Study: These factors prevent Hilton Head from being named the best SC city to retire in

A lack of doctors’ offices and retirement centers prevent Hilton Head Island from claiming a ranking as the top spot in the state to retire, according to a new report.

For the second year in a row, a report from SmartAsset named Hilton Head Island the fourth best city to retire in South Carolina.

In its third annual study on the Best Places to Retire, the financial technology company rated cities by their tax friendliness, recreational and social opportunities for seniors and availability of medical care.

The South Carolina cities that came in ahead of Hilton Head were Seneca, Myrtle Beach and Murrels Inlet.

While those three cities each have more than six doctors’ offices per 1,000 people, Hilton Head has a mere 2.5 — the lowest number among the top 10 South Carolina cities ranked, the report said.

Mrytle Beach, which ranked second overall, has 8.7 doctors’ offices per 1,000 people, according to the report.

Hilton Head has the highest percentage of seniors on the list — 32.9 percent. But the town only has .2 retirement centers per 1,000 people. The City of Seneca, which ranked 11th nationally and the best city to retire in South Carolina, has .7 retirement centers per 1,000 people.

Alaska, Florida and Michigan accounted for nine of the top 10 best cities to retire in across the country. Naples, Fla., which ranked third, has 27 doctors offices per 1,000 people, according to the report.

This story was originally published June 23, 2017 at 4:35 PM with the headline "Study: These factors prevent Hilton Head from being named the best SC city to retire in."