The best place to live? This county tops the list in South Carolina, new rankings show
There are so many places to love in South Carolina — but which is the best to call home?
Greenville County ranks No. 1 in the state on a list of counties offering opportunities for residents to work, learn and play, according to results published Feb. 10.
To create the list of top places to live, the data-driven website Stacker said it studied 2022 figures from Niche, which ranks schools and neighborhoods. Using information from the U.S. government and other sources, Niche considered how each county fared in several categories, including cost of living, education, diversity, weather, health care, safety, activities, commute times and family-friendliness.
Stacker said the best counties in each state often have “a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.”
Greenville County reigned supreme in South Carolina after receiving A grades in several categories. Stacker also gave the county of roughly a half-million residents a nod for having more than 200 companies and a location along Interstate 85, a major thoroughfare between Atlanta and Charlotte.
“Once a textile center, today it is home to French tire manufacturer Michelin, which chose Greenville as its North American headquarters in 1986 ...” the report said. “In the city of Greenville’s downtown, there is Falls Park on the Reedy, with a suspension bridge and gardens on what is thought to be the spot where a gristmill once stood.”
But Greenville County’s scores weren’t as high in some categories. It received B grades for weather, cost of living, jobs and commute times.
It might not come as a surprise that Greenville County landed at the top of the rankings. Its county seat, Greenville, was named one of the South’s “best-kept secrets” and more recently made it onto a list of the world’s best places to visit in 2023, The State reported.
This time around, many of the other counties that topped Niche’s list were home to or near big cities. Rounding out the top five:
- Charleston County at No. 2
- Lexington County at No. 3
- Richland County at No. 4
- York County at No. 5
This story was originally published February 17, 2023 at 3:42 PM with the headline "The best place to live? This county tops the list in South Carolina, new rankings show."
