South Carolina gives retirees the best of all possible worlds. This coastal city has an affordable cost of living and low taxes, making it a great place for anyone on a fixed income. Its historic charm and vibrant culture ensure that you can spend your days doing the things you love.
If you are thinking about spending your golden years in South Carolina, NewHomeSource has found the top 10 cities to retire in South Carolina. You have worked hard your entire life, now is the time to kick back and invest in yourself.
Top 10 places to Retire in South Carolina
1. Newberry
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 17.3%
Median Home Value: $85,300
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 91
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 457
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 1
Newberry is a charming rural suburb of Columbia, SC. This peaceful community, surrounded by amazing scenery, offers retirees the chance to relax and reconnect with nature during their golden years. Active Adults looking to walk on the wild side will love Newberry’s local winery and Lynch’s Woods Park.
2. Greenwood
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 15.3%
Median Home Value: $92,000
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 395
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,629
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 1
If retiring in a fun college town sounds like a dream come true, you need to pack your bags and head for Greenwood. Staying active and engaged with your community is easy in Greenwood! Cultural touch points like the Railroad Historical Center, Emerald Farm, and the Uptown farmers market give you fun ways to connect with your new town.
3. Gaffney
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 17.8%
Median Home Value: $107,200
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 104
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 908
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 3
Gaffney is a fantastic Spartanburg suburb, nestled between the city and the beautiful Cherokee Falls that makes it easy for active adults to live a life they love. No matter how you plan on spending your retirement, you can stay active in Gaffney, thanks to a beautiful natural setting, plenty of things to explore, and a nearby outlet mall.
4. Spartanburg
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 16.1%
Median Home Value: $116,800
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 253
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,351
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 4
Spartanburg is a thriving metropolitan area that offers something for every type of retiree to enjoy. Numerous parks fill the city, perfect for nature lovers. Spartanburg’s historic district features charming architecture and great restaurants and bars. Culture lovers have a lot of museums they get to explore. Think it can’t get any better? Well, Spartanburg has a low cost of living and median home price.
5. Orangeburg
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 14%
Median Home Value: $117,500
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 181
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 789
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 1
Orangeburg sits between centrally located between Columbia and coastal Charleston. This great town gives retirees easy access to great urban hubs, while still providing them with a peaceful and private community. If you don’t plan on compromising during your retirement, Orangeburg serves up the best of all possible worlds, and a low cost of living to boot.
6. Irmo
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 14.2%
Median Home Value: $124,900
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 64
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 448
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 5
Embrace lakeside living when you retire to Irmo, SC. This delightful Columbia suburb sits on the banks of Lake Murray, while still providing residents with an exciting urban lifestyle. This great community gives you a fantastic lifestyle for your retirement at an incredibly low cost of living, a true win win situation!
7. Cayce
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 13.9%
Median Home Value: $127,400
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 112
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 663
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 5
Cayce gives retirees an affordable and fun urban retiermet. This thriving suburb of Columbia has affordable houses and a fun culture, while still providing residents with a peaceful and private place to call home. Start living a life you love when you retire in Cayce, SC.
8. Anderson
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 19.7%
Median Home Value: $130,200
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 152
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 886
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 1
Anderson gives retirees the best possible lifestyle. This Greenville suburb is home to peaceful and private communities, while still providing them with easy access to a thriving urban hub. If you aren’t in the mood to compromise during your retirement, then Anderson is a great place to start your next adventure.
9. West Columbia
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 19.9%
Median Home Value: $133,900
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 181
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,295
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 5
If you’re looking for a fun place to retire to, West Columbia is the perfect place to call home. This fantastic community has a vibrant culture, giving you easy access to exciting museums, great restaurants, and a zoo! Nature lovers can unwind at the riverwalk and in the local botanical garden. All types of retirees will love the low cost of living.
10. Sumter
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 16.4%
Median Home Value: $140,300
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 366
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,873
Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 2
Sumter is a historic town on the bank of the Swan Lake. Nature lovers will love being surrounded by state forests, a beautiful lake, and an iris garden. Retiring in Sumter means never getting tired of exploring the great outdoors and staying active and engaged with your new home and community.
Common Questions About Retiring in South Carolina
South Carolina is very tax-friendly to retirees. Almost all forms of retirement income are either not taxed, or have substantial tax deductions, and it has one of the lowest property taxes in the country.
At the age of 65 South Carolina’s homestead exemption has a complete tax deduction for the first $50,000 of Fair Market Value of your home.
| City Name | People Over 65 | Violent Crimes | Property Crimes | Access to Doctors | Median Home Prices |
| Newberry | 17.3% | 91 | 457 | 1 | $85,300 |
| Greenwood | 15.3% | 395 | 1,629 | 1 | $92,000 |
| Gaffney | 17.8% | 104 | 908 | 3 | $107,200 |
| Spartanburg | 16.1% | 253 | 1,351 | 4 | $116,800 |
| Orangeburg | 14% | 181 | 789 | 1 | $117,500 |
| Irmo | 14.2% | 64 | 448 | 5 | $124,900 |
| Cayce | 13.9% | 112 | 663 | 5 | $127,400 |
| Anderson | 19.7% | 152 | 886 | 1 | $130,200 |
| West Columbia | 19.9% | 181 | 1,295 | 5 | $133,900 |
| Sumter | 16.4% | 366 | 1,873 | 2 | $140,300 |
| Conway | 18.1% | 158 | 1,076 | 4 | $148,400 |
| Rock Hill | 13.1% | 362 | 2,820 | 4 | $147,800 |
| Easley | 20.8% | 106 | 1,280 | 5 | $149,600 |
| Mauldin | 14.5% | 42 | 439 | 7 | $157,400 |
| North Augusta | 17.2% | 43 | 893 | 4 | $157,800 |
| Florence | 16.8% | 365 | 2,473 | 3 | $157,000 |
| Greer | 12% | 134 | 1,145 | 7 | $162,300 |
| Simpsonville | 12.9% | 41 | 694 | 6 | $164,100 |
| North Charleston | 10.2% | 1,039 | 6,613 | 6 | $164,600 |
| Columbia | 9.7% | 1,003 | 7,078 | 5 | $173,400 |
| Goose Creek | 10.2% | 105 | 1,351 | 6 | $178,500 |
| Aiken | 25.9% | 120 | 726 | 3 | $180,300 |
| Lexington | 11.7% | 79 | 665 | 5 | $183,300 |
| Myrtle Beach | 20.1% | 473 | 3,553 | 3 | $194,700 |
| Summerville | 13.2% | 139 | 1,740 | 2 | $199,500 |
| Beaufort | 16% | 84 | 591 | 2 | $205,000 |
| Port Royal | 7.4% | 16 | 198 | 2 | $210,300 |
| Hanahan | 11% | 60 | 346 | 6 | $216,000 |
| Clemson | 9.8% | 31 | 428 | 4 | $228,100 |
| Fort Mill | 10% | 31 | 328 | 5 | $259,900 |
| North Myrtle Beach | 35.5% | 105 | 1,029 | 2 | $264,800 |
| Bluffton | 15.5% | 50 | 252 | 4 | $266,200 |
| Greenville | 12.8% | 380 | 2,959 | 8 | $273,100 |
| Charleston | 14.2% | 421 | 3,053 | 6 | $308,100 |
| Mount Pleasant | 15.8% | 138 | 1,221 | 6 | $441,600 |
| Hilton Head Island | 35.5% | 132 | 553 | 3 | $469,300 |
NewHomeSource pulled data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Services, Medicare’s Hospital Compare and the U.S. Census Bureau. In the event exact crime data was unavailable, estimates were used. These factors were entered into an algorithm to calculate a score for each city.
Access to Doctors is calculated by finding the number of hospitals, discounting children’s hospitals and VA hospitals within one mile of the city.
After graduating in 2016 from The University of Texas with a degree in English, Sanda Brown became a content writer for the BDX with a focus on website copy and content marketing.
At the BDX, Sanda helps write and edit articles on NewHomeSource.com, writes website copy for builders, and manages a team of freelancers that work on additional content needs.
The 10 Best Places to Retire in California
Judy
I am looking for a modular communities maybe senior in the upstate side of sc. Maybe near Charlotte .not everyone can afford 300,000 and up. There has to be some where we can go thanks judy
Jamie Garcia
Hi Judy,
You can see all of our homes and builders in the Charlotte area here: https://www.newhomesource.com/communities/nc/charlotte-area. You can sort by price to find a builder who might be within your price range, or look at builders to discuss a custom home that fits your needs.