Hilltop
unincorporated, Spartanburg County · 2,950 peopleHazard risk grade, better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #101 of 167 in SC
South Carolina rankings · Hazard risk
Towns with the lowest natural-hazard risk in South Carolina
Hilltop ranks first on hazard risk among South Carolina’s 169 towns of 2,500+; 30 of the 169 grade A− or better on hazard risk nationally.
The Hazard risk grade: FEMA’s expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, where residents live (National Risk Index). How grades work
A+
Southern Shops
unincorporated, Spartanburg County · 3,797 peopleHazard risk grade, better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #111 of 167 in SC
#3Clemson University
unincorporated, Pickens County · 7,015 peopleHazard risk grade, better than 92% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
All 169 towns
Hazard risk grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 33 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
169 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
1Hilltopunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 2,950 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #101 of 167
2Southern Shopsunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 3,797 peopleA+better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #111 of 167
3Clemson University College campusunincorporated, Pickens County · 7,015 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
6Arcadiaunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 3,426 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #112 of 167
8Belvedereunincorporated, Aiken County · 5,180 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #45 of 167
11Clearwaterunincorporated, Aiken County · 3,319 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #68 of 167
12Homeland Parkunincorporated, Anderson County · 6,632 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #95 of 167
13Arkwrightunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 2,816 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #119 of 167
14Fountain InnGreenville County · 14,722 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #38 of 167
18Whitneyunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 3,685 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #92 of 167
19Saxonunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 4,085 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #102 of 167
21Batesburg-LeesvilleLexington County · 5,346 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #129 of 167
22Ganttunincorporated, Greenville County · 15,401 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #83 of 167
26Newportunincorporated, York County · 4,121 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 167
28Roebuckunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 2,902 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #50 of 167
29Bereaunincorporated, Greenville County · 16,862 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #89 of 167
35Judsonunincorporated, Greenville County · 2,515 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #97 of 167
38Lesslieunincorporated, York County · 3,077 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #8 of 167
40SpartanburgSpartanburg County · 39,978 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #117 of 167
41Arthurtown College campusunincorporated, Richland County · 3,272 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C+
43Lugoffunincorporated, Kershaw County · 9,786 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #25 of 167
T44Centervilleunincorporated, Anderson County · 7,049 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #42 of 167
T44Dentsvilleunincorporated, Richland County · 15,209 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #69 of 167
46Baxter Villageunincorporated, York County · 4,542 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 167
48Woodfieldunincorporated, Richland County · 9,465 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #85 of 167
49Travelers RestGreenville County · 9,135 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #30 of 167
52GreenvilleGreenville County · 75,310 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #71 of 167
54Duneanunincorporated, Greenville County · 3,668 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #62 of 167
T56Northlakeunincorporated, Anderson County · 4,390 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #15 of 167
61Lake Murray of Richlandunincorporated, Richland County · 7,023 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #22 of 167
62East Camdenunincorporated, Kershaw County · 4,194 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #58 of 167
65Parkerunincorporated, Greenville County · 12,898 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #76 of 167
66White Knollunincorporated, Lexington County · 8,310 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #60 of 167
70Wade Hamptonunincorporated, Greenville County · 20,898 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 167
T72Glovervilleunincorporated, Aiken County · 2,505 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #78 of 167
T74Red Bankunincorporated, Lexington County · 11,314 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #56 of 167
T78Lake Wylieunincorporated, York County · 16,006 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #17 of 167
80SimpsonvilleGreenville County · 28,459 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #47 of 167
81India Hookunincorporated, York County · 3,960 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 167
83Capitol Viewunincorporated, Richland County · 4,374 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #115 of 167
86St. Andrewsunincorporated, Richland County · 19,868 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #128 of 167
88Dalzellunincorporated, Sumter County · 2,946 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #138 of 167
89East Gaffneyunincorporated, Cherokee County · 2,824 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #123 of 167
90West ColumbiaLexington County · 18,489 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #131 of 167
91Sans Souciunincorporated, Greenville County · 7,665 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #43 of 167
92DarlingtonDarlington County · 6,075 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #152 of 167
94Oak Groveunincorporated, Lexington County · 12,256 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #18 of 167
95Seven Oaksunincorporated, Lexington County · 15,921 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #33 of 167
97Welcomeunincorporated, Greenville County · 6,527 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #41 of 167
99North Hartsvilleunincorporated, Darlington County · 3,304 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #109 of 167
100Lakewoodunincorporated, Sumter County · 3,544 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #160 of 167
101Cherryvaleunincorporated, Sumter County · 2,611 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #132 of 167
102SpringdaleLexington County · 2,877 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #125 of 167
103Boiling Springsunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 12,936 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #26 of 167
105Keowee Keyunincorporated, Oconee County · 3,351 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #27 of 167
106Valley Fallsunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 8,239 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #36 of 167
T110Brookdaleunincorporated, Orangeburg County · 4,291 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #147 of 167
T110Powdersvilleunincorporated, Anderson County · 10,771 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #9 of 167
112Five Forksunincorporated, Greenville County · 18,656 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 167
113Golden Groveunincorporated, Greenville County · 2,913 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #39 of 167
116Taylorsunincorporated, Greenville County · 24,505 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #20 of 167
117Piedmontunincorporated, Anderson County · 5,462 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #55 of 167
119OrangeburgOrangeburg County · 13,383 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #163 of 167
120BennettsvilleMarlboro County · 7,565 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #162 of 167
123Forest AcresRichland County · 10,390 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #103 of 167
T131Wyboounincorporated, Clarendon County · 3,639 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #133 of 167
133Red Hillunincorporated, Horry County · 15,920 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #86 of 167
135Carolina Forestunincorporated, Horry County · 26,263 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #81 of 167
138Homewoodunincorporated, Horry County · 2,708 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #48 of 167
139Garden Cityunincorporated, Horry County · 11,591 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #105 of 167
140Forestbrookunincorporated, Horry County · 7,479 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #29 of 167
141KingstreeWilliamsburg County · 3,022 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #161 of 167
142Socasteeunincorporated, Horry County · 23,796 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #66 of 167
143North Myrtle BeachHorry County · 21,346 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #100 of 167
T144Isle of PalmsCharleston County · 4,377 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #24 of 167
T144Little Riverunincorporated, Horry County · 11,771 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #84 of 167
T146James IslandCharleston County · 12,660 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 167
T146Moncks CornerBerkeley County · 20,612 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #96 of 167
T149Mount PleasantCharleston County · 95,469 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #21 of 167
151CharlestonCharleston County · 159,423 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #57 of 167
T152Ladsonunincorporated, Berkeley County · 16,140 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #63 of 167
154Sangareeunincorporated, Berkeley County · 8,681 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #70 of 167
T155North CharlestonCharleston County · 129,245 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #106 of 167
157SummervilleDorchester County · 53,177 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #73 of 167
158Murrells Inletunincorporated, Georgetown County · 10,044 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #79 of 167
T159Litchfield Beachunincorporated, Georgetown County · 9,044 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #82 of 167
T161Burtonunincorporated, Beaufort County · 6,912 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B− · #52 of 167
T161GeorgetownGeorgetown County · 8,869 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C · #104 of 167
T161Laurel Bayunincorporated, Beaufort County · 5,882 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C · #98 of 167
T167Hilton Head IslandBeaufort County · 38,196 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B · #49 of 167
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which South Carolina town has the lowest natural-hazard risk?
Hilltop (Spartanburg County) ranks first on hazard risk among 169 towns, with an A+; Southern Shops and Clemson University follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Hazard risk grade: FEMA’s expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, where residents live (National Risk Index). 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 hazard risk grade (169 in South Carolina). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the South Carolina page.
Go deeper
All South Carolina rankings →More South Carolina lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
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