South Carolina has long been an attractive destination for retirees.

South Carolina ranked as the fastest-growing state in 2023, thanks to a mix of new retirees, people moving for jobs and others, previous U.S. Census data shows.

The state’s population grew by 1.7% to a total of 5,373,555. South Carolina was followed closely behind by Florida and Texas, both at 1.6% population growth. The state ranked third fastest-growing in 2022 with a 1.7% increase in population, a gain of 89,368 people.

Besides the abundance of natural beauty and history, South Carolina offers financial incentives for retirees, such as the Homestead Exemption benefit. Through it, retirees 65 years old and older are eligible for a tax exemption of $50,000 of the value of their home after living in the state for a full year.

There’s also no state tax on Social Security benefits in South Carolina. And residents 65 years old and older can deduct up to $10,000 of retirement income from state taxes.

But if you’re thinking about retiring in South Carolina, which places are the best?

Travel+Leisure recently spoke with local experts to determine the top eight best places to retire in the state. Take a look at the best ranked spots below.

#1 Greenville

Greenville taking the top spot is easy to understand for those familiar with South Carolina. The city has been booming for years now and has routinely been featured on seemingly endless “best of” lists.

“The city’s walkable downtown is anchored by Falls Park on the Reedy,” Travel+Leisure writes. “This centerpiece park features a waterfall, gardens, public art, and Liberty Bridge, a pedestrian-friendly suspension bridge.”

There are 37 parks spread out around Greenville, offering residents walking and biking trails, disc golf, tennis and more. The city also has two major healthcare systems with multiple locations.

And for retirees who enjoy traveling, the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport has 100 daily nonstop flights to 23 destinations across the U.S.

#2 Columbia

Columbia is the state’s capital and a college town because of the University of South Carolina. But it also has plenty to offer retirees, Travel+Leisure writes.

“Thanks to the area’s mild climate, there are activities available all year round for retirees who want to stay active,” the publication writes. “Three rivers meet in Columbia — the Broad, the Saluda, and the Congaree — making it a hot spot for water activities like kayaking, canoeing, and tubing.”

The city has major healthcare systems, including Prisma Health, Lexington Medical Center and the Medical University of South Carolina.

Congaree National Park, just 20 miles outside the city, offers plenty of hiking, bird watching, kayaking and other relaxing outdoor activities.

The Soda City also has plenty of live entertainment and numerous theaters, such as Trustus Theatre, Columbia Marionette Theater and Town Theatre.

#3 Camden

Camden is one of the oldest inland towns in South Carolina and can be found just 35 miles outside of Columbia. There retirees can find a wealth of history and outdoor activities.

“Goodale State Park is a great spot for kayaking and canoeing (there’s even a 3-mile paddling trail that winds through cypress trees and aquatic plants),” Travel+Leisure writes. “History buffs will enjoy the tours and reenactments at the Historic Camden Revolutionary War site, while art and theater lovers will flock to the performances, exhibits, and concerts at the Arts Center of Kershaw County.”

5 other best places to retire in SC

#4 Anderson

#5 Charleston

#6 Beaufort

#7 Fort Mill

#8 Spartanburg

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – Test scores show South Carolina students are significantly behind where the state wants them to be in reading, writing and math.

Educators say some of these scores paint a troubling picture, while others show efforts to target pandemic learning loss are working.

On Friday, the South Carolina Department of Education released results from last year’s SC READY assessment.

That’s the annual test public-school students in third through eighth grade take – in math and English language arts.

“While there’s a lot to celebrate here, there’s also, I think, an urgent call for continued action,” said Patrick Kelly of the Palmetto State Teachers Association.

Scores show reading and writing is a brighter spot, with 53% of students performing at or above their grade level – the same as last year, and up from pre-pandemic scores.

That’s not the situation for math – for which only 42% of students across the state met their grade-level expectations – slightly up from last year, but still below where students were before COVID.

And the statewide averages in both areas fell far short of the South Carolina Department of Education’s goal of 75% of students testing at least at their grade level.

“I think that we’re seeing it’s attainable,” Kelly said. “It’s just going to take a lot of work, and we need to look at the places where we’re seeing positive momentum, and we need to replicate what they’re doing statewide.”

State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver says officials are encouraged by the growth in reading and writing scores and committed to tackling shortcomings in math.

“Our laser focus remains on providing a strong academic foundation in the fundamentals to ensure that every South Carolina student has the opportunity to meet their full potential,” she said.

The Department of Education has promised “urgent and targeted intervention” through a new program called the Palmetto Math Project.

It says that will focus, in part, on providing intensive support to the lowest-performing schools, for both students and teachers.

It’s funded in the current state budget.

“Let’s put our money into the most valuable resource for students, which is dedicated time in an individualized learning environment with teachers,” Kelly said. “If we do that, we’ll get the gain. If we don’t, then I don’t think we’re going to get the return on investment we expect with this money.”

The Palmetto State Teachers Association says the statewide educator shortage plays a big role in these scores falling short of where state leaders want them – especially in high-need areas like math.

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