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Isle-of-Palms-sunrise-sc1Isle of Palms, #1 on this list · Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
South Carolina rankings · Civic life

Towns with the most civic life in South Carolina

Isle of Palms ranks first on civic life among South Carolina’s 102 towns of 2,500+; 4 of the 102 grade A− or better on civic life nationally.

The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. How grades work

#1

Isle of Palms

Charleston County · 4,377 people
A

Civic life grade, better than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #24 of 167 in SC

#2

Ravenel

Charleston County · 2,728 people
A−

Civic life grade, better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 167 in SC

#3

Camden

Kershaw County · 9,201 people
A−

Civic life grade, better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #137 of 167 in SC

All 102 towns

Civic life grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

102 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1Isle of PalmsCharleston County · 4,377 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #24 of 167
2RavenelCharleston County · 2,728 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 167
3CamdenKershaw County · 9,201 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #137 of 167
4HollywoodCharleston County · 5,652 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #74 of 167
5ClemsonPickens County · 18,941 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #28 of 167
6ColumbiaRichland County · 147,035 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #124 of 167
7IrmoRichland County · 12,204 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #13 of 167
8BeaufortBeaufort County · 15,775 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #88 of 167
9CharlestonCharleston County · 159,423 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #57 of 167
10West ColumbiaLexington County · 18,489 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #131 of 167
11WalhallaOconee County · 4,320 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #80 of 167
12Mount PleasantCharleston County · 95,469 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #21 of 167
13GreenvilleGreenville County · 75,310 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #71 of 167
14Tega CayYork County · 14,457 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 167
15LexingtonLexington County · 25,729 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #16 of 167
16SenecaOconee County · 9,424 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #120 of 167
17Fort MillYork County · 38,673 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #3 of 167
18AikenAiken County · 33,808 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #99 of 167
19CayceLexington County · 13,680 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #130 of 167
20OrangeburgOrangeburg County · 13,383 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #163 of 167
21HartsvilleDarlington County · 7,374 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #144 of 167
22ClintonLaurens County · 7,918 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #127 of 167
23GeorgetownGeorgetown County · 8,869 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #104 of 167
24HamptonHampton County · 2,598 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #164 of 167
25BlythewoodRichland County · 7,233 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #51 of 167
26BambergBamberg County · 2,920 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #154 of 167
27DenmarkBamberg County · 3,059 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #142 of 167
28Rock HillYork County · 75,911 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #110 of 167
29BlufftonBeaufort County · 36,807 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #32 of 167
30PendletonAnderson County · 3,739 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #34 of 167
31SpartanburgSpartanburg County · 39,978 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #117 of 167
32KingstreeWilliamsburg County · 3,022 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #161 of 167
33Myrtle BeachHorry County · 40,937 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #135 of 167
34LancasterLancaster County · 9,623 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #134 of 167
35SumterSumter County · 43,094 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #155 of 167
36NewberryNewberry County · 10,891 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #126 of 167
37FlorenceFlorence County · 41,231 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #136 of 167
38North AugustaAiken County · 26,982 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #14 of 167
39AndersonAnderson County · 31,323 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #121 of 167
40SummervilleDorchester County · 53,177 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #73 of 167
41BarnwellBarnwell County · 4,619 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #153 of 167
42Hilton Head IslandBeaufort County · 38,196 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #49 of 167
43Lake CityFlorence County · 5,940 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #157 of 167
44AbbevilleAbbeville County · 4,902 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #72 of 167
45GaffneyCherokee County · 12,583 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #150 of 167
46ChesterChester County · 5,324 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #118 of 167
47BishopvilleLee County · 2,829 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #159 of 167
48WestminsterOconee County · 2,504 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #122 of 167
49RidgelandJasper County · 3,818 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #141 of 167
50GreenwoodGreenwood County · 22,745 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #140 of 167
51Travelers RestGreenville County · 9,135 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #30 of 167
52North CharlestonCharleston County · 129,245 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #106 of 167
53Forest AcresRichland County · 10,390 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #103 of 167
54CloverYork County · 7,659 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 167
55North Myrtle BeachHorry County · 21,346 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #100 of 167
56WinnsboroFairfield County · 3,305 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #114 of 167
57PickensPickens County · 3,188 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #75 of 167
58James IslandCharleston County · 12,660 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 167
59MarionMarion County · 6,028 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #167 of 167
60ManningClarendon County · 3,829 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #145 of 167
61Surfside BeachHorry County · 4,392 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #94 of 167
62BeltonAnderson County · 4,631 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #46 of 167
63EasleyPickens County · 27,319 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #59 of 167
64Goose CreekBerkeley County · 52,010 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #53 of 167
65ConwayHorry County · 30,627 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #107 of 167
66Moncks CornerBerkeley County · 20,612 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #96 of 167
67SpringdaleLexington County · 2,877 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #125 of 167
68UnionUnion County · 8,077 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #151 of 167
69WalterboroColleton County · 5,485 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #166 of 167
70SimpsonvilleGreenville County · 28,459 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #47 of 167
71EdgefieldEdgefield County · 4,182 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #113 of 167
72MullinsMarion County · 3,838 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #165 of 167
73DillonDillon County · 6,227 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #158 of 167
74Honea PathAnderson County · 3,950 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #87 of 167
75LaurensLaurens County · 9,327 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #143 of 167
76MauldinGreenville County · 31,465 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #23 of 167
77CentralPickens County · 5,298 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #19 of 167
78HanahanBerkeley County · 22,415 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #64 of 167
79BennettsvilleMarlboro County · 7,565 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #162 of 167
80GreerGreenville County · 50,007 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #44 of 167
81LandrumSpartanburg County · 2,865 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #54 of 167
82WoodruffSpartanburg County · 6,026 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #37 of 167
83Port RoyalBeaufort County · 16,648 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #35 of 167
84YorkYork County · 10,620 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #108 of 167
85CherawChesterfield County · 4,921 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #156 of 167
86AndrewsGeorgetown County · 2,522 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #146 of 167
87DuncanSpartanburg County · 4,675 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #91 of 167
88BurnettownAiken County · 3,267 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #67 of 167
89HardeevilleJasper County · 16,459 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #149 of 167
90LorisHorry County · 2,935 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #116 of 167
91Fountain InnGreenville County · 14,722 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #38 of 167
92WilliamstonAnderson County · 4,338 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #65 of 167
93LymanSpartanburg County · 7,103 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #31 of 167
94LibertyPickens County · 3,344 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #40 of 167
95WillistonBarnwell County · 2,898 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #139 of 167
96InmanSpartanburg County · 3,458 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #93 of 167
97Batesburg-LeesvilleLexington County · 5,346 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #129 of 167
98SaludaSaluda County · 3,086 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #90 of 167
99PacoletSpartanburg County · 2,644 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #61 of 167
100WellfordSpartanburg County · 3,914 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #77 of 167
101PagelandChesterfield County · 2,518 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall D− · #148 of 167
102DarlingtonDarlington County · 6,075 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall D− · #152 of 167
Not ranked

67 towns without a civic life grade

Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.

Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which South Carolina town has the most civic life?

Isle of Palms (Charleston County) ranks first on civic life among 102 towns, with an A; Ravenel and Camden follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a civic life grade (102 in South Carolina). 67 towns of 2,500+ lack the figures and are listed above. Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the South Carolina page.

Go deeper

More South Carolina lists

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 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
Other states

Towns with the most civic life in other states

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