The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in South Carolina

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 98 towns of 500–10,000 people in South Carolina. #1 is Keowee Key, SC.

1. 25Manning, South Carolina

   Better for retirees than 67% of South Carolina towns

   Manning is a city of 3,878 people in Clarendon County, South Carolina. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 78% of South Carolina towns and better transit than 72% of South Carolina towns.

   3,878 people · Clarendon County · median home $157,600 · income $28,569 · Jan low 35°F · 1 in snow

   Full Manning, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Lake City, South Carolina

   Better for retirees than 68% of South Carolina towns

   Lake City is a city of 5,903 people in Florence County, South Carolina. It also ranks better for young professionals than 74% of South Carolina towns.

   5,903 people · Florence County · median home $144,300 · income $33,600 · Jan low 34°F · 2 in snow

   Full Lake City, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Laurens, South Carolina

   Better for retirees than 68% of South Carolina towns

   

   Laurens is a city of 9,335 people in Laurens County, South Carolina. It also ranks hipper than 85% of South Carolina towns and better for first-time buyers than 79% of South Carolina towns.

   9,335 people · Laurens County · median home $180,700 · income $49,246 · Jan low 30°F · 1 in snow

   Full Laurens, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Springdale, South Carolina

   Better for retirees than 69% of South Carolina towns

   Springdale is a town of 2,744 people in Lexington County, South Carolina. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of South Carolina towns and more vibrant than 93% of South Carolina towns.

   2,744 people · Lexington County · median home $221,700 · income $77,722 · Jan low 35°F · 1 in snow

   Full Springdale, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Walhalla, South Carolina

   Better for retirees than 69% of South Carolina towns

   Walhalla is a city of 4,072 people in Oconee County, South Carolina. It also ranks more of a college town than 91% of South Carolina towns and better for families than 73% of South Carolina towns.

   4,072 people · Oconee County · median home $171,900 · income $36,327 · Jan low 29°F · 2 in snow

   Full Walhalla, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Clinton, South Carolina

   Better for retirees than 71% of South Carolina towns

   Clinton is a city of 7,633 people in Laurens County, South Carolina. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 82% of South Carolina towns and better for young professionals than 70% of South Carolina towns.

   7,633 people · Laurens County · median home $173,400 · income $44,522 · Jan low 32°F · 2 in snow

   Full Clinton, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Camden, South Carolina

   Better for retirees than 71% of South Carolina towns

   Camden is a city of 7,788 people in Kershaw County, South Carolina. It also ranks hipper than 97% of South Carolina towns and more upscale than 74% of South Carolina towns.

   7,788 people · Kershaw County · median home $265,300 · income $63,576 · Jan low 31°F · 0 in snow

   Full Camden, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Baxter Village, South Carolina

   Better for retirees than 72% of South Carolina towns

   Baxter Village is a community of 4,217 people in York County, South Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 98% of South Carolina towns and better for families than 97% of South Carolina towns.

   4,217 people · York County · median home $670,500 · income $151,629 · Jan low 31°F · 0 in snow

   Full Baxter Village, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Cheraw, South Carolina

   Better for retirees than 74% of South Carolina towns

   Cheraw is a town of 5,040 people in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 88% of South Carolina towns.

   5,040 people · Chesterfield County · median home $152,200 · income $26,689 · Jan low 31°F · 0 in snow

   Full Cheraw, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Seneca, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 74% of South Carolina towns

    

    Seneca is a city of 8,850 people in Oconee County, South Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 88% of South Carolina towns and hipper than 83% of South Carolina towns.

    8,850 people · Oconee County · median home $240,000 · income $52,022 · Jan low 34°F · 2 in snow

    Full Seneca, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Blythewood, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 75% of South Carolina towns

    Blythewood is a town of 4,772 people in Richland County, South Carolina. It also ranks better for families than 95% of South Carolina towns and more upscale than 94% of South Carolina towns.

    4,772 people · Richland County · median home $384,600 · income $94,167 · Jan low 29°F · 1 in snow

    Full Blythewood, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Pendleton, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 79% of South Carolina towns

    Pendleton is a town of 3,489 people in Anderson County, South Carolina. It also ranks hipper than 98% of South Carolina towns and better for cycling than 95% of South Carolina towns.

    3,489 people · Anderson County · median home $250,500 · income $61,901 · Jan low 33°F · 2 in snow

    Full Pendleton, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Hardeeville, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 81% of South Carolina towns

    Hardeeville is a city of 7,473 people in Jasper County, South Carolina. It also ranks more seaside character than 92% of South Carolina towns and better for cycling than 85% of South Carolina towns.

    7,473 people · Jasper County · median home $488,900 · income $78,365 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

    Full Hardeeville, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Travelers Rest, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 83% of South Carolina towns

    Travelers Rest is a city of 7,788 people in Greenville County, South Carolina. It also ranks better for young professionals than 98% of South Carolina towns and better for cycling than 92% of South Carolina towns.

    7,788 people · Greenville County · median home $284,800 · income $54,583 · Jan low 35°F · 2 in snow

    Full Travelers Rest, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Hopkins, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 86% of South Carolina towns

    Hopkins is a community of 2,514 people in Richland County, South Carolina. It also ranks better transit than 98% of South Carolina towns and easier by car than 96% of South Carolina towns.

    2,514 people · Richland County · median home $99,300 · income $50,063 · Jan low 37°F · 1 in snow

    Full Hopkins, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Newport, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 86% of South Carolina towns

    Newport is a community of 4,744 people in York County, South Carolina. It also ranks better for families than 99% of South Carolina towns and more upscale than 92% of South Carolina towns.

    4,744 people · York County · median home $342,000 · income $110,417 · Jan low 31°F · 0 in snow

    Full Newport, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Abbeville, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 87% of South Carolina towns

    

    Abbeville is a city of 4,874 people in Abbeville County, South Carolina. It also ranks quieter than 80% of South Carolina towns.

    4,874 people · Abbeville County · median home $106,400 · income $40,575 · Jan low 32°F · 0 in snow

    Full Abbeville, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Ravenel, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 89% of South Carolina towns

    Ravenel is a town of 2,542 people in Charleston County, South Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 87% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 84% of South Carolina towns.

    2,542 people · Charleston County · median home $238,700 · income $82,738 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

    Full Ravenel, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Hollywood, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 89% of South Carolina towns

    Hollywood is a town of 5,339 people in Charleston County, South Carolina. It also ranks quieter than 88% of South Carolina towns and more upscale than 84% of South Carolina towns.

    5,339 people · Charleston County · median home $460,100 · income $73,693 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

    Full Hollywood, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Lake Murray of Richland, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 93% of South Carolina towns

    Lake Murray of Richland is a community of 8,110 people in Richland County, South Carolina. It also ranks better for families than 98% of South Carolina towns and more upscale than 96% of South Carolina towns.

    8,110 people · Richland County · median home $422,100 · income $119,107 · Jan low 35°F · 1 in snow

    Full Lake Murray of Richland, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Surfside Beach, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 94% of South Carolina towns

    Surfside Beach is a town of 4,155 people in Horry County, South Carolina. It also ranks more vibrant than 98% of South Carolina towns and better for a vacation home than 97% of South Carolina towns.

    4,155 people · Horry County · median home $450,100 · income $70,106 · Jan low 37°F

    Full Surfside Beach, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Litchfield Beach, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 95% of South Carolina towns

    Litchfield Beach is a community of 8,370 people in Georgetown County, South Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of South Carolina towns and more seaside character than 91% of South Carolina towns.

    8,370 people · Georgetown County · median home $459,000 · income $76,351 · Jan low 37°F

    Full Litchfield Beach, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 95% of South Carolina towns

    Murrells Inlet is a community of 9,740 people in Georgetown County, South Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of South Carolina towns and more seaside character than 92% of South Carolina towns.

    9,740 people · Georgetown County · median home $366,000 · income $77,438 · Jan low 37°F

    Full Murrells Inlet, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Isle of Palms, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 96% of South Carolina towns

    Isle of Palms is a city of 4,347 people in Charleston County, South Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of South Carolina towns and more seaside character than 99% of South Carolina towns.

    4,347 people · Charleston County · median home $1,581,300 · income $156,979 · Jan low 37°F · 0 in snow

    Full Isle of Palms, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Keowee Key, South Carolina

    Better for retirees than 98% of South Carolina towns

    Keowee Key is a community of 2,716 people in Oconee County, South Carolina. It also ranks quieter than 99% of South Carolina towns and better for a vacation home than 98% of South Carolina towns.

    2,716 people · Oconee County · median home $556,000 · income $124,788 · Jan low 29°F · 2 in snow

    Full Keowee Key, South Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More South Carolina rankings

• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in South Carolina
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in South Carolina
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in South Carolina
• 25 Small Towns in South Carolina With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in South Carolina With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in South Carolina
• 25 Small Towns in South Carolina With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in South Carolina

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio