countyscore

Best Counties for Families in South Carolina 2026

46 counties ranked by schools, safety, income, and affordability.

Top 5 Family Counties in South Carolina

1Edgefield County
59
2Dorchester County
48.5
3McCormick County
59.4
4Beaufort County
45.4
5York County
44.5

All 46 Family-Ranked Counties in South Carolina

RankCountyPersona ScoreOverall Score
1Edgefield County, SC5359
2Dorchester County, SC5148.5
3McCormick County, SC5159.4
4Beaufort County, SC4345.4
5York County, SC4144.5
6Aiken County, SC3944.5
7Pickens County, SC3850.4
8Charleston County, SC3843.4
9Saluda County, SC3750.1
10Newberry County, SC3643.4
11Fairfield County, SC3645.3
12Allendale County, SC3543.9
13Abbeville County, SC3551
14Georgetown County, SC3541.8
15Oconee County, SC3448
16Lancaster County, SC3444.8
17Calhoun County, SC3447.8
18Spartanburg County, SC3240.3
19Bamberg County, SC3239.5
20Richland County, SC3136.7
21Greenville County, SC3140.8
22Hampton County, SC3139.2
23Darlington County, SC3144.9
24Kershaw County, SC2942.5
25Marion County, SC2946.2
26Laurens County, SC2943.8
27Lexington County, SC2938.3
28Anderson County, SC2940.9
29Williamsburg County, SC2939.3
30Lee County, SC2843.9
31Horry County, SC2839.4
32Cherokee County, SC2844.8
33Clarendon County, SC2742.7
34Chesterfield County, SC2643.2
35Barnwell County, SC2539.8
36Berkeley County, SC2535
37Florence County, SC2539.5
38Jasper County, SC2534.6
39Greenwood County, SC2439
40Chester County, SC2340.3
41Dillon County, SC2140.3
42Union County, SC2038.6
43Orangeburg County, SC2036.4
44Marlboro County, SC1939.8
45Sumter County, SC1835.2
46Colleton County, SC1831.7

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for families in South Carolina?

Based on our analysis of school quality, safety, income, and cost of living, Edgefield County ranks as the top family county in South Carolina with a family score of 53.

How many counties in South Carolina are ranked for families?

We rank 46 counties in South Carolina for family suitability, scoring each on school quality (35%), safety (30%), income (20%), and cost of living (15%).

Also Browse South Carolina Counties For

RetirementRemote WorkersBest Overall

Family Rankings by State

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Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019-2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.