Best counties to retire to in South Carolina
Best counties to retire to in South Carolina
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in South Carolina based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in South Carolina.
#25. Jasper County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 30,658
- Median household income: $63,503
- Median home value: $269,400
- Top places to live: Hardeeville (B-), Ridgeland (C+)
#24. Edgefield County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 26,508
- Median household income: $67,092
- Median home value: $194,300
- Top places to live: Murphys Estates (B), Edgefield (B-), Trenton (B+)
#23. Florence County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 136,921
- Median household income: $56,650
- Median home value: $165,500
- Top places to live: Florence (A-), Lake City (C+), Timmonsville (C)
#22. York County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 288,559
- Median household income: $83,060
- Median home value: $322,700
- Top places to live: Tega Cay (A+), Fort Mill (A+), Riverview (A)
#21. Pickens County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 132,604
- Median household income: $59,411
- Median home value: $216,000
- Top places to live: Central (A+), Clemson (A), Easley (A-)
#20. Richland County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 418,725
- Median household income: $61,699
- Median home value: $224,200
- Top places to live: Forest Acres (A+), Irmo (A), Columbia (A)
#19. Kershaw County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 66,924
- Median household income: $64,343
- Median home value: $191,900
- Top places to live: Lugoff (A-), Camden (B+), Elgin (B+)
#18. Saluda County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 18,958
- Median household income: $52,957
- Median home value: $123,200
- Top places to live: Saluda (B+), Ridge Spring (B+), Ward (B-)
#17. Greenwood County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 69,329
- Median household income: $50,635
- Median home value: $166,400
- Top places to live: Greenwood (B), Ninety Six (B+), Promised Land (B)
#16. Abbeville County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 24,352
- Median household income: $52,112
- Median home value: $147,200
- Top places to live: Abbeville (B), Due West (A), Donalds (B+)
#15. Bamberg County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 13,164
- Median household income: $43,206
- Median home value: $96,000
- Top places to live: Bamberg (C+), Denmark (C+), Ehrhardt (B)
#14. Greenville County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 537,575
- Median household income: $74,624
- Median home value: $273,900
- Top places to live: Five Forks (A+), Taylors (A), Wade Hampton (A)
#13. Clarendon County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 31,037
- Median household income: $48,887
- Median home value: $147,300
- Top places to live: Manning (C+), Turbeville (B), Alcolu (B-)
#12. Lexington County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 300,370
- Median household income: $75,014
- Median home value: $217,700
- Top places to live: Lexington (A+), Oak Grove (A), Seven Oaks (A)
#11. McCormick County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 9,701
- Median household income: $55,344
- Median home value: $159,000
- Top places to live: McCormick (B-), Modoc (C), Parksville (C-)
#10. Anderson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 207,218
- Median household income: $64,683
- Median home value: $212,500
- Top places to live: Pendleton (A+), Powdersville (A), Northlake (A)
#9. Charleston County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 414,711
- Median household income: $84,320
- Median home value: $450,800
- Top places to live: Mount Pleasant (A+), Sullivan's Island (A), Charleston (A)
#8. Newberry County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 38,121
- Median household income: $59,670
- Median home value: $158,200
- Top places to live: Newberry (B+), Little Mountain (A-), Silverstreet (B+)
#7. Aiken County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 171,949
- Median household income: $67,940
- Median home value: $199,500
- Top places to live: North Augusta (A), Aiken (A-), Belvedere (B+)
#6. Calhoun County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 14,150
- Median household income: $56,690
- Median home value: $148,800
- Top places to live: St. Matthews (B+), Cameron (B)
#5. Lancaster County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 100,905
- Median household income: $74,751
- Median home value: $298,100
- Top places to live: Elgin (B-), Springdale (B-), Lancaster (C)
#4. Oconee County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 79,566
- Median household income: $60,193
- Median home value: $217,200
- Top places to live: Seneca (A-), Walhalla (B), Utica (B)
#3. Georgetown County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 64,200
- Median household income: $66,734
- Median home value: $262,300
- Top places to live: Murrells Inlet (A-), Georgetown (B), Andrews (B-)
#2. Horry County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 368,937
- Median household income: $64,623
- Median home value: $260,500
- Top places to live: Socastee (A-), Surfside Beach (A-), Red Hill (A-)
#1. Beaufort County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 192,123
- Median household income: $84,819
- Median home value: $407,600
- Top places to live: Hilton Head Island (A), Bluffton (A-), Beaufort (B+)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
