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Best Overall Cities in South Carolina

5 cities ranked · Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions.

Top Cities in South Carolina

  1. #1
    A

    Mount Pleasant

    Best Overall Cities score 80 · MoveScore 80

  2. #2
    B

    Charleston

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  3. #3
    B

    Greenville

    Best Overall Cities score 71 · MoveScore 71

  4. #4
    C

    Spartanburg

    Best Overall Cities score 68 · MoveScore 68

  5. #5
    C

    Columbia

    Best Overall Cities score 62 · MoveScore 62

Other South Carolina Rankings

Best for Safety in South Carolina

Lowest crime rates per FBI UCR — best for families sensitive to violent and property crime.

Best for Water Quality in South Carolina

Cleanest drinking water per EPA SDWIS — fewest violations, highest safety scores.

Best for Air Quality in South Carolina

Cleanest air per EPA AQS — lowest median AQI and fewest unhealthy days.

Best for Public Schools in South Carolina

Strongest public school performance per NCES/EDFacts — highest average proficiency.

Best Fiscal Health in South Carolina

Strongest municipal fiscal health per Census ASPEP — sustainable per-capita spending.

Best for Hospital Care in South Carolina

Highest-rated hospitals per CMS HCAHPS — best patient experience scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city in South Carolina ranks highest for best overall cities?

Mount Pleasant, SC ranks #1 in South Carolina for best overall cities with a sub-score of 80/100 (MoveScore 80, grade A).

How many cities in South Carolina are compared?

5 South Carolina cities have enough federal data for this ranking. Cities need at least three of six sub-scores for inclusion.

How is this ranking calculated?

Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions. Sub-scores are normalized to 0-100 and the highest scores rank first.

Sources: FBI UCR, EPA, NCES, Census ASPEP, CMS HCAHPS
Last updated:

South Carolina-specific ranking using the composite MoveScore, normalized to 0-100. Cities need at least three federal sub-scores to be included.