Best overall
York County
Overall score 69.1
Economy 73.3 / Affordability 50.6
State rankings
Best Counties to Live in South Carolina
Compare counties in South Carolina by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 46 South Carolina counties
Use this state ranking
Compare counties in South Carolina
Put South Carolina counties side by side.
Estimate moving costs
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open South Carolina rankings
Open the full South Carolina ranking table with filters.
Explore on the map
Scan county scores geographically across the country.
South Carolina county rankings at a glance
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best for families
Abbeville County
Family score 72.3
Schools 74 / Safety 74.1
Best value
Edgefield County
Value score 72.2
Affordability 63.4 / Taxes 93.1
Most affordable
Allendale County
Affordability 83.5
Typical home $71,542
Best schools
York County
Schools 76.3
Safety 77.6 / Economy 73.3
Safest
McCormick County
Safety 83.8
Schools 3.2 / Peace 74.3
Low taxes
Chesterfield County
Taxes 95
Affordability 67.7 / Typical home $173,789
Peace & quiet
Calhoun County
Peace & Quiet 85.5
Density and built-environment signals
Top counties by category
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Best overall counties in South Carolina
View full- 1York County
Typical home $389,727
69.1
Overall
- 2Abbeville County
Typical home $203,731
66.9
Overall
- 3Dorchester County
Typical home $345,663
66.9
Overall
- 4Lexington County
Typical home $271,339
64.7
Overall
- 5Berkeley County
Typical home $368,748
63.7
Overall
Best counties for families in South Carolina
View full- 1Abbeville County
Typical home $203,731
72.3
Family
- 2York County
Typical home $389,727
70.0
Family
- 3Dorchester County
Typical home $345,663
66.8
Family
- 4Pickens County
Typical home $299,970
59.7
Family
- 5Lexington County
Typical home $271,339
59.6
Family
Best value counties in South Carolina
View full- 1Edgefield County
Typical home $267,375
72.2
Value
- 2Kershaw County
Typical home $251,652
71.9
Value
- 3Abbeville County
Typical home $203,731
71.1
Value
- 4Calhoun County
Typical home $211,151
70.2
Value
- 5Union County
Typical home $129,393
69.7
Value
Most affordable counties in South Carolina
View full- 1Allendale County
Typical home $71,542
83.5
Afford.
- 2Dillon County
Typical home $109,966
81.6
Afford.
- 3Marlboro County
Typical home $83,302
81.6
Afford.
- 4Williamsburg County
Typical home $130,757
80.7
Afford.
- 5Lee County
Typical home $134,515
76.5
Afford.
Best school counties in South Carolina
View full- 1York County
Typical home $389,727
76.3
Schools
- 2Abbeville County
Typical home $203,731
74
Schools
- 3Dorchester County
Typical home $345,663
70
Schools
- 4Horry County
Typical home $316,676
66.7
Schools
- 5Anderson County
Typical home $290,746
62
Schools
Lowest tax-score counties in South Carolina
View full- 1Chesterfield County
Typical home $173,789
95
Taxes
- 2Marion County
Typical home $137,378
93.6
Taxes
- 3Horry County
Typical home $316,676
93.1
Taxes
- 4Pickens County
Typical home $299,970
93.1
Taxes
- 5Edgefield County
Typical home $267,375
93.1
Taxes
Quietest counties in South Carolina
View full- 1Calhoun County
Typical home $211,151
85.5
Quiet
- 2Chesterfield County
Typical home $173,789
84.1
Quiet
- 3Abbeville County
Typical home $203,731
83.7
Quiet
- 4Edgefield County
Typical home $267,375
83.4
Quiet
- 5Jasper County
Typical home $401,192
83.1
Quiet
Safest counties in South Carolina
View full- 1McCormick County
Typical home $322,811
83.8
Safety
- 2Charleston County
Typical home $611,188
83.6
Safety
- 3York County
Typical home $389,727
77.6
Safety
- 4Allendale County
Typical home $71,542
75.6
Safety
- 5Abbeville County
Typical home $203,731
74.1
Safety
Popular South Carolina county comparisons
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
Read more about South Carolina
How to choose a county in South Carolina
The best county in South Carolina depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
Best for different needs
Best overall counties in South Carolina
For best overall counties in South Carolina, York County, Abbeville County, and Dorchester County stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingBest counties for families in South Carolina
For families, Abbeville County, York County, and Dorchester County score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingMost affordable counties in South Carolina
For affordability-focused movers, Allendale County, Dillon County, and Marlboro County may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingBest school counties in South Carolina
For school-first households, York County, Abbeville County, and Dorchester County lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingBest low-tax counties in South Carolina
For lower tax-pressure searches, Chesterfield County, Marion County, and Horry County score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingBest quiet counties in South Carolina
For quieter-living searches, Calhoun County, Chesterfield County, and Abbeville County stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingWhat to watch before moving to South Carolina
South Carolina counties vary between coastal lifestyle markets, fast-growing Upstate counties, Columbia-area counties, and rural areas.
Coastal counties may require extra local research on flood exposure, insurance, traffic, and seasonal demand.
School signals and access to healthcare, jobs, and amenities can vary widely between metro and rural counties.
Frequently asked questions about the best counties in South Carolina
What is the best county to live in South Carolina?
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, York County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
What is the best county in South Carolina for families?
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Abbeville County stands out in this model.
What is the most affordable county in South Carolina?
Allendale County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
How should I compare large and small counties?
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
Are these rankings based on reviews?
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Which South Carolina counties score well for schools or taxes?
York County currently leads the school-score view, while Chesterfield County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
All South Carolina counties
Showing all 46 South Carolina counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | York County FIPS 45091 | 69.1 | 73.3 | 50.6 | 76.3 | 77.6 | 83.1 | 59.2 | $389,727 | $89,095 |
| 2 | Abbeville County FIPS 45001 | 66.9 | 48.2 | 63.3 | 74 | 74.1 | 88.8 | 83.7 | $203,731 | $52,935 |
| 3 | Dorchester County FIPS 45035 | 66.9 | 73.1 | 51.9 | 70 | 71.6 | 76.6 | 65.3 | $345,663 | $78,198 |
| 4 | Lexington County FIPS 45063 | 64.7 | 69.5 | 66.8 | 54.8 | 53.7 | 86.8 | 58.7 | $271,339 | $77,408 |
| 5 | Berkeley County FIPS 45015 | 63.7 | 79.7 | 51 | 39.8 | 71.3 | 87.9 | 71.4 | $368,748 | $84,358 |
| 6 | Kershaw County FIPS 45055 | 61.4 | 69.2 | 65.8 | 31.6 | 57.1 | 87.8 | 79.3 | $251,652 | $68,231 |
| 7 | Horry County FIPS 45051 | 59.4 | 59.9 | 43.7 | 66.7 | 52.8 | 93.1 | 58.1 | $316,676 | $66,880 |
| 8 | Pickens County FIPS 45077 | 59.2 | 56.1 | 44.1 | 55.3 | 68.6 | 93.1 | 69.3 | $299,970 | $61,064 |
| 9 | Anderson County FIPS 45007 | 58.8 | 60.3 | 53.4 | 62 | 37.2 | 89.5 | 68.1 | $290,746 | $66,651 |
| 10 | Greenville County FIPS 45045 | 58.1 | 68.4 | 49.3 | 57.8 | 44.8 | 82.9 | 41.4 | $336,411 | $76,932 |
| 11 | Edgefield County FIPS 45037 | 57.7 | 57.4 | 63.4 | 21 | 65.2 | 93.1 | 83.4 | $267,375 | $73,029 |
| 12 | Charleston County FIPS 45019 | 56.7 | 76.5 | 12 | 52.5 | 83.6 | 88.3 | 54.9 | $611,188 | $88,494 |
| 13 | Spartanburg County FIPS 45083 | 55.8 | 58 | 55.6 | 43.4 | 50.1 | 82.6 | 58.5 | $276,790 | $66,234 |
| 14 | Aiken County FIPS 45003 | 54.7 | 55.7 | 68.3 | 20.7 | 44.4 | 90.1 | 77.3 | $234,751 | $70,609 |
| 15 | Oconee County FIPS 45073 | 54 | 55.6 | 47.7 | 40.1 | 47 | 92.3 | 78.2 | $287,576 | $62,388 |
| 16 | Saluda County FIPS 45081 | 53.5 | 54.7 | 59 | 9.2 | 67.9 | 90.3 | 80.2 | $211,298 | $51,009 |
| 17 | Lancaster County FIPS 45057 | 53.3 | 63.7 | 45.8 | 30.8 | 51.4 | 83.3 | 73.9 | $391,457 | $78,869 |
| 18 | Calhoun County FIPS 45017 | 53 | 53.7 | 70.3 | 13.1 | 38.6 | 92.8 | 85.5 | $211,151 | $58,682 |
| 19 | Newberry County FIPS 45071 | 52.9 | 52.5 | 64.3 | 16.7 | 55.6 | 79.8 | 80.9 | $219,121 | $61,780 |
| 20 | Greenwood County FIPS 45047 | 51.3 | 42.5 | 70.5 | 23.9 | 42.5 | 78.3 | 82.2 | $170,949 | $52,830 |
| 21 | Laurens County FIPS 45059 | 50.9 | 46.6 | 68.2 | 14.2 | 41.3 | 91.9 | 80.5 | $198,929 | $57,623 |
| 22 | Hampton County FIPS 45049 | 50.3 | 47.1 | 71.5 | 4.5 | 54.6 | 76.2 | 78.5 | $152,974 | $44,711 |
| 23 | Beaufort County FIPS 45013 | 49.6 | 72.7 | 14.5 | 40.3 | 56.4 | 82.1 | 61.9 | $546,770 | $86,573 |
| 24 | Union County FIPS 45087 | 49.3 | 23.3 | 74.8 | 9.4 | 67.5 | 86.3 | 83 | $129,393 | $41,621 |
| 25 | Cherokee County FIPS 45021 | 48.7 | 32.8 | 67.2 | 11.8 | 54.2 | 92.8 | 78.9 | $186,421 | $50,288 |
| 26 | Bamberg County FIPS 45009 | 48 | 25.2 | 74.3 | 8.5 | 67.6 | 74.8 | 76.8 | $127,290 | $44,370 |
| 27 | Chesterfield County FIPS 45025 | 46.8 | 35 | 67.7 | 12.8 | 32.1 | 95 | 84.1 | $173,789 | $49,235 |
| 28 | Florence County FIPS 45041 | 46.8 | 46.9 | 62.9 | 14.6 | 23.3 | 90.2 | 78.2 | $200,491 | $58,305 |
| 29 | Allendale County FIPS 45005 | 46.3 | 16.8 | 83.5 | 0.2 | 75.6 | 59.4 | 77.5 | $71,542 | $32,328 |
| 30 | Richland County FIPS 45079 | 45.6 | 53.6 | 56.7 | 25 | 23.5 | 68.9 | 51.3 | $243,519 | $63,784 |
| 31 | Sumter County FIPS 45085 | 45.6 | 40.9 | 60.9 | 6.9 | 40.9 | 86.9 | 79.1 | $213,439 | $56,693 |
| 32 | Georgetown County FIPS 45043 | 45.5 | 55.6 | 32.1 | 22.5 | 41.9 | 90.8 | 73.7 | $384,130 | $68,713 |
| 33 | McCormick County FIPS 45065 | 45.4 | 47.1 | 30.2 | 3.2 | 83.8 | 91.4 | 74.3 | $322,811 | $55,798 |
| 34 | Barnwell County FIPS 45011 | 44.9 | 25 | 71.7 | 4 | 51.3 | 81.4 | 82.2 | $149,829 | $46,626 |
| 35 | Chester County FIPS 45023 | 44.8 | 39.7 | 63.1 | 4.7 | 36.6 | 85.9 | 81 | $212,488 | $52,458 |
| 36 | Lee County FIPS 45061 | 44.7 | 21.7 | 76.5 | 0.4 | 48.8 | 86.7 | 81.7 | $134,515 | $44,760 |
| 37 | Clarendon County FIPS 45027 | 43.8 | 40.4 | 66.6 | 10.4 | 19.5 | 82.9 | 76 | $183,163 | $52,401 |
| 38 | Marion County FIPS 45067 | 42.5 | 21.3 | 63.7 | 1.4 | 50.6 | 93.6 | 81 | $137,378 | $36,301 |
| 39 | Dillon County FIPS 45033 | 42.3 | 21.7 | 81.6 | 7.4 | 12.6 | 89.8 | 81.8 | $109,966 | $46,605 |
| 40 | Fairfield County FIPS 45039 | 41.9 | 42.8 | 61.4 | 4.6 | 15 | 86.6 | 80.4 | $188,559 | $47,885 |
| 41 | Williamsburg County FIPS 45089 | 41.7 | 20.4 | 80.7 | 2 | 25.6 | 82.1 | 79.8 | $130,757 | $46,213 |
| 42 | Darlington County FIPS 45031 | 41.4 | 33.6 | 67.6 | 10.9 | 5.9 | 89.1 | 82.5 | $165,455 | $48,581 |
| 43 | Marlboro County FIPS 45069 | 40.2 | 13 | 81.6 | 1.7 | 28.7 | 79 | 81 | $83,302 | $34,301 |
| 44 | Colleton County FIPS 45029 | 39.4 | 47.8 | 46.2 | 3.7 | 16.4 | 88.3 | 77 | $251,055 | $51,114 |
| 45 | Jasper County FIPS 45053 | 39.3 | 62.4 | 28.9 | 0.5 | 30 | 77.3 | 83.1 | $401,192 | $65,613 |
| 46 | Orangeburg County FIPS 45075 | 37.6 | 28 | 64.1 | 2.4 | 12.4 | 83.9 | 76 | $160,249 | $45,675 |