Best Counties in South Carolina — 2026 Rankings
46 of 46 counties scored across 12 dimensions
46
46 scored
43/100
composite score
59.4/100
31.7—59.4
lowest to highest
Rankings
Top Counties in South Carolina
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in South Carolina
South Carolina Trails the National Livability Median
South Carolina earns a composite livability score of 42.8, placing it below the national median of 50.0. While all 46 counties provide data, the state struggles to keep pace with national averages across several key quality-of-life categories.
A Haven for Low Taxes and Affordability
The Palmetto State excels in fiscal policy with a high tax score of 80.6, offering significant relief to residents. A cost score of 54.8 further bolsters its appeal, indicating that day-to-day expenses remain more affordable than in many other regions.
Environmental Risks and Health Outcomes Lag
A low risk score of 29.3 signals vulnerability to natural hazards, which represents the state's primary headwind. Poor health outcomes (36.2) and modest income levels (34.3) also weigh down the overall composite, suggesting room for improvement in social infrastructure.
McCormick and Edgefield Counties Set the Bar
McCormick County leads the state with a score of 59.4, powered by an impressive 86.7 for cost efficiency. Edgefield follows at 59.0 with a near-perfect tax score of 90.5, while Abbeville ranks third at 51.0 due to its strong balance of low costs and low taxes.
Best for Budget-Conscious Residents and Retirees
South Carolina is an ideal destination for retirees and households that prioritize low tax burdens and housing affordability. While residents must weigh these savings against lower health and income scores, the state's financial advantages remain a powerful draw.
All County Rankings in South Carolina
Search, sort, and filter all 46 ranked counties
Showing 1–25 of 46 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McCormick County | 59.4 | 70.1 | 86.7 | 25.8 | 63 | 41.7 | 40.1 | 90.5 | 12.8 | 46.3 | 21.9 | 36.2 | |
| 2 | Edgefield County | 59 | 90.5 | 57.5 | 59.3 | 67.1 | 34 | 35 | 78 | 86 | 48.3 | 16.1 | 36.8 | |
| 3 | Abbeville County | 51 | 87.3 | 88.7 | 18.8 | 17 | 37.7 | 36.4 | 54.7 | 26.8 | 56.5 | 23.4 | 42.7 | |
| 4 | Pickens County | 50.4 | 95.1 | 45.4 | 37.2 | 48.4 | 43.8 | 27.5 | 22.4 | 63 | 66.7 | 13.6 | 37.2 | |
| 5 | Saluda County | 50.1 | 78.2 | 73.7 | 20.6 | 54 | 32.7 | 15.1 | 59.9 | 24.2 | 51.2 | 21 | 42.6 | |
| 6 | Dorchester County | 48.5 | 76.5 | 11.1 | 79.8 | 57.1 | 58.5 | 47 | 6.3 | 62.3 | 47.3 | 25.8 | 22.7 | |
| 7 | Oconee County | 48 | 94.1 | 56 | 39.7 | 10.5 | 49.4 | 42.6 | 14.4 | 67.8 | 71.5 | 50 | ||
| 8 | Calhoun County | 47.8 | 92.4 | 56.9 | 29.5 | 11 | 33.9 | 46.6 | 77.4 | 86 | 38.6 | 9.6 | 32.4 | |
| 9 | Marion County | 46.2 | 89.9 | 94.6 | 0.9 | 5.2 | 14 | 37.3 | 19.3 | 86 | 56.3 | 24.2 | 31.2 | |
| 10 | Beaufort County | 45.5 | 86.5 | 9.3 | 88.4 | 21.8 | 74.8 | 50.9 | 2.9 | 59.3 | 36.3 | 24.2 | 36.1 | |
| 11 | Fairfield County | 45.3 | 83 | 60.4 | 9.4 | 8.9 | 21.6 | 62.8 | 59.2 | 56 | 59.3 | 18.7 | 44.1 | |
| 12 | Darlington County | 44.9 | 92.2 | 64.2 | 10.1 | 2 | 28.2 | 52.9 | 27.7 | 86 | 49 | 22.5 | 31.9 | |
| 13 | Cherokee County | 44.8 | 91.6 | 74 | 12.7 | 9.1 | 29 | 32.9 | 30.3 | 43.7 | 66.8 | 22.5 | 52.2 | |
| 14 | Lancaster County | 44.8 | 86 | 36.5 | 77 | 15.3 | 58.1 | 24.7 | 20.6 | 86 | 62.7 | 20.2 | 22.6 | |
| 15 | Aiken County | 44.5 | 91.9 | 38.6 | 61.7 | 11.7 | 41.5 | 51 | 15.8 | 59.2 | 41.9 | 24.1 | ||
| 16 | York County | 44.5 | 86.4 | 13.3 | 87 | 19.8 | 65.8 | 43.6 | 11.3 | 61.3 | 62.3 | 17.4 | 39.7 | |
| 17 | Allendale County | 43.9 | 46.7 | 92 | 0.4 | 15.8 | 11.5 | 46.8 | 64.6 | 86 | 47.8 | 20 | 25.2 | |
| 18 | Lee County | 43.9 | 78.2 | 78.6 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 15 | 38 | 64 | 86 | 53.6 | 11.4 | 38.5 | |
| 19 | Laurens County | 43.8 | 91.4 | 63.3 | 26.6 | 9.6 | 30.8 | 32 | 23.8 | 68.4 | 58.9 | 21.1 | 44.2 | |
| 20 | Charleston County | 43.4 | 93 | 7 | 88 | 13.7 | 74.9 | 42.6 | 1.4 | 63.2 | 45.9 | 33.8 | ||
| 21 | Newberry County | 43.4 | 64.3 | 61.8 | 37.9 | 19.5 | 33 | 37.2 | 38 | 63.8 | 55 | 19.2 | 40.3 | |
| 22 | Chesterfield County | 43.2 | 89.6 | 80.4 | 10.4 | 5.4 | 26.4 | 30.3 | 26 | 28.8 | 54.6 | 12.7 | 30.1 | |
| 23 | Clarendon County | 42.6 | 77.3 | 82.9 | 12.4 | 3.2 | 22.9 | 32 | 23.5 | 86 | 48.5 | 21.3 | 25.8 | |
| 24 | Kershaw County | 42.5 | 87.2 | 41.8 | 51.5 | 10.9 | 44.5 | 26.6 | 33.3 | 86 | 56.3 | 45.9 | ||
| 25 | Georgetown County | 41.8 | 92.3 | 32.6 | 58.5 | 12.2 | 43.4 | 40.8 | 7.5 | 52.7 | 52.8 | 28 | 26.5 |
McCormick County
Edgefield County
Abbeville County
Pickens County
Saluda County
Dorchester County
Oconee County
Calhoun County
Marion County
Beaufort County
Fairfield County
Darlington County
Cherokee County
Lancaster County
Aiken County
York County
Allendale County
Lee County
Laurens County
Charleston County
Newberry County
Chesterfield County
Clarendon County
Kershaw County
Georgetown County
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in South Carolina
Common questions about county rankings and scores in South Carolina.
What is the best county in South Carolina?
McCormick County is the top-ranked county in South Carolina with a CountyScore of 59.4/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets.
How many counties are ranked in South Carolina?
South Carolina has 46 counties in total. Of those, 46 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to eight data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, and Water Quality. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever dimensions have data. Currently available dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in South Carolina?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in South Carolina is 43/100. The national average is 50/100, so South Carolina counties score 7 points below the national average.
How does South Carolina compare to other states?
South Carolina's average county score of 43/100 is 7 points below the national average of 50/100. You can compare South Carolina counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in South Carolina.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.