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Fall skyline of Columbia SC from Arsenal HillColumbia, the state capital · Photo: Akhenaton06 · CC BY-SA 3.0
South Carolina · 168 graded towns

Towns and cities in South Carolina

20 of South Carolina’s 168 graded towns and cities (12%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns. Tega Cay ranks first in the state with an A+; schools (A+) and jobs & income (A+) are its strongest grades; cost of living (C) is its lowest.

Letters are national: the overall grade blends cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk. How grades work

How South Carolina compares: report cardBest places to liveBest small townsMost affordable townsSafest townsTowns with the best schoolsHealthiest towns
168
towns of 2,500+ with an overall grade
20
grade A− or better nationally
1
of 2,500+ without enough data for a grade
94
smaller places (1,000–2,499) with subject grades
Towns by letter
A+3A10A−7B+12B19B−15C+22C23C−18D19D−20

All 168 graded towns, by county

Every town of 2,500+ residents with an overall grade, in 43 counties, A to Z inside each. The rank is among 167 South Carolina towns on the best places to live list. A town that spans counties is listed in the one where most of it lies.

168 graded towns, A to Z.

Sort within each county:
Jump to a county (43)

Abbeville County 1 graded

  1. C+Abbeville#72 of 1674,902

Aiken County 6 graded

  1. CAiken#99 of 16733,808
  2. BBelvedereunincorporated, Aiken County#45 of 1675,180
  3. C+Burnettown#67 of 1673,267
  4. C+Clearwaterunincorporated, Aiken County#68 of 1673,319
  5. C+Glovervilleunincorporated, Aiken County#78 of 1672,505
  6. A−North Augusta#14 of 16726,982

Anderson County 10 graded

  1. C−Anderson#121 of 16731,323
  2. BBelton#46 of 1674,631
  3. BCentervilleunincorporated, Anderson County#42 of 1677,049
  4. CHomeland Parkunincorporated, Anderson County#95 of 1676,632
  5. C+Honea Path#87 of 1673,950
  6. A−Northlakeunincorporated, Anderson County#15 of 1674,390
  7. BPendleton#34 of 1673,739
  8. B−Piedmontunincorporated, Anderson County · also in Greenville County#55 of 1675,462
  9. APowdersvilleunincorporated, Anderson County#9 of 16710,771
  10. B−Williamston#65 of 1674,338

Bamberg County 2 graded

  1. D−Bamberg#154 of 1672,920
  2. DDenmark#142 of 1673,059

Barnwell County 2 graded

  1. D−Barnwell#153 of 1674,619
  2. DWilliston#139 of 1672,898

Beaufort County 6 graded

  1. CBeaufort#88 of 16715,775
  2. B+Bluffton#32 of 16736,807
  3. B−Burtonunincorporated, Beaufort County#52 of 1676,912
  4. BHilton Head Island#49 of 16738,196
  5. CLaurel Bayunincorporated, Beaufort County#98 of 1675,882
  6. BPort Royal#35 of 16716,648

Berkeley County 5 graded

  1. B−Goose Creek#53 of 16752,010
  2. B−Hanahan#64 of 16722,415
  3. B−Ladsonunincorporated, Berkeley County · also in Charleston County#63 of 16716,140
  4. CMoncks Corner#96 of 16720,612
  5. C+Sangareeunincorporated, Berkeley County#70 of 1678,681

Charleston County 7 graded

  1. B−Charleston#57 of 167159,423
  2. C+Hollywood#74 of 1675,652
  3. B+Isle of Palms#24 of 1674,377
  4. AJames Island#4 of 16712,660
  5. B+Mount Pleasant#21 of 16795,469
  6. CNorth Charlestonalso in Dorchester County#106 of 167129,245
  7. ARavenel#11 of 1672,728

Cherokee County 2 graded

  1. C−East Gaffneyunincorporated, Cherokee County#123 of 1672,824
  2. D−Gaffney#150 of 16712,583

Chester County 1 graded

  1. C−Chester#118 of 1675,324

Chesterfield County 2 graded

  1. D−Cheraw#156 of 1674,921
  2. D−Pageland#148 of 1672,518

Clarendon County 2 graded

  1. DManning#145 of 1673,829
  2. DWyboounincorporated, Clarendon County#133 of 1673,639

Colleton County 1 graded

  1. D−Walterboro#166 of 1675,485

Darlington County 3 graded

  1. D−Darlington#152 of 1676,075
  2. DHartsville#144 of 1677,374
  3. CNorth Hartsvilleunincorporated, Darlington County#109 of 1673,304

Dillon County 1 graded

  1. D−Dillon#158 of 1676,227

Dorchester County 1 graded

  1. C+Summerville#73 of 16753,177

Edgefield County 1 graded

  1. C−Edgefield#113 of 1674,182

Fairfield County 1 graded

  1. C−Winnsboro#114 of 1673,305

Florence County 2 graded

  1. DFlorence#136 of 16741,231
  2. D−Lake City#157 of 1675,940

Georgetown County 4 graded

  1. DAndrews#146 of 1672,522
  2. CGeorgetown#104 of 1678,869
  3. C+Litchfield Beachunincorporated, Georgetown County#82 of 1679,044
  4. C+Murrells Inletunincorporated, Georgetown County#79 of 16710,044

Greenville County 17 graded

  1. CBereaunincorporated, Greenville County#89 of 16716,862
  2. B−Duneanunincorporated, Greenville County#62 of 1673,668
  3. AFive Forksunincorporated, Greenville County#12 of 16718,656
  4. BFountain Innalso in Laurens County#38 of 16714,722
  5. C+Ganttunincorporated, Greenville County#83 of 16715,401
  6. BGolden Groveunincorporated, Greenville County#39 of 1672,913
  7. C+Greenville#71 of 16775,310
  8. BGreeralso in Spartanburg County#44 of 16750,007
  9. CJudsonunincorporated, Greenville County#97 of 1672,515
  10. B+Mauldin#23 of 16731,465
  11. C+Parkerunincorporated, Greenville County#76 of 16712,898
  12. BSans Souciunincorporated, Greenville County#43 of 1677,665
  13. BSimpsonville#47 of 16728,459
  14. A−Taylorsunincorporated, Greenville County#20 of 16724,505
  15. B+Travelers Rest#30 of 1679,135
  16. AWade Hamptonunincorporated, Greenville County#5 of 16720,898
  17. BWelcomeunincorporated, Greenville County#41 of 1676,527

Greenwood County 1 graded

  1. DGreenwood#140 of 16722,745

Hampton County 1 graded

  1. D−Hampton#164 of 1672,598

Horry County 12 graded

  1. C+Carolina Forestunincorporated, Horry County#81 of 16726,263
  2. CConway#107 of 16730,627
  3. B+Forestbrookunincorporated, Horry County#29 of 1677,479
  4. CGarden Cityunincorporated, Horry County#105 of 16711,591
  5. BHomewoodunincorporated, Horry County#48 of 1672,708
  6. C+Little Riverunincorporated, Horry County#84 of 16711,771
  7. C−Loris#116 of 1672,935
  8. DMyrtle Beach#135 of 16740,937
  9. CNorth Myrtle Beach#100 of 16721,346
  10. C+Red Hillunincorporated, Horry County#86 of 16715,920
  11. B−Socasteeunincorporated, Horry County#66 of 16723,796
  12. CSurfside Beach#94 of 1674,392

Jasper County 2 graded

  1. D−Hardeeville#149 of 16716,459
  2. DRidgeland#141 of 1673,818

Kershaw County 3 graded

  1. DCamden#137 of 1679,201
  2. B−East Camdenunincorporated, Kershaw County#58 of 1674,194
  3. B+Lugoffunincorporated, Kershaw County#25 of 1679,786

Lancaster County 1 graded

  1. DLancaster#134 of 1679,623

Laurens County 2 graded

  1. C−Clinton#127 of 1677,918
  2. DLaurens#143 of 1679,327

Lee County 1 graded

  1. D−Bishopville#159 of 1672,829

Lexington County 9 graded

  1. DBatesburg-Leesville#129 of 1675,346
  2. DCayce#130 of 16713,680
  3. A−Lexington#16 of 16725,729
  4. A−Oak Groveunincorporated, Lexington County#18 of 16712,256
  5. B−Red Bankunincorporated, Lexington County#56 of 16711,314
  6. BSeven Oaksunincorporated, Lexington County#33 of 16715,921
  7. C−Springdaleanother Springdale is in Lancaster County#125 of 1672,877
  8. DWest Columbia#131 of 16718,489
  9. B−White Knollunincorporated, Lexington County#60 of 1678,310

Marion County 2 graded

  1. D−Marion#167 of 1676,028
  2. D−Mullins#165 of 1673,838

Marlboro County 1 graded

  1. D−Bennettsville#162 of 1677,565

Newberry County 1 graded

  1. C−Newberry#126 of 16710,891

Oconee County 4 graded

  1. B+Keowee Keyunincorporated, Oconee County#27 of 1673,351
  2. C−Seneca#120 of 1679,424
  3. C+Walhalla#80 of 1674,320
  4. C−Westminster#122 of 1672,504

Orangeburg County 2 graded

  1. DBrookdaleunincorporated, Orangeburg County#147 of 1674,291
  2. D−Orangeburg#163 of 16713,383

Pickens County 5 graded

  1. A−Central#19 of 1675,298
  2. B+Clemson#28 of 16718,941
  3. B−Easley#59 of 16727,319
  4. BLiberty#40 of 1673,344
  5. C+Pickens#75 of 1673,188

Richland County 10 graded

  1. C+Arthurtownunincorporated, Richland CountyCollege campus3,272
  2. BBlythewood#51 of 1677,233
  3. C−Capitol Viewunincorporated, Richland County#115 of 1674,374
  4. C−Columbia#124 of 167147,035
  5. C+Dentsvilleunincorporated, Richland County#69 of 16715,209
  6. CForest Acres#103 of 16710,390
  7. AIrmoalso in Lexington County#13 of 16712,204
  8. B+Lake Murray of Richlandunincorporated, Richland County#22 of 1677,023
  9. C−St. Andrewsunincorporated, Richland County#128 of 16719,868
  10. C+Woodfieldunincorporated, Richland County#85 of 1679,465

Saluda County 1 graded

  1. CSaluda#90 of 1673,086

Spartanburg County 17 graded

  1. C−Arcadiaunincorporated, Spartanburg County#112 of 1673,426
  2. C−Arkwrightunincorporated, Spartanburg County#119 of 1672,816
  3. B+Boiling Springsunincorporated, Spartanburg County#26 of 16712,936
  4. CDuncan#91 of 1674,675
  5. CHilltopunincorporated, Spartanburg County#101 of 1672,950
  6. CInman#93 of 1673,458
  7. B−Landrum#54 of 1672,865
  8. B+Lyman#31 of 1677,103
  9. B−Pacolet#61 of 1672,644
  10. BRoebuckunincorporated, Spartanburg County#50 of 1672,902
  11. CSaxonunincorporated, Spartanburg County#102 of 1674,085
  12. C−Southern Shopsunincorporated, Spartanburg County#111 of 1673,797
  13. C−Spartanburg#117 of 16739,978
  14. BValley Fallsunincorporated, Spartanburg County#36 of 1678,239
  15. C+Wellford#77 of 1673,914
  16. CWhitneyunincorporated, Spartanburg County#92 of 1673,685
  17. BWoodruff#37 of 1676,026

Sumter County 4 graded

  1. DCherryvaleunincorporated, Sumter County#132 of 1672,611
  2. DDalzellunincorporated, Sumter County#138 of 1672,946
  3. D−Lakewoodunincorporated, Sumter County#160 of 1673,544
  4. D−Sumter#155 of 16743,094

Union County 1 graded

  1. D−Union#151 of 1678,077

Williamsburg County 1 graded

  1. D−Kingstree#161 of 1673,022

York County 10 graded

  1. A+Baxter Villageunincorporated, York County#2 of 1674,542
  2. AClover#6 of 1677,659
  3. A+Fort Mill#3 of 16738,673
  4. AIndia Hookunincorporated, York County#7 of 1673,960
  5. A−Lake Wylieunincorporated, York County#17 of 16716,006
  6. ALesslieunincorporated, York County#8 of 1673,077
  7. ANewportunincorporated, York County#10 of 1674,121
  8. CRock Hill#110 of 16775,911
  9. A+Tega Cay#1 of 16714,457
  10. CYork#108 of 16710,620
Also in South Carolina

Not on the ranked list

College campuses

Graded like every town, but left off the best-places lists: more than half the residents are college students (ACS), so its figures mostly describe student life. They appear on the subject lists with a “College campus” label.

  • C+Arthurtown Richland County · 56% college students

Not graded (1)

Towns of 2,500+ without enough data for an overall grade. Their pages show every subject that is graded.

  • –Clemson University Pickens County · 7,015 people. No overall grade: no cost of living or safety figures, and the overall needs three of the four.

Smaller places 94 with 1,000–2,499 residents

These have subject grades (safety, schools, health and the rest) but no overall grade or rank: the overall starts at 2,500 residents.

Go deeper

Lists in South Carolina

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All South Carolina rankings →
Best places to live167 towns · #1 Tega CayBest small towns103 towns · #1 Baxter VillageMost affordable towns168 towns · #1 ArthurtownSafest towns87 towns · #1 Tega CayTowns with the best schools169 towns · #1 Baxter Village and Fort Mill and Tega CayHealthiest towns169 towns · #1 Mount PleasantBest towns for jobs & income168 towns · #1 Tega CayMost walkable towns169 towns · #1 Clemson UniversityTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk169 towns · #1 HilltopBest towns for the outdoors169 towns · #1 Clemson UniversityMost historic towns169 towns · #1 AbbevilleTowns with the most civic life102 towns · #1 Isle of PalmsTowns with the least snow64 towns · #1 EasleyDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns64 towns · #1 LandrumDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters163 towns · #1 Hilton Head IslandDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers163 towns · #1 CayceDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers163 towns · #1 Travelers RestDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes168 towns · #1 Isle of PalmsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes168 towns · #1 CherryvaleDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns98 towns · #1 HardeevilleDescribed, no letters