grade A minus)

- Population: 77,932
- Median home value: $169,900 (74% own)
- Median rent: $801 (26% own)
- Median household income: $52,842
- Top public schools: Walhalla Elementary School (grade A minus), Walhalla Middle School (grade B+), Ravenel Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Oconee Christian Academy (grade A minus), Trinity Baptist Preschool (grade unavailable), Foothills Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Seneca (grade A minus), Utica (grade B), Walhalla (grade B)

- Population: 129,617
- Median home value: $166,800 (69% own)
- Median rent: $842 (31% own)
- Median household income: $53,188
- Top public schools: D.W. Daniel High School (grade A), Clemson Elementary School (grade A minus), R.C. Edwards Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Easley Christian School (grade A minus), Lakeview Christian School (grade C+), Clemson Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Clemson (grade A), Central (grade A), Easley (grade A minus)

- Population: 202,223
- Median home value: $160,700 (74% own)
- Median rent: $823 (26% own)
- Median household income: $56,796
- Top public schools: Southwood Academy for the Arts (grade A), Powdersville Middle School (grade A), Powdersville Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Montessori School of Anderson (grade A), Anderson Christian School (grade B), New Covenant School (grade B)
- Top places to live: Pendleton (grade A+), Northlake (grade A), Powdersville (grade A)

- Population: 186,007
- Median home value: $328,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,279 (25% own)
- Median household income: $74,199
- Top public schools: Hilton Head Island High School (grade A), Bluffton High School (grade A), May River High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Hilton Head Preparatory School (grade A+), Heritage Academy (grade A), Beaufort Academy (grade A)
- Top places to live: Hilton Head Island (grade A), Bluffton (grade A minus), Shell Point (grade B+)

- Population: 322,864
- Median home value: $164,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $878 (28% own)
- Median household income: $57,627
- Top public schools: Reidville Elementary School (grade A), Meeting Street Academy-Spartanburg (grade A), Inman Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Spartanburg Day School (grade A+), Oakbrook Preparatory School (grade A), Spartanburg Christian Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Reidville (grade A), Duncan (grade A), Boiling Springs (grade A minus)

- Population: 291,723
- Median home value: $170,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $963 (24% own)
- Median household income: $65,623
- Top public schools: River Bluff High School (grade A), Meadow Glen Elementary School (grade A), Lexington High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Northside Christian Academy (grade A minus), Grace Christian School (grade B+), Union United Methodist Church Kindergarten (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Seven Oaks (grade A), Lexington (grade A), Cayce (grade A)

- Population: 414,719
- Median home value: $175,100 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,042 (41% own)
- Median household income: $56,137
- Top public schools: Spring Hill High School (grade A+), Lake Murray Elementary School (grade A), Dutch Fork High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (grade A+), Hammond School (grade A+), Ben Lippen School (grade A)
- Top places to live: Forest Acres (grade A+), Irmo (grade A), Blythewood (grade A)

- Population: 404,946
- Median home value: $352,800 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,310 (37% own)
- Median household income: $70,807
- Top public schools: Academic Magnet High School (grade A+), Charleston School of the Arts (grade A+), Wando High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Porter-Gaud School (grade A+), Ashley Hall School (grade A), Charleston Collegiate School (grade A)
- Top places to live: Mount Pleasant (grade A), Sullivan's Island (grade A), Charleston (grade A)

- Population: 160,180
- Median home value: $228,700 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,187 (27% own)
- Median household income: $68,046
- Top public schools: Fort Dorchester Elementary School (grade A), Rollings Middle School of the Arts (grade A), Beech Hill Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Pinewood Preparatory School (grade A), Cathedral Academy (grade A minus), Dorchester Academy (grade C+)
- Top places to live: North Charleston (grade B), Reevesville (grade B+), Harleyville (grade C+)

- Population: 276,569
- Median home value: $238,700 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,093 (28% own)
- Median household income: $72,234
- Top public schools: Pleasant Knoll Middle (grade A+), Springfield Middle School (grade A+), Gold Hill Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: St. Anne Catholic School (grade A), Lake Pointe Academy (grade A minus), Walnut Grove Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Tega Cay (grade A+), Fort Mill (grade A+), India Hook (grade A)

- Population: 519,178
- Median home value: $212,300 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,011 (31% own)
- Median household income: $65,513
- Top public schools: SC Governor's School for Arts & Humanities (grade A+), Green Charter School Greenville (grade A), Greenville Technical Charter High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Christ Church Episcopal School (grade A+), St. Joseph's Catholic School (grade A+), Southside Christian School (grade A)
- Top places to live: Five Forks (grade A+), Wade Hampton (grade A), Taylors (grade A)