If you’re like most people trying to pinpoint where to live during your golden years, you may be considering the state of South Carolina as a potential retirement destination.

Should you decide to relocate to the Palmetto State (a nickname referring to the state tree, the sabel pametto), know you’ll follow in the footsteps of thousands of others aged 60+ who made the move there in 2023. According to SmartAsset, the state ranks fourth—behind only Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina—as a top retirement destination and is perennially in the top five.

In this post, we’ll share key details you need to know about the state before deciding to make a potential move there.

Top reasons to retire in South Carolina

Beyond its incredibly diverse landscapes and milder climate than many other states, there are plenty of other reasons to retire in South Carolina. Here are just a few:

You’d be in good company

Although Florida and Arizona have long occupied the top of “best places to retire” lists, we analyzed three years of SmartAsset data to identify just how popular South Carolina is as a retirement destination.

Among a total of 370,055 net migrations of retiree households (defined as people aged 60+) within the four most popular retiree destinations—Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, and South Carolina—about 13.7% of retirees within this group ultimately ended up in South Carolina, tied in third with North Carolina (Florida ranked #1 at 54%).

South Carolina is a tax-friendly state

South Carolina is retiree-friendly with respect to Social Security benefits, inheritance, and estate taxes, which simply don’t exist in the state: allowing you to pocket more money and leave more to your heirs.

While South Carolina does charge state income tax and taxes most retirement sources (e.g., 401(k)s, pensions, and IRAs), the state does provide a $10,000 taxable income deduction for seniors 65 and older receiving any other type of retirement income. There is also a broader income tax deduction of $15,000 for all sources of income; if you claim the full retirement income deduction, you can deduct another $5,000 from your overall income including wages, interest income, and investments.

South Carolina charges a tax rate of 6.2% (dropping to 6% in 2026) for any taxable income above $17,830 for single filers ($17,330 for those married and filing jointly). While the state’s tax rate is lower than that of many states, state income tax in Florida—the top-ranked retirement destination—rings in at a whopping $0. While this may seem like modest savings, every dollar counts if you’re on a fixed income: especially considering just how expensive retirement really is.

The Tax Foundation ranks South Carolina the 18th most expensive state with respect to sales taxes, as its combined state and local sales tax average is 7.49%. Groceries are exempt from state sales tax, but a local tax may apply.

Anyone wishing to live in South Carolina to reap the aforementioned tax benefits generally must live in the state for at least 12 consecutive months to claim it as their primary residence.

Housing is affordable in South Carolina

According to the Zillow Home Values Index, the median SC home value of $303,644—as of the date of this post—is lower than the U.S. as a whole ($368,581) and less expensive than North Carolina ($336,465), Florida ($382,136), and Arizona ($426,164).Compare this to $569,578 in New Jersey (where many of our readers reside), and you can see that—generally speaking—homes in South Carolina are very affordable.

WalletHub data indicates South Carolinians don’t pay a lot in property taxes, with residents in only four other states taxed at a lower rate. Based on a median home value of $236,700, the corresponding annual property tax bill in South Carolina would ring in at approximately $1,199 (SC charges an effective rate of 0.51%).

Full-time residency can also help further reduce property tax bills.

If you’re at least 65 years old and the property has served as your primary residence for at least one year, you can qualify for the state’s homestead exemption: omitting the first $50,000 or 50% of your home’s appraised value (whichever is greater) from taxation.

Homeowners insurance is reasonable

According to Insurance.com, the national average homeowners policy cost—based on a dwelling coverage amount of $300,000 and a $1,000 deductible—is $2,490. The average rate for South Carolina, meanwhile, is $2,678: the same as Arizona in fact ($2,490) but less expensive than North Carolina ($2,941) and Florida ($4,419).

Automobile insurance parallels the national average

Should you opt to retire in South Carolina, your auto insurance rates will likely mirror the national average or fall slightly below the same. More specifically, Insurance.com reports that the average full coverage cost (100/300/100 with comprehensive/collision and a $500 deductible) is $2,009 per year in South Carolina—compared to an average of $1,895 nationwide.

In-home healthcare services are moderate

If you should one day need to self-fund long-term care, know that many of these services—ranging from in-home care to a nursing home facility—are generally less than the national average in SC. For example, the monthly cost of a home health aide in South Carolina is approximately $5,720 but averages $6,292 nationally.

Free education opportunities

If you’re looking to soak up additional knowledge and attend school in your free time, know that tuition and registration fees are waived for residents over the age of 60 at any state-funded college on a space-available basis.

Top reasons to retire outside of South Carolina

As with all other retirement destinations, retiring in South Carolina also has some drawbacks. These include:

Mixed healthcare quality

We queried various research studies on the quality of healthcare by state. While each report used different benchmarks, results were similar across the board: with South Carolina generally receiving marks that were either average or fell below those of other states.

More specifically, WalletHub ranks South Carolina as the 35th-best state with respect to top healthcare systems while the state ranks 30th in U.S. News & World Report rankings. South Carolina also placed 36th among all states for Medicare quality.

Despite these generally subpar rankings, that’s not to say high-quality hospitals don’t exist in SC. In fact, U.S. News & World Report ranks a few South Carolina hospitals among the best in the nation; MUSC Health-University Medical Center is nationally ranked in various specialties as is Roper Hospital, both based in Charleston.

Solid but less robust peer group than in Florida

South Carolina is home to over 1 million people aged 65+, comprising nearly 19% of the state’s population (per Journal of Consumer Affairs research). However, if happiness and longevity are two of your main objectives, then Florida—home to more than 4.5 million people aged 65+ (nearly 21% of the state population) is perhaps a better place to spend your golden years.

Asthma and allergy considerations

The South Carolina environment is sometimes tough on people who suffer from asthma and allergies, but where exactly you reside in the state can make a big difference in this regard.

Based on the most recent Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America data, Greenville and Columbia have a higher-than-average rating for allergies. Asthma suffers, meanwhile, should keep in mind that no areas of the state scored “better than average” in South Carolina’s asthma rankings (Charleston and Greenville ranked in the top 20 on the SC “asthma capitals” list).

Hurricanes

The Universal Property Insurance Company analyzed the most hurricane-prone states based on data collected between 1851 and 2018. Perhaps surprisingly, South Carolina ranked fifth in this regard after experiencing 30 direct hits, five of which fell between Category 3 (111 to 129-mph winds) and Category 5 (winds of 157+ mph) status. Per the South Carolina State Climatology Office, the state averages one hurricane (that makes landfall) every 8 years. The SC coast is of course most susceptible to a direct hurricane strike; click here to view the most hurricane-prone areas within the state.

Fairly prevalent consumer fraud

Recent Federal Trade Commission data ranked South Carolina #7 with respect to consumer fraud: with a total of 80,070 reports filed in 2024, representing 1,536 reports per 100,000 residents.

The most common fraud categories were furnishers of credit bureau information (28%), identity theft (16%), and imposter scams (12%). The top identity theft type was credit card fraud (43%).

Best places to retire in South Carolina

In many ways, researching and spending time in prospective locations is a lot like online dating; you persistently “swipe” (research) various “profiles” (destinations) in the hope of eventually finding “the one.” However, as numerous options will likely boast several key qualities you’re looking for—at least on paper—you won’t be able to identify any as a “keeper” until you meet them (by visiting) and spend time with them (by staying a while).

That said, you can rely on a few good resources out there to help narrow down your list. For example, the 2024 U.S. News & World Report “Best Places to Retire” study (based on various factors including taxes, affordable housing, happiness ratings, and desirability) ranks Charleston #13 among the top 25 U.S. cities to retire in.

Likewise, WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Places to Retire” list names Charleston (#16) and Columbia (#28) among its top 100 cities.

In sum: South Carolina as a retirement destination

While retiring in South Carolina does have some challenges (as with any other state), it’s consistently proven—via both retirement destination rankings and the sheer volume of retirees who move there—as a great place to spend your golden years. That said, we recommend you visit various locations for at least a few weeks before ultimately deciding on a permanent relocation spot.

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Want to Retire in South Carolina? Here’s What You Need to Know.