Schools: See Local Schools. What is the tallest mountain in South Carolina? There are also many city parks and outdoor activities to enjoy at any time of the year. There is also a ton of fun stuff to do in the entire Grand Strand Region, including some of the best golf in the area, the Family Kingdom Amusement Park, boating and fishing, one of the tallest Ferris wheelsin the country, and much more. The Innovation Quarter business . We compared the various South Carolina metropolitan areas using data from several platforms to measure variable criteria for home affordability, healthy employment and population growth. Rock Hill is a nice option for people who want to move to a more inland city in South Carolina, but still have large cities nearby. Mauldin is just 15 minutes from Greenville, yet this city of 25,000 residents has developed its own identity, offering a great blend of safe and affordable living along with great schools and easy access to nature. Cameron Creek (Home Value Range: $150,000 to $450,000+) Offering a mixture of ranch-style and two-story homes and townhouses, Cameron Creek has options available for every size family and budget. It offers several amenities that typically belong in bigger cities thanks to being the home of Clemson University. While not the cheapest place to buy a home in South Carolina, Ninety Six offers a low cost of living, relaxed lifestyle, and great weather, making it a prime area to buy lakefront property. South Carolina has of miles of beaches, many things to do, golf courses everywhere, beatuful antebellum homes, mild year round weather, and is a great place to live. South Carolinas landscape is so diverse that in a matter of just over three hours you can go from ocean views at sea level to heavenly views while towering over the mountainous terrain to the northwest. There is also a vibrant nightlife for college students, young professionals and the like. South Carolina was also one of the original 13 colonies of America, so it has a rich history and offers many museums for history buffs as well. As South Carolina's top city in gross retail sales, North Charleston is a favorite shopping destination. Meanwhile, it offers a strong job market, good schools, and relatively low crime, making it a great blend for all residents. It is close to Charlotte, sitting at the border between North and South Carolina. So if youre looking for skyscrapers, this area isnt for you. There are even some beaches that you can bring an RV, and camp right near the beach, including Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort and Port Royal, Edisto Beach State Park, and Huntington Beach State Park near Murrells Inlet. It has recently become the biggest city in South Carolina and is the crown jewel of the state. Coming back down to earth with a cushty soft landing is the suburb of Forest Acres, a humble group of 10,545 people live here and the cost of living too has returned to earth and is near perfect for the average working family. Whether you prefer an exclusive lakefront golf resort near the Blue Ridge Mountains, love the historic charm of Charleston, or dream of lazing in Lowcountry style on Pawleys Island, the state's diverse cities and regions cater to a variety of lifestyles and interests. Cost of Living: -12.7% lower. High Hampton Resort in Cashiers has recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, and it continues to be one of the best luxury resorts in North Carolina. No matter where youre from in the Palmetto State youve probably found yourself hearing the mountains calling your name from time to time. It is 4% cheaper than the national average, while housing costs are 11% lower. This is an ideal place to take a farm tour and celebrate the seasons with family festivities. These small mountain towns in NC obviously have lots to offer, and in my opinion Blowing Rock (population 1300, altitude 3500+ feet) is truly amongst the finest. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Advisor site. An established lakefront sporting community in western South Carolina, buffered by 63,368 acres of national forest land and state parks and the 70,000 acre Lake Thurmond (Clarks Hill Lake). Winston-Salem is one of the best places to live in North Carolina for families as the metro area has affordable housing and a low cost of living. That has catapulted Moncks Corner towards becoming, South Carolinas 4th fastest growing town over the last five years. It is especially great for retirees, as it was named the 3rd best city to retire in South Carolina. The University of South Carolina is also nearby in Columbia. The cost of living in Clemson is 1% below the national average, Myrtle Beach is well-known as a hotspot for roughly 14 million vacationers, the city continues to attract new businesses. It made US News & World Reports Cheapest Places to Live list, coming in at #25. Blowing Rock NC. Rock Hill is located near Lake Wylie, which is on the North Carolina Border. There are no Mountains in this area, it is flat, so if you want to live near the Mountains, you will need to move to a different part of South Carolina. Corowinds Amusement Parkis located near Rock Hill, and has multiple rollercoasters and rides, and is a great place to take the family. At Devils Fork State Park you can also opt to just sit along the shore and gawk all day long if you want. 8 Pros and Cons of Living in Pueblo Colorado, 8 Best Small Towns in Florida to Raise a Family in 2023 Safe & Great Schools, The 12 Most Liberal Cities in Florida in 2023, Why is Seattle so Expensive in 2023? This community of 12,000 residents sits right in the heart of South Carolinas Lowcountry. First on the list is Asheville, North Carolina. On the other side of the State, Greenville South Carolina is located in the Upstate region, near the Blue Ridge Mountains. Please see our disclaimers to learn more about our site. compared to the rest of the US, and even 10% lower than the rest of South Carolina. Criminal offenses reported. (Clemson, Easley) Expand. You will not find any skyscrapers in Charleston; this is one of the most well preserved historic districts in the country. the 3rd best city to retire in South Carolina. This state once thrived on agriculture and natural resources but in more modern times there is a big industry for steel and machinery production, meaning jobs are in no short supply. 15. But, it does come at a price. It is actually one of the best places to live in South Carolina as well. Nearby City: Chestnut Springs. However, there still are a lot of surviving historic structures in columbia. 6. We have mutliple resort style gated and golf communities inlcuding: Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms, and Hourbour Town on Hilton Head Island. In the end, it's one hike you'll never forget. These Lakes also have numerous campgrounds around the Lake, and are great for Fishing and boating. Is it the coast? It is easy to understand why South Carolina has been attracting so many new residents. This is a port city that was founded way back in 1670, making it one of the oldest in the country. Plan your travels with our list of the best small towns in South Carolina. Best Places 2021-2022 Rank: 48. You'll agree that a trip to Caesar's Head State Park is the perfect, Caesars Head State Park Visitor Center, 8155 Geer Hwy, Cleveland, SC 29635, USA, Spend the perfect weekend away in the mountains at this boutique European style hotel. The area includes Northwoods Mall, which includes more than 120 stores, and Tanger Outlets, where shoppers can find designer items at discounted prices. Sort by: Real Estate Rankings. Here is our privacy policy that outlines how we handle your data. I am originally from Montana, and I definitely miss the Mountains, but there are also a lot of pros of living in the Low Country as well, that I will get to shortly. 2023 Forbes Media LLC. Average prices here are about 7% lower than the rest of the US. Population. This Lake is a little over 12000 acres, with about 325 miles of shoreline. This park has many festivals and gatherings thoughout the year, and You can take a walk across the 345 foot pedistrian bridge located here, known as Liberty Bridge. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. Residents can also see many performance art productions on campus and explore the South Carolina Botanical Gardens. At the same time, you can enjoy the enticing historical charm of the Carolina Lowcountry. Sumter is very affordable and conveniently located near the center of the state. The median home price in Little Mountain is $244,600. It rarely snows in Charleston, and I have only seen the snow stick to the ground a couple of times since Ive lived here. That has catapulted Moncks Corner towards becoming South Carolinas 4th fastest growing town over the last five years. Ive lived in Charleston for just over 5 years, and The first 2 years that I lived in Charleston we had a hurricane evacuation each of those years. If youre looking to live on the South Carolina side of Charlotte, Rock Hill is an excellent option as the major metroplex is only an hour away. Myrtle Beach is one of the most affordable South Carolina coastal towns and it also has an encouraging job sector for year-round residents. Ellijay. Median Home Price. Lexington, South Carolina is a small, tight-knit community of 20,000 residents and is a suburb of Columbia that is only 20 minutes away from the state capital. There is water everywhere here; Charleston has multiple rivers and tidal creeks nearby that are great for fishing and crabbing, it has Charleston Harbor, where first shots of the civil war were fired at Fort Sumter, and the Atlantic Ocean. 10,834 14. COST OF LIVING FOR RETIREES: 3% below the national average. For example, there is the historic Sylvia Theater that is located right in the heart of downtown as well as the McCelvey Center, which houses a 500+ seat theater and a historical center. Travelers Rest, SC, USA. It features a huge workout area, indoor rock climbing wall, basketball courts, and even instructor-led classes. Location: Check on Google Maps. Clemson and Pickens County can be considered an . The city also has an affordable cost of living. Median Home Price: $278,750. Hilton Head Island. It's a good time to buy in Little Mountain. More than 100 feet of cascading water descend across various rock formations at the zenith of this short 1.5-mile hike. This is, compared with the rest of the country, quite an affluent area. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Forbes also considered the number of crimes reported in each community. During the Revolutionary War, people mined this mountain for iron ore to make cannonsand later, it may even have been a stop on the Underground Railroad. Of course, residents can benefit from all the amenities that have been built to attract tourists, including the beachfront, amusement park, boardwalk, golf courses, shopping malls, and live music venues. Clemson: "One of South Carolina's best small towns is likely Clemson. In fact, the tallest mountain in South Carolina is Sassafras Mountain, residing approximately 3,500 feet above sea level. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Outsiders have taken notice as these positive attributes have made Mauldin one of the fastest-growing cities in the state. May, October and September are the most pleasant months in Mauldin, while July and January are the least comfortable months. Nicknamed the Holy City for its many church steeples dating back to the 1700s, this coastal city offers numerous walking tours and museums. And with 42% of existing residents living in rented properties, there is more than ample choice out there. Dont forget about the mountain region, too, giving you wonderful options for hiking and biking. From the Sandburg home, it's an idyllic one-and-a-half-mile trek to the top of Big Glassy Mountain . State: South Carolina. If you do want to live near the coast in South Carolina, you are going to be more affected by Hurricanes than the areas that are inland. While Columbia doesn't offer the picturesque landscapes of other metro areas on the list, the relatively low cost of living may be the reason why the city's population grew by 2.9% between 2016 and 2021 due to net migration, according to the U.S . Homesick? CITY POPULATION: 131,674. Its proximity to Charlotte and relaxed living right on the water make Tega Cay one of the most desirable small towns to live in South Carolina. This beautiful lake is owned and maintained by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and is one of the more popular man-made lakes in the state. Lake Hartwell is near Anderson, in the Greenville area. Greenville is also within about a 2 1/2 hour driving distance from several large cities, including Atlanta Georgia, Charlotte North Carolina, Columbia South Carolina, Asheville North Carolina, and Augusta Georgia, where the Masters Golf tournament is played.. Myrtle Beach is a popular tourist location in the Peedee region of South Carolina, and offers and offers a 1.2 mile beachfront boardwalk, multiple golf courses, several tall buildings and skyscrapers, restaurants, mini-golf, and plenty of fun things to do with the family. You can also find some live music during the towns summer concert series or in one of the local bars throughout the year. Wikimedia/Connor401. You wont find many other towns as friendly or welcoming as Moncks Corner. Did any of them miss this list? According to December 2021 data, homes in Anderson were selling for a median price of $225,000, up 6.8 percent compared to the previous year. Influential employers in the area include BMW, Lockheed, General Electric and IBM. 9. 2. The strong job market around Mount Pleasant and Charleston has attracted many young professionals, while the above-average school system makes it a good choice for families. Safest cities in south carolina 2022 - safest cities in south carolina 2022 It has the sixth-lowest violent crime rate of small cities and ranks in the top 25 in education and unemployment. Columbia has a large downtown area with some of the tallest skyscrapers in the South Carolina. Table Rock State Park is a beautiful and major lure for Pickens County. If youre looking for a small town with an abundance of culture, then look no further than this charming community located in the northern part of the state. There are also numerous opportunities to enjoy movies, music, and performance arts around York. Weekend home on Sullivans Island we hear you jest. There seems to be a Mount Pleasant wherever you go in the world, South Carolinas Mount Pleasant is arguably the most pleasant though. Bordering Lake Murray is the suburb of state capital Columbia, Seven Oaks. Meanwhile, its crime is also low 52% below the national average. Columbias relatively low cost of living, especially for a state capital, makes it quite an attractive place to live. South Carolina. I mentioned Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand Region of South Carolina earlier in the video, but there are many other popular beachtowns in South Carolina. If so, feel free to share your recommendations with us in the comments below. But, the town has still retained its quaint and wholesome character. There is the beautiful and walkable downtown district that is home to many top restaurants and bars. R&A Orchards, Mountain Valley Farm, the Reece Apple House, and Hillcrest Orchards are all located here. The falls sit amid 40,000-acres of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness. 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