Best counties to live in South Carolina

- Overall Rank: 1,313
- Population: 43,536
- Median household income: $46,326
- Median home value: $91,400 (72% own)
- Median rent: $796 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Plainview Elementary School (grade B), Edwards Elementary School (grade B), Chesterfield High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: South Pointe Christian School (grade B minus), Jesus Is Lord Christian School (grade unavailable), Faith Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Pageland (grade B minus), Cheraw (grade C+), Chesterfield (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 1,312
- Population: 13,311
- Median household income: $43,920
- Median home value: $97,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $772 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School (grade B), Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School (grade B minus), Richard Carroll Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Andrew Jackson Academy (grade B)
- Top places: Bamberg (grade B minus), Denmark (grade C), Ehrhardt (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 1,028
- Population: 63,025
- Median household income: $44,317
- Median home value: $132,600 (69% own)
- Median rent: $804 (31% rent)
- 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), Thomas Hart Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: North Hartsville (grade A), Hartsville (grade B+), Darlington (grade C)

- Overall Rank: 978
- Population: 18,952
- Median household income: $51,041
- Median home value: $117,800 (78% own)
- Median rent: $709 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Hollywood Elementary School (grade B+), Saluda Middle School (grade B minus), Saluda Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: W. Wyman King Academy (grade B+)
- Top places: Saluda (grade B), Ridge Spring (grade B), Ward (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 976
- Population: 105,199
- Median household income: $53,970
- Median home value: $146,300 (66% own)
- Median rent: $995 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Alice Drive Elementary School (grade B), Millwood Elementary School (grade B minus), Hillcrest Middle School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: Wilson Hall (grade A), Thomas Sumter Academy (grade B+), Westside Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Oakland (grade B+), Stateburg (grade B), Cane Savannah (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 974
- Population: 56,200
- Median household income: $47,011
- Median home value: $124,500 (71% own)
- Median rent: $828 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Corinth Elementary School (grade B), Grassy Pond Elementary School (grade B), Northwest Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: The Village School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Gaffney (grade B minus), East Gaffney (grade B minus), Blacksburg (grade C)

- Overall Rank: 899
- Population: 26,181
- Median household income: $60,033
- Median home value: $162,900 (75% own)
- Median rent: $786 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Fox Creek Charter High School (grade A minus), Merriwether Middle School (grade B), Merriwether Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Francis Hugh Wardlaw Academy (grade B+)
- Top places: Murphys Estates (grade B), Edgefield (grade B minus), Trenton (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 890
- Population: 14,145
- Median household income: $55,550
- Median home value: $130,900 (83% own)
- Median rent: $968 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Calhoun County High School (grade B), Sandy Run School (grade B minus), St. Matthews School (grade C)
- Top private schools: Calhoun Academy (grade B minus), Upward Way Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Cameron (grade B minus), St. Matthews (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 860
- Population: 231,419
- Median household income: $77,874
- Median home value: $253,100 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,410 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Berkeley County Middle College High School (grade A), Hanahan High School (grade A minus), Marrington Middle School of the Arts (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Bishop England High School (grade A minus), Ridge Christian Academy (grade B+), St. John's Christian Academy (grade B)
- Top places: Hanahan (grade A minus), Goose Creek (grade B+), Ladson (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 785
- Population: 24,368
- Median household income: $49,759
- Median home value: $118,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $791 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Cherokee Trail Elementary School (grade B+), Wright Middle School (grade B+), Diamond Hill Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Cold Springs Mennonite School (grade unavailable), Shiloh Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Abbeville (grade B), Due West (grade A), Donalds (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 782
- Population: 37,918
- Median household income: $56,706
- Median home value: $139,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $855 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Little Mountain Elementary School (grade B+), Mid-Carolina Middle School (grade B+), Whitmire Community Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Newberry Academy (grade A minus), Newberry Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Newberry (grade B+), Little Mountain (grade A minus), Silverstreet (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 774
- Population: 67,456
- Median household income: $52,077
- Median home value: $138,600 (71% own)
- Median rent: $826 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Clinton Elementary School (grade B), Clinton Middle School (grade B), Clinton High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Laurens Academy (grade B), Fountain Inn Christian School (grade unavailable), Lighthouse Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Joanna (grade B+), Clinton (grade B), Laurens (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 640
- Population: 69,309
- Median household income: $47,553
- Median home value: $144,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $849 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Ninety Six Elementary School (grade A minus), Edgewood Middle School (grade B+), Hodges Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood (grade A minus), Cambridge Academy (grade B+), Greenwood Christian School (grade B)
- Top places: Greenwood (grade B minus), Ninety Six (grade B+), Promised Land (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 623
- Population: 63,594
- Median household income: $59,782
- Median home value: $234,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,046 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Waccamaw Elementary School (grade B+), Waccamaw Middle School (grade B+), Waccamaw High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences (grade A+), Lowcountry Preparatory School (grade A), Little Smurfs CDC (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Murrells Inlet (grade A minus), Georgetown (grade B minus), Andrews (grade C+)

- Overall Rank: 556
- Population: 97,611
- Median household income: $72,186
- Median home value: $272,100 (82% own)
- Median rent: $881 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Harrisburg Elementary School (grade A minus), Van Wyck Elementary School (grade A minus), Indian Land 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: Elgin (grade B+), Springdale (grade B minus), Lancaster (grade C)

- Overall Rank: 530
- Population: 356,578
- Median household income: $59,880
- Median home value: $235,000 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,128 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: HCS Early College High School (grade A+), Socastee Middle (grade A), Ocean Bay Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School (grade A), Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach (grade B+), Conway Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places: Socastee (grade A minus), Surfside Beach (grade A minus), North Myrtle Beach (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 500
- Population: 137,015
- Median household income: $56,088
- Median home value: $157,400 (65% own)
- Median rent: $871 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Royall Elementary School (grade B+), West Florence High School (grade B+), 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: Florence (grade A minus), Lake City (grade C+), Timmonsville (grade C minus)

- Overall Rank: 447
- Population: 65,779
- Median household income: $61,343
- Median home value: $173,800 (82% own)
- Median rent: $844 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Wateree Elementary School (grade B+), North Central High School (grade B+), Blaney Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Camden Military Academy (grade A), Cornerstone Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Lugoff (grade B+), Elgin (grade B+), Camden (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 345
- Population: 162,139
- Median household income: $73,686
- Median home value: $273,000 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,259 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Rollings Middle School of the Arts (grade A), Ashley Ridge High School (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: North Charleston (grade B), Reevesville (grade B), Harleyville (grade C+)

- Overall Rank: 331
- Population: 78,775
- Median household income: $56,710
- Median home value: $192,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $852 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Walhalla Middle School (grade A minus), Northside Elementary School (grade A minus), Keowee Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Oconee Christian Academy (grade A minus), Trinity Baptist Preschool (grade unavailable), Foothills Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Seneca (grade B+), Utica (grade B), Walhalla (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 314
- Population: 169,865
- Median household income: $63,212
- Median home value: $181,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $973 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Tall Pines STEM Academy (grade A minus), North Augusta High School (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: North Augusta (grade A), Aiken (grade A minus), Belvedere (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 301
- Population: 131,106
- Median household income: $57,628
- Median home value: $196,600 (70% own)
- Median rent: $896 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: D.W. Daniel High School (grade A), Clemson Elementary School (grade A), R.C. Edwards Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Lakeview Christian School (grade B+), Easley Christian School (grade C+), Clemson Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Clemson (grade A+), Central (grade A), Easley (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 250
- Population: 330,119
- Median household income: $61,955
- Median home value: $195,800 (73% own)
- Median rent: $960 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Pine Street Elementary School (grade A), Cooley Springs-Fingerville Elementary School (grade A), Shoally Creek 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: Reidville (grade A), Boiling Springs (grade A), Duncan (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 207
- Population: 204,592
- Median household income: $62,347
- Median home value: $189,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $904 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Southwood Academy of the Arts (grade A), Powdersville Elementary School (grade A), McCants Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Montessori School of Anderson (grade A), Temple Christian Academy (grade B+), Anderson Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places: Pendleton (grade A+), Northlake (grade A), Powdersville (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 166
- Population: 295,934
- Median household income: $71,280
- Median home value: $197,600 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,061 (24% rent)
- 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: Lexington (grade A+), Seven Oaks (grade A), Cayce (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 144
- Population: 189,071
- Median household income: $81,260
- Median home value: $377,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,435 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Coosa Elementary School (grade A), Bluffton High School (grade A minus), Okatie Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Hilton Head Preparatory School (grade A+), Heritage Academy (grade A+), Beaufort Academy (grade A)
- Top places: Hilton Head Island (grade A), Bluffton (grade A minus), Port Royal (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 135
- Population: 416,161
- Median household income: $59,850
- Median home value: $201,200 (60% own)
- Median rent: $1,142 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Spring Hill High School (grade A+), Lake Murray Elementary School (grade A), Oak Pointe Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (grade A+), Hammond School (grade A+), Ben Lippen School (grade A)
- Top places: Forest Acres (grade A+), Irmo (grade A), Blythewood (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 125
- Population: 282,987
- Median household income: $80,158
- Median home value: $287,600 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,204 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Pleasant Knoll Middle (grade A+), Gold Hill Elementary School (grade A+), Springfield Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: St. Anne Catholic School (grade A), Walnut Grove Christian School (grade A minus), Lake Pointe Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: Tega Cay (grade A+), Fort Mill (grade A+), Lake Wylie (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 74
- Population: 409,840
- Median household income: $78,795
- Median home value: $415,000 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,427 (37% rent)
- 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+), University School of the Lowcountry (grade A), Charleston Collegiate School (grade A)
- Top places: Mount Pleasant (grade A+), Isle of Palms (grade A), Sullivan's Island (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 24
- Population: 528,251
- Median household income: $71,328
- Median home value: $248,900 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,122 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Greenville Technical Charter High School (grade A+), SC Governor's School for Arts & Humanities (grade A+), Sterling School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Christ Church Episcopal School (grade A+), Saint Joseph's Catholic School (grade A), Southside Christian School (grade A)
- Top places: Five Forks (grade A+), Taylors (grade A), Wade Hampton (grade A)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.