2026 editionSouthPop. 5,570,274Capital Columbia8th state, admitted 1788Cook PVI R+10
Is South Carolina a Good Place to Live? South Carolina Rankings, Cost of Living, Crime & Taxes
South Carolina ranks #36 of 50 with a composite score of 49 and a C grade, strongest in growth (#2) and weakest in environment (#49). The median household earns $72,350 (11% below the national median), homes typically cost $306,323 (17% below the national average), and violent crime is 388 per 100,000 (18% above the national average).
Fort Mill, Bluffton and Mount Pleasant are behind South Carolina's #2 growth rank: net migration of +12.0 per thousand residents, the highest anywhere, with arriving households reporting $88,476. The bill comes as a violent crime rate 18% above the national average, humid summers with an air-quality index ranking #46, and coastal insurance the cost index does not see.
South Carolina by the numbers
Six measures every state is judged on, each with South Carolina's rank of 50 and the national figure beside it.
Sources, latest releases: Census Bureau ACS (income), Zillow Research (home value), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost index), FBI state crime estimates (crime), BLS LAUS (unemployment), WalletHub tax burden study (taxes). Rank 1 is the best value in each measure: highest income, lowest cost, lowest crime.
Read the South Carolina overview
South Carolina scores above the national average in 3 of 11 categories and ranks #7 of 14 states in the South, behind 6 regional neighbors. Its biggest edge over the country is typical home value ($306,323, 17% below the national average); its biggest shortfall is violent crime rate (388, 18% above the national average). That mix of top-10 finishes (1) and bottom-10 finishes (4) is why the composite alone undersells the tradeoffs a mover here faces.
Where does South Carolina rank in each category?
All 11 categories that make up the composite, heaviest weight first. South Carolina is top 10 in 1 and bottom 10 in 4.
| Category | Score | Rank | Grade | Weight | US avg | The numbers behind it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 31.8 | #42 of 50 | C | 15% | 47.1 | Its unemployment rate is 4.5% and median household income is $72,350. |
| Safety | 60.0 | #38 of 50 | C | 12% | 68.9 | The FBI estimates 387.6 violent crimes and 1,676.2 property crimes per 100,000 residents. |
| Health | 41.3 | #38 of 50 | C | 12% | 54.4 | Life expectancy is 75.1 years, 34.6% of adults have obesity, and 9% of residents are uninsured. |
| Education | 50.1 | #38 of 50 | C | 12% | 57.5 | Eighth graders average 268 in NAEP math and 254 in reading, and the high school graduation rate is 83.8%. |
| Affordability | 78.4 | #16 of 50 | B+ | 10% | 65.2 | Typical home value $306,323 (4.2x median income); cost of living index 93.7 (100 = US); center-based infant care $10,474 a year. |
| Fiscal Health | 54.4 | #36 of 50 | C | 8% | 58.1 | It carries $2,120 of debt per resident, has 60% of pensions funded, and holds a AA+ credit rating. |
| Growth | 71.0 | #2 of 50 | A+ | 7% | 38.8 | Population grew 1.46% last year; Census net domestic migration is +12 per 1,000 residents (the Moving section below uses IRS household counts, a different series). |
| Transportation | 42.4 | #43 of 50 | D | 7% | 49.8 | The average commute is 26.3 minutes, 0.3% of workers use public transit, and 12.3% work from home. |
| Livability | 41.8 | #14 of 50 | B+ | 7% | 34.3 | It has 1.747 restaurants and 0.019 arts venues per 1,000 residents, plus 0.079 bars and 0.044 social associations per 1,000. |
| Outdoor Access | 8.9 | #45 of 50 | D | 6% | 29.4 | 6% of its land is public, with 1.77 recreation facilities per 10,000 residents. |
| Environment | 21.1 | #49 of 50 | F | 4% | 42.5 | Its median air quality index is 44, 8% of its electricity is renewable, and its FEMA disaster risk score is 39.2. |
Weight, US average and the evidence sentence for each category are shown on wider screens.
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. US avg is the mean score of the 50 states. Click a category for its 50-state ranking.
Category shape
South Carolina's 11 category scores. A balanced state fills the wheel evenly; South Carolina bulges toward growth and dips at environment.
How expensive is South Carolina?
South Carolina's cost of living index is 93.7 against a national baseline of 100, 6% below the national average and #19 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The typical home is worth $306,323 (17% below the national average); buying it takes an income of about $79,086, $6,736 more than the median household earns. Inside the state the spread is wide: among tracked cities, Florence is cheapest (index 86.8) and Goose Creek priciest (101).
Housing market snapshot · August
Cold marketRanked #32 of 50 most expensive by typical value and #17 on price relative to income (1 = most affordable). The median household is $6,736 short of the income needed to buy the typical home.
Full South Carolina housing market: 26-year chart, rent vs. buy, cities →What a household keeps at $75,000
| Household | South Carolina | Median state | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, one in daycare | +$2,089 | −$11,758 | #8 of 50 |
| Single adultOne-bedroom rent, no childcare | +$34,233 | +$31,418 | #19 of 50 |
| Retiree coupleOwn the home, no payroll tax | +$39,460 | +$35,970 | #16 of 50 |
Take-home pay minus housing, childcare, utilities, groceries and transport for a $75,000 household, from the affordability engine. Positive = money left over; negative = costs exceed take-home. Rank 1 = most left over.
What are taxes like in South Carolina?
South Carolina's tax mix is low property tax, with income and sales taxes in the middle of the pack. The total state and local tax burden comes to 8.15% of income, 0.6 points below the national average (#15 of 50, 1 = lightest). Property tax is 0.53% of home value (#5), and combined sales tax averages 7.49% (#33).
Tax Foundation (rates) and WalletHub tax burden study (burden as a share of income), latest releases. Rank 1 = lowest. Income tax is the top marginal rate including typical local taxes where they apply.
Can the state pay its bills?
Fiscal health scores 54.4 out of 100, #36 of 50. Pew Fiscal 50, Census state finances and the rating agencies, latest releases.
Is South Carolina safe?
South Carolina reports 388 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 18% above the national average and #38 of 50 (1 = safest). Property crime runs 1,676 per 100,000, 9% above the national average (#36 of 50). The safety score is 60 out of 100, #38 of 50; among tracked cities, Fort Mill has the lowest violent crime rate.
South Carolina vs. the United States, per 100,000 residents
FBI state crime estimates, latest release. US is the mean of the 50 states; blue = below it, terracotta = above it. Florida and North Dakota use the FBI's prior-year estimate because their latest year is based on limited data.
Safest tracked cities in South Carolina
| City | Population | Violent / 100K | Property / 100K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant | 93,993 | 132 | 1,028 |
| Charleston | 154,338 | 279 | 1,612 |
| Summerville | 51,654 | 307 | 1,919 |
| Rock Hill | 75,259 | 394 | 2,190 |
| Greenville | 72,935 | 466 | 2,866 |
Lowest violent crime among the 20 South Carolina cities we track with 50,000 or more residents. City rates come from each city's police agency and are not strictly comparable across agencies.
What is the job market like in South Carolina?
South Carolina's unemployment rate is 4.5%, 0.5 points above the national average and #39 of 50 (1 = lowest), and the median household earns $72,350, 11% below the national median. Real GDP grew +2.5% in the latest year (#13 of 50) and GDP per capita is $50,515, 21% below the national average. The population is growing 1.46% a year, 1.0 points above the national average. The economy score is 31.8 out of 100, #42 of 50.
Census Bureau ACS (income), BLS LAUS (unemployment), BEA (GDP), Census population estimates (growth), latest releases.
Highest-paying tracked occupations in South Carolina, adjusted for cost of living
| Occupation | Cost-adjusted | Median wage | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $219,138 | $203,798 | Charleston-North Charleston |
| Lawyers | $149,808 | $139,321 | Charleston-North Charleston |
| Software Developers | $135,418 | $125,939 | Charleston-North Charleston |
| General & Operations Managers | $104,417 | $97,108 | Charleston-North Charleston |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $102,995 | $95,785 | Charleston-North Charleston |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, latest release, for the 20 occupations we track. Cost-adjusted wage divides the metro median by its cost of living index.
How are South Carolina's schools and healthcare?
South Carolina's education score is 50.1 out of 100, #38 of 50. Eighth graders average 268 in NAEP math (#39 of 50) and 254 in reading (#40 of 50), and the high school graduation rate is 83.8%, 1.8 points below the national average (#34 of 50).
Best public school cities we track, by graduation rate
| City | Grad rate | Students / teacher | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Mill | 96% | 13.4 | $12,290 |
| Summerville | 91% | 17 | $11,212 |
| Aiken | 91% | 15.9 | $11,967 |
NCES Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey, latest release. Cities with at least three schools.
South Carolina is #38 of 50 for health, with a life expectancy of 75.1 years, 1.8 years below the national average. 34.6% of adults have obesity (#30 of 50) and 9% of residents have no health insurance (#37 of 50). The health score is 41.3 out of 100, weighted 12% of the composite.
CDC National Center for Health Statistics (state life tables), CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (obesity), and Census Bureau American Community Survey (health insurance), latest releases.
Who is moving to South Carolina, and who is leaving?
South Carolina gained a net 29,214 households from other states in the latest IRS release: 99,779 moved in and 70,565 moved out, +5.2 per 1,000 residents (#1 of 50). Arriving households report an average income of $88,476 against $66,568 for those leaving. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which counts people rather than households, shows a net +54.8K people (189.3K in, 134.5K out, ±16.0K), consistent with the IRS direction.
Where they come from
- 1North Carolina18,026 · $84,221
- 2Florida9,651 · $73,112
- 3Georgia9,309 · $80,867
- 4New York7,266 · $94,399
- 5Virginia4,896 · $103,418
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households arrived from these states in the latest IRS release.
Where they go
- 1North Carolina15,305 · $65,426
- 2Georgia8,328 · $60,693
- 3Florida7,188 · $76,901
- 4Virginia3,717 · $68,457
- 5Texas3,703 · $69,644
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households left for these states in the latest IRS release.
Where should you live in South Carolina?
By composite score, the best of the 20 South Carolina cities we track are Fort Mill (71), Mount Pleasant (63.8), and Bluffton (63.6). Florence is the cheapest (cost index 86.8), Mount Pleasant the richest ($124,755), and Greer the fastest growing (+7.3% a year). City ranks are among the 20 South Carolina cities we cover, not every city in the state.
Standout cities in South Carolina
| Best for | City | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Safest | Fort Mill | 30 violent crimes per 100K |
| Cheapest | Florence | cost of living index 86.8 |
| Most walkable | Greenville | walkability 13.2 of 20 |
| Cleanest air | Goose Creek | median AQI 35 (county) |
| Best schools | Fort Mill | 96% graduation rate |
| Richest | Mount Pleasant | $124,755 |
Among the 20 South Carolina cities we track. Safest uses a full year of FBI reports from the city's own police agency; air quality is measured by county, so cities in the same county share a reading.
Regions of South Carolina
The port, Boeing, MUSC and tourism; Mount Pleasant is the priciest suburb in the state and North Charleston the working half; flood insurance is part of the mortgage.
Factory country with a rebuilt Greenville downtown; cooler and drier than the coast, the cheapest of the three big metros, and closest to the mountains.
State government, the university and Fort Jackson; hot, flat and cheap, with the lowest costs in the state, and Aiken tied to Augusta and the Savannah River Site.
Myrtle Beach and its retiree subdivisions on the coast, Conway and Carolina Forest inland, Florence on the interstate; cheap housing, tourist-inflated crime figures, and hurricane exposure.
Fort Mill and Rock Hill are Charlotte suburbs; Bluffton and Hilton Head are Savannah's; both corners import their paychecks and pay South Carolina's property tax.
All 20 tracked cities, best to worst
| # | City | Grade | Score | Population | Income | Violent / 100K | Cost index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Mill | A+ | 71.0 | 30,775 | $121,823 | 30 | 97.3 |
| 2 | Mount Pleasant | A | 63.8 | 93,993 | $124,755 | 132 | 101 |
| 3 | Bluffton | A | 63.6 | 33,157 | $111,281 | 62 | 98 |
| 4 | Greer | B+ | 61.5 | 41,536 | $82,626 | 257 | 93.3 |
| 5 | Charleston | B+ | 59.8 | 154,338 | $92,414 | 279 | 101 |
| 6 | Goose Creek | B | 57.2 | 48,078 | $88,178 | 247 | 101 |
| 7 | Aiken | B | 56.0 | 32,521 | $76,746 | 451 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Hilton Head Island | B | 55.9 | 37,911 | $94,657 | — | 98 |
| 9 | Greenville | C+ | 55.7 | 72,935 | $71,472 | 466 | 93.3 |
| 10 | Summerville | C+ | 52.7 | 51,654 | $81,046 | 307 | 101 |
| 11 | Columbia | C | 50.4 | 139,643 | $55,529 | 791 | 93.7 |
| 12 | North Charleston | C | 50.4 | 119,913 | $62,956 | 668 | 101 |
| 13 | Rock Hill | C | 50.3 | 75,259 | $68,771 | 394 | 97.3 |
| 14 | Conway | D | 48.5 | 27,263 | $56,650 | 324 | 93.6 |
| 15 | Anderson | D | 46.7 | 30,051 | $46,933 | 581 | 93.3 |
| 16 | Carolina Forest | D | 46.7 | 26,263 | $74,436 | — | 93.6 |
| 17 | Florence | D | 45.8 | 40,408 | $56,143 | 627 | 86.8 |
| 18 | Sumter | D | 43.8 | 43,053 | $55,592 | 710 | 88 |
| 19 | Myrtle Beach | F | 40.6 | 38,371 | $60,394 | 1,104 | 93.6 |
| 20 | Spartanburg | F | 40.1 | 38,910 | $51,964 | 1,478 | 91.1 |
Swipe the table sideways for more columns. Rank is among the 20 South Carolina cities we track: every city of 50,000 or more, plus the state's other largest places. City scores use city-level Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, EPA and NCES data, and a category with no city data is left out of the score rather than filled with the state's figure.
Best cities in South Carolina for…
| # | City | Score | Education | Safety | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Mill | 71.4 | 67.7 | 99.8 | 60.5 |
| 2 | Greer | 62.0 | 50.4 | 82.5 | 75.0 |
| 3 | Bluffton | 60.9 | 67.8 | 97.7 | 50.8 |
| 4 | Mount Pleasant | 59.6 | 51.0 | 91.0 | 39.3 |
| 5 | Charleston | 57.2 | 57.9 | 77.4 | 54.7 |
Who is South Carolina best for?
The same 11 category scores, re-weighted for six kinds of household. Rank is among the 50 states; click through for the best South Carolina cities for each.
Weights differ by household: families lean on education, safety and housing; retirees on fiscal health, healthcare and cost. See the weights →
How does South Carolina compare with its neighbors?
South Carolina ranks #36. Among its bordering states, North Carolina ranks highest (#23) and Georgia lowest (#26). Georgia is the most similar on the composite score and North Carolina the most different. Bordering states are listed best to worst; the national line is the mean of the 50 states.
| State | Overall | Score | Median income | Typical home | Cost index | Violent crime | Tax burden | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | #36 | 49.0 | $72,350 | $306,323 | 93.7 | 388 | 8.15% | |
| North Carolina | #23 | 59.1 | $73,958 | $334,773 | 94.3 | 330 | 8.18% | Compare → |
| Georgia | #26 | 55.4 | $79,991 | $330,817 | 96.3 | 297 | 8.47% | Compare → |
| United States | — | 57.9 | $80,903 | $368,697 | 100 | 328 | 8.74% |
Overall rank, median income, cost index and tax burden columns are shown on wider screens.
How the score works
Eleven categories, each scored 0–100 and weighted into one composite. Grades follow rank.
The weights
Economy 15% · Safety 12% · Health 12% · Education 12% · Affordability 10% · Fiscal Health 8% · Growth 7% · Transportation 7% · Livability 7% · Outdoor Access 6% · Environment 4%. The composite is the weighted sum, stretched linearly so states spread across most of the 0–100 range.
From raw numbers to scores
Every raw measure is placed on a 0–100 scale between a fixed floor and ceiling, inverted where lower is better (crime, cost, taxes), then combined within its category. The same scale applies to every state.
Letter grades
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. A C+ state is not failing; it is in the middle third.
Cities, budgets and neighbors
The 20 South Carolina city scores, the household budgets and the neighbor table on this page are computed from the same sources as the state score. City ranks are among the cities we track, not all cities in the state.
Editor's notes
Passages marked as editor's notes are written for this state and add context the numbers cannot: regions, tradeoffs, who the state fits. Every figure inside them is pulled from the data at build time, so the words cannot drift from the numbers.
Always the latest release
Each source is the most recent release its agency has published. The page is rebuilt when a source updates, so the score can move without any change in the state itself.
What the score cannot tell you
Weather and climate, culture and pace, politics beyond the Cook index shown for context, the quality of a specific school, hospital or neighborhood, job prospects in your field, and anything without a public, comparable, 50-state source. Statewide averages also hide the metro-versus-rural split, which is why the editor's notes name places.
Category briefs
Economy: Unemployment rate and median household income. Safety: Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Health: Health outcomes, behaviors, and access to care. Education: K-12 school quality, test scores, and graduation rates. Full methodology →
Key takeaways
What the South Carolina numbers say when read together.
Growth is South Carolina's strongest suit
South Carolina is a #36 state overall but #2 of 50 for growth, 34 places better than its composite rank, with a score of 71 against a national average of 38.8. Livability (#14) is next. Growth carries 7% of the composite.
Environment is where South Carolina falls furthest behind
South Carolina ranks #49 of 50 for environment, 13 places below its overall #36, with a score of 21.1 against a national average of 42.5. At 4% of the composite, it is the category holding the overall score down most.
Typical home value is 17% below the national average
South Carolina's typical home value is $306,323, 17% below the national average of $368,697, #19 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The largest gap in the other direction is violent crime rate: 388, 18% above the national average. Source: Zillow Research ZHVI, latest release.
More households arrive than leave
South Carolina ranks #1 of 50 on net household flow per 1,000 residents (+5.2). The households arriving report $21,908 more in average income than those leaving ($88,476 against $66,568), so the state is trading up on income even as the headcount grows. North Carolina is both the largest source and the largest destination.
A middle income stretches further here than in most states
A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $2,089 surplus after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state (#8 of 50). A single adult on the same income comes out at a $34,233 surplus; a retiree couple at a $39,460 surplus. Infant childcare runs $10,474 a year, 33% below the national average.
Every bordering state outranks South Carolina
All 2 of South Carolina's bordering states rank above its #36; the closest match on the composite is Georgia. Median income among them runs from $73,958 in North Carolina to $79,991 in Georgia; South Carolina is at $72,350.
Frequently asked questions about living in South Carolina
Is South Carolina a good place to live?
South Carolina ranks #36 of 50 with a C grade, #7 of 14 in the South. It is top 10 in growth and bottom 10 in economy, transportation, outdoor access, and environment. On the six headline measures it beats the national figure on 3 of 6 (home prices, cost of living, and tax burden) and trails on income, violent crime, and unemployment. Whether that adds up to a good place to live depends on what you weigh; the household rankings below re-weight the same numbers for families, retirees and remote workers.
Where does South Carolina rank among US states?
South Carolina ranks #36 of 50 overall with a composite score of 49 (grade C), and #7 of 14 states in the South. Its best category rank is #2 (growth) and its worst #49 (environment). The composite weights eleven categories, with economy, safety, health and education counting most; grades follow rank, so C means rank 35–42.
Is it expensive to live in South Carolina?
At #19 of 50 for cost of living (1 = cheapest), South Carolina is 6% below the national average: its index is 93.7 against a national baseline of 100. The typical home value is $306,323 (17% below the national average), and buying it takes an income of about $79,086 against a median household income of $72,350. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $2,089 surplus after all costs, #8 of 50 (1 = most left over).
Does South Carolina have a state income tax?
Yes. South Carolina's top state income tax rate is 6.2% (#34 of 50, 1 = lowest), and the total state and local tax burden is 8.15% of income, 0.6 points below the national average. Property tax is 0.53% of home value and combined sales tax 7.49%.
What is the crime rate in South Carolina?
South Carolina reports 388 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 18% above the national average and #38 of 50 (1 = safest), and 1,676 property crimes per 100,000, 9% above the national average (#36). Its safety score is 60 out of 100, #38 of 50. Figures are FBI estimates from the latest release.
Does South Carolina have good schools?
South Carolina is #38 of 50 for education (score 50.1 out of 100). Its public school students average 268 in eighth-grade math on NAEP (#39) and 254 in eighth-grade reading (#40), and the high school graduation rate is 83.8%, 1.8 points below the national average (#34). Among tracked cities with at least three schools, Fort Mill has the highest graduation rate at 96%.
Why are people moving to South Carolina?
South Carolina gained a net 29,214 households in the latest IRS release: 99,779 moved in and 70,565 moved out, +5.2 per 1,000 residents (#1 of 50). The largest source of arrivals is North Carolina (18,026 households) and the most common destination is North Carolina (15,305). Arriving households report an average income of $88,476 against $66,568 for those leaving, so movers in earn more than movers out. The IRS files count tax returns and say nothing about motives.
Is South Carolina a red or blue state?
South Carolina leans red: its Cook Partisan Voting Index is R+10, meaning it votes about 10 points more Republican than the country as a whole. The political lean is shown for context and is not part of the composite score.
Is South Carolina a good place to retire?
Financially yes, medically it depends. The state ranks #40 for retirees because health (#38) and crime drag it down, though taxes are generous: Social Security untaxed, a retirement-income deduction, a homestead exemption, and property tax of 0.53%. A retired couple on $75,000 ends the year at a $39,460 surplus. Retirees go to the Grand Strand and Bluffton; Greenville offers milder weather and a big hospital.
What are the downsides of living in South Carolina?
Crime, mostly, and then the heat. Violent crime runs 18% above the national average, concentrated in the old mill and port cities. Summers are long and humid, the air-quality index of 44 ranks #46, and hurricane season runs through fall. Transportation ranks #43: 0.3% of commuters use transit and roads lag growth. Schools rank #38 and rural hospitals are thin. Second-home property tax surprises northern buyers.
Does South Carolina get hurricanes?
Yes, along the whole coast. FEMA rates the natural-hazard risk at 39.2, 32% above the national average. Charleston floods on a heavy rain at high tide, Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head take the wind, and wind-and-hail plus flood coverage are separate policies. Inland, the Upstate gets remnants and the odd tornado. A coastal buyer should get an insurance quote before the offer, not after.
Is South Carolina cheaper than North Carolina?
A bit, and in specific ways. The cost index is 93.7 against a slightly higher one next door, property tax of 0.53% is lower on a primary residence, and childcare at $10,474 is much cheaper. North Carolina has higher wages, better schools and bigger hospitals, so the math favors South Carolina for a homeowner with outside income and North Carolina for a job seeker.
What should I know about South Carolina's culture before moving?
Two things. First, the state is more religious and socially conservative than most newcomers' metros. Second, the coast and the Upstate differ: Charleston is old money, tourism and Gullah food; Greenville is factory money with a polished downtown; Columbia is government and football, split between Clemson and Carolina. Newcomers are so common in Fort Mill and Bluffton that the accent is optional.
Is South Carolina a good place to raise a family?
Ranked #40 for families, averaging a great deal and a weak one. The deal: childcare at $10,474, #6 cheapest, low property tax, and suburbs like Fort Mill and Mount Pleasant with strong schools. The weak side: graduation at 83.8%, rural districts lagging badly, and violent crime 18% above the national average. Choose the district first and you do well; buy on price alone and you may not.
All the numbers
Every metric behind South Carolina's 11 category scores, with the national figure beside each. Pick a category.