Arthurtown
unincorporated, Richland County · 3,272 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 1.8 years of area income·Overall C+ · college campus
South Carolina rankings · Cost of living
Most affordable towns in South Carolina
Arthurtown ranks first on cost of living among South Carolina’s 168 towns of 2,500+; 37 of the 168 grade A− or better on cost of living nationally.
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). How grades work
A+
East Gaffney
unincorporated, Cherokee County · 2,824 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 1.5 years of area income·Overall C− · #123 of 167 in SC
#3Pacolet
Spartanburg County · 2,644 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 2.5 years of area income·Overall B− · #61 of 167 in SC
All 168 towns
Cost of living grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
168 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeHome price · overall
1Arthurtown College campusunincorporated, Richland County · 3,272 peopleA+1.8 years of area income·Overall C+
2East Gaffneyunincorporated, Cherokee County · 2,824 peopleA+1.5 years of area income·Overall C− · #123 of 167
7Piedmontunincorporated, Anderson County · 5,462 peopleA4.3 years of area income·Overall B− · #55 of 167
8Clearwaterunincorporated, Aiken County · 3,319 peopleA2.3 years of area income·Overall C+ · #68 of 167
12Homeland Parkunincorporated, Anderson County · 6,632 peopleA1.5 years of area income·Overall C · #95 of 167
17Newportunincorporated, York County · 4,121 peopleA−4.1 years of area income·Overall A · #10 of 167
20Belvedereunincorporated, Aiken County · 5,180 peopleA−2.1 years of area income·Overall B · #45 of 167
25Lugoffunincorporated, Kershaw County · 9,786 peopleA−3.9 years of area income·Overall B+ · #25 of 167
29Glovervilleunincorporated, Aiken County · 2,505 peopleA−1.0 years of area income·Overall C+ · #78 of 167
32North Hartsvilleunincorporated, Darlington County · 3,304 peopleA−2.0 years of area income·Overall C · #109 of 167
33Oak Groveunincorporated, Lexington County · 12,256 peopleA−3.5 years of area income·Overall A− · #18 of 167
34Brookdaleunincorporated, Orangeburg County · 4,291 peopleA−2.1 years of area income·Overall D · #147 of 167
36Roebuckunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 2,902 peopleA−4.4 years of area income·Overall B · #50 of 167
38Saxonunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 4,085 peopleB+1.4 years of area income·Overall C · #102 of 167
41Sangareeunincorporated, Berkeley County · 8,681 peopleB+3.0 years of area income·Overall C+ · #70 of 167
42India Hookunincorporated, York County · 3,960 peopleB+4.2 years of area income·Overall A · #7 of 167
44Homewoodunincorporated, Horry County · 2,708 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #48 of 167
45Forestbrookunincorporated, Horry County · 7,479 peopleB+5.0 years of area income·Overall B+ · #29 of 167
46Arkwrightunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 2,816 peopleB+2.5 years of area income·Overall C− · #119 of 167
47Cherryvaleunincorporated, Sumter County · 2,611 peopleB+1.6 years of area income·Overall D · #132 of 167
48Red Bankunincorporated, Lexington County · 11,314 peopleB+2.8 years of area income·Overall B− · #56 of 167
49Batesburg-LeesvilleLexington County · 5,346 peopleB+2.6 years of area income·Overall D · #129 of 167
50Northlakeunincorporated, Anderson County · 4,390 peopleB+3.9 years of area income·Overall A− · #15 of 167
52East Camdenunincorporated, Kershaw County · 4,194 peopleB+2.7 years of area income·Overall B− · #58 of 167
59Golden Groveunincorporated, Greenville County · 2,913 peopleB+2.5 years of area income·Overall B · #39 of 167
61Burtonunincorporated, Beaufort County · 6,912 peopleB3.0 years of area income·Overall B− · #52 of 167
65Ganttunincorporated, Greenville County · 15,401 peopleB2.6 years of area income·Overall C+ · #83 of 167
66Centervilleunincorporated, Anderson County · 7,049 peopleB3.2 years of area income·Overall B · #42 of 167
67Southern Shopsunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 3,797 peopleB1.7 years of area income·Overall C− · #111 of 167
68Welcomeunincorporated, Greenville County · 6,527 peopleB2.9 years of area income·Overall B · #41 of 167
69Parkerunincorporated, Greenville County · 12,898 peopleB2.1 years of area income·Overall C+ · #76 of 167
70Whitneyunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 3,685 peopleB2.4 years of area income·Overall C · #92 of 167
72Judsonunincorporated, Greenville County · 2,515 peopleB1.7 years of area income·Overall C · #97 of 167
80Duneanunincorporated, Greenville County · 3,668 peopleB−2.8 years of area income·Overall B− · #62 of 167
81Hilltopunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 2,950 peopleB−2.0 years of area income·Overall C · #101 of 167
82Red Hillunincorporated, Horry County · 15,920 peopleB−3.7 years of area income·Overall C+ · #86 of 167
84Ladsonunincorporated, Berkeley County · 16,140 peopleB−3.7 years of area income·Overall B− · #63 of 167
86Bereaunincorporated, Greenville County · 16,862 peopleB−2.9 years of area income·Overall C · #89 of 167
87St. Andrewsunincorporated, Richland County · 19,868 peopleB−2.4 years of area income·Overall C− · #128 of 167
88Taylorsunincorporated, Greenville County · 24,505 peopleB−4.3 years of area income·Overall A− · #20 of 167
90Sans Souciunincorporated, Greenville County · 7,665 peopleB−3.2 years of area income·Overall B · #43 of 167
91Arcadiaunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 3,426 peopleB−1.8 years of area income·Overall C− · #112 of 167
98Woodfieldunincorporated, Richland County · 9,465 peopleB−2.2 years of area income·Overall C+ · #85 of 167
99White Knollunincorporated, Lexington County · 8,310 peopleB−3.6 years of area income·Overall B− · #60 of 167
101Seven Oaksunincorporated, Lexington County · 15,921 peopleB−3.0 years of area income·Overall B · #33 of 167
102Wade Hamptonunincorporated, Greenville County · 20,898 peopleB−4.8 years of area income·Overall A · #5 of 167
103Socasteeunincorporated, Horry County · 23,796 peopleB−3.5 years of area income·Overall B− · #66 of 167
105Powdersvilleunincorporated, Anderson County · 10,771 peopleB−4.7 years of area income·Overall A · #9 of 167
107Dalzellunincorporated, Sumter County · 2,946 peopleB−3.8 years of area income·Overall D · #138 of 167
109Capitol Viewunincorporated, Richland County · 4,374 peopleC+2.7 years of area income·Overall C− · #115 of 167
110Keowee Keyunincorporated, Oconee County · 3,351 peopleC+8.9 years of area income·Overall B+ · #27 of 167
113Wyboounincorporated, Clarendon County · 3,639 peopleC+4.8 years of area income·Overall D · #133 of 167
115Valley Fallsunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 8,239 peopleC+4.0 years of area income·Overall B · #36 of 167
120Dentsvilleunincorporated, Richland County · 15,209 peopleC+2.4 years of area income·Overall C+ · #69 of 167
123Laurel Bayunincorporated, Beaufort County · 5,882 peopleC+2.8 years of area income·Overall C · #98 of 167
127Baxter Villageunincorporated, York County · 4,542 peopleC+8.0 years of area income·Overall A+ · #2 of 167
131Boiling Springsunincorporated, Spartanburg County · 12,936 peopleC+4.3 years of area income·Overall B+ · #26 of 167
132North CharlestonCharleston County · 129,245 peopleC+3.6 years of area income·Overall C · #106 of 167
133Garden Cityunincorporated, Horry County · 11,591 peopleC+3.3 years of area income·Overall C · #105 of 167
140Lakewoodunincorporated, Sumter County · 3,544 peopleC5.2 years of area income·Overall D− · #160 of 167
143Little Riverunincorporated, Horry County · 11,771 peopleC4.8 years of area income·Overall C+ · #84 of 167
146Carolina Forestunincorporated, Horry County · 26,263 peopleC5.0 years of area income·Overall C+ · #81 of 167
150Five Forksunincorporated, Greenville County · 18,656 peopleC6.3 years of area income·Overall A · #12 of 167
155Murrells Inletunincorporated, Georgetown County · 10,044 peopleC−5.8 years of area income·Overall C+ · #79 of 167
156Lake Wylieunincorporated, York County · 16,006 peopleC−5.8 years of area income·Overall A− · #17 of 167
158Litchfield Beachunincorporated, Georgetown County · 9,044 peopleC−6.7 years of area income·Overall C+ · #82 of 167
164Mount PleasantCharleston County · 95,469 peopleD10.2 years of area income·Overall B+ · #21 of 167
165Lake Murray of Richlandunincorporated, Richland County · 7,023 peopleD6.2 years of area income·Overall B+ · #22 of 167
166Hilton Head IslandBeaufort County · 38,196 peopleD9.4 years of area income·Overall B · #49 of 167
Not ranked
1 town without a cost of living grade
Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.
- Clemson University Pickens County · 7,015 people
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most affordable town in South Carolina?
Arthurtown (Richland County) ranks first on cost of living among 168 towns, with an A+; East Gaffney and Pacolet follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). 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 cost of living grade (168 in South Carolina). 1 town of 2,500+ lack the figures and is listed above. 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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