Top 10 List of Best Places to Live in South Carolina

South Carolina is home to hundreds of Best Places to suit virtually any retirement or relocation lifestyle. In our extensive research for affordable living, we found ten locations kept coming up as veritable hidden South Carolina gems - places where factors such as climate, cost of living, and general quality of life all combine to make this Top Ten list of Best Places to live with a population of less than 60 thousand, one you must not ignore!

The Top Ten Best Places in order of population:

1. With its tiny population of 5,153, Walterboro, SC is an ideal Best Place for those seeking a close-knit and neighborly community. Locals can be found chatting on the sidewalks downtown, completing the idyllic small town atmosphere. This town is poised for growth, as it is conveniently located on I-95, just an hour from Charleston.

2. A small suburban community outside of South Carolinas capitol city of Columbia is Batesburg-Leesville, SC - home to 5,517 residents. Many popular southern towns are within an hours drive, such as Augusta, GA and Newberry, SC. Batesburg-Leesville is a great option for those looking for a small town with easy access to big city attractions.

3. Abbeville, SC is the seat of Abbeville County, and has 5,840 happy residents. This town is in one of the most picturesque parts of the state, near the Sumter National Forest in the Northwest corner. Farms dot the forested landscapes and the atmosphere is tranquil and relaxing.

4. South Carolina’s third oldest city is Georgetown, a beautiful coastal community of 8,940 people. Respected travel writer Norman Crampton has consistently ranked Georgetown in his top 100 list of "Best Small Towns." Downtown is a popular destination packed with diverse shops and restaurants.

5. The 10,542 residents of Newberry, SC have the pleasure of being surrounded by sprawling farms, rapid rivers and picturesque forests. The downtown area is filled with stores that cater to the convenience of the citizenry, and should anyone desire more amenities, Columbia is less than an hour’s drive away.

6. Conveniently located just off I-26 is the town of Orangeburg, SC. This "All American City" of 2005 has 12,765 residents. The fantastic location of Orangeburg has led to significant business development nearby, and as the tax-base has grown, so has the quality of life for inhabitants.

7. Only 15 miles from lovely Augusta, GA is the increasingly popular Aiken, SC - home to 25,337 folks. Aiken offers a picturesque, historic downtown, complete with everyday conveniences and stores and restaurants for special occasions. Many homes outside of town are on former or currently operating horse farms – so land is plentiful.

8. Great values are available in Anderson, SC, right near the larger city of Greenville. This makes it perfect for commuters, or those looking for the amenities of the Greenville area without the steeper real estate prices. In fact, Anderson residents usually pay $30,000 less for comparable land and housing than they would in Greenville.

9. Known as "The Flowertown in the Pines," Summerville, SC has a population of 27,752. The beautiful downtown is dotted with flora, especially the famous azaleas that bring many visitors to the area each year. Just 30 miles North of Charleston.

10. Booming Greenville, SC is home to 56,000 people, and is one of the business centers of the state. It is in the heart of the "Boom Belt," between Charlotte and Atlanta. Greenville is perfect for those seeking to invest in a prospering region.

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