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Greenville, LocalPublished May 14, 2026
2026 Top 25 Best Places to Live in South Carolina
South Carolina’s natural beauty, attractions, festivals, thriving economy, and nearly perfect year-round weather makes it a great place to live. It is home to almost 5 million people, a number that keeps growing by the day. A recent study by United Van Lines shows that South Carolina continues to be in the top 5 most popular states for new residents.
South Carolina’s major cities: Mount Pleasant, Charleston, and Greenville remain the best places to live in the state. Across its cities and towns, Niche.com picked out the best places to live in South Carolina, in which 10 out of the top 25 were from the Upstate, SC area.
Quick Facts:
Population: 1634 (2020 Estimates)
Median Home Price: $351,500
Median Gross Rent: $1,407
Median Household Income: $51,111
Cost of Living: 84.8 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Reidville
Quick Facts:
Population: 26,982 (2025 Est.)
Median Home Price: $223,600 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,169 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $86,092 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 84.6 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
23. Cayce
Quick Facts:
Population: 13,680 (2025 Est)
Median Home Price: $166,800 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,360 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $60,045 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 90.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3
Learn more about Cayce
22. Chapin
Quick Facts:
Population: 1,809 (2020 Est)
Median Home Price: $221,000 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,570 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $48,750 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 90.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Chapin
21. Travelers Rest
Quick Facts:
Population: 9,135 (2025 Est)
Median Home Price: $284,800 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,360 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $54,583 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Travelers Rest
20. Charleston
Quick Facts:
Population: 159,423 (2025 Est)
Median Home Price: $509,700 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,722 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $92,414 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 112 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Charleston
19. Northlake
Quick Facts:
Population: 3,818 (2020 Estimates)
Median Home Price: $239,100 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,038 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $51,317 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 87.7 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
18. James Island
Quick Facts:
Population: 11,621 (2020 Est)
Median Home Price: $508,600 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,695 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $104,217 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 112 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about James Island
Quick Facts:
Population: 28,459 (2025 Estimates)
Median Home Price: $299,300 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,415 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $82,457 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Simpsonville
16. Pendleton
Quick Facts:
Population: 3,489 (2020 Estimates)
Median Home Price: $250,500
Median Gross Rent: $1,034
Median Household Income: $28,052
Cost of Living: 87.7 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Pendleton
15. Mauldin
Quick Facts:
Population: 31,465 (2025 Est)
Median Home Price: $258,500 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,490 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $82,331 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Mauldin
Quick Facts:
Population: 75,310 (2025 Est)
Median Home Price: $487,500 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,312 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $71,472 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Greenville
Quick Facts:
Population: 50,007 (2025 Estimates)
Median Home Price: $288,700 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,198 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $82,262 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Greer
12. Irmo
Quick Facts:
Population: 12,204 (2025 Est)
Median Home Price: $203,400 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,477 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $80,489 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 87.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Irmo
Quick Facts:
Population: 1,891 (2020 Census)
Median Home Price: $2,000,001
Median Gross Rent: $2,375
Median Household Income: $110,870
Cost of Living: 112 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Sullivan’s Island
10. Mount Pleasant
Quick Facts:
Population: 95,469 (2025 Est)
Median Home Price: $748,500 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $2,159 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $124,755 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 112 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Mount Pleasant
9. Wade Hampton
Quick Facts:
Population: 21,482 (2020 census)
Median Home Price: $339,000 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,115 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $77,449 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Quick Facts:
Population: 23,222 (2020 Census)
Median Home Price: $257,700 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,337 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $77,144 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
7. Lexington
Quick Facts:
Population: 25,729 (2025 Est)
Median Home Price: $297,700 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,545 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $87,126 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 90.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Lexington
Quick Facts:
Population: 17,681 (2020 Est)
Median Home Price: $398,400 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,007 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $49,713 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 88.2 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Clemson
5. Fort Mill
Quick Facts:
Population: 38,673 (2025 Est)
Median Home Price: $487,500 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,503 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $121,823 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 100.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Fort Mill
Quick Facts:
Population: 17,737 (2020 census)
Median Home Price: $452,200 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $2,178 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $141,786 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 91.3 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
3. Forest Acres
Quick Facts:
Population: 10,390 (2025 Est)
Median Home Price: $279,300 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,263 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $78,306 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 87.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Forest Acres
Quick Facts:
Population: 5,298 (2025 Est)
Median Home Price: $256,600 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $876 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $60,258 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 88.2 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Central
1. Tega Cay
Quick Facts:
Population: 14,457 (2025 Est)
Median Home Price: $529,900 (2020-2024)
Median Gross Rent: $1,408 (2020-2024)
Median Household Income: $142,000 (2020-2024)
Cost of Living: 100.4 compared to the South Carolina average of 89.3.
Learn more about Tega Cay
Whether you are a first-time home buyer, a seasoned home buyer, or relocating to South Carolina, there’s an ideal neighborhood for you. South Carolina has a variety of living options- each with its own merit.
The 2026 Best Places to Live in South Carolina ranking is based on several key factors including location, the quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, employment statistics, and local amenities to measure the overall quality of an area.
Greenville is located east of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Upstate South Carolina, a lush, rolling midpoint between Atlanta, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Set against the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville SC has stunning natural beauty combined with traditional southern charm. Greenville’s downtown area is one of America’s Best
Downtowns. It is also named one of the 10 Fastest Growing Cities in the US and is consistently ranked among the country’s top cities to do business and best places to live.
Click here to learn more information about why Greenville is a nice place to live.
Comparison to other similar-sized cities
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