These Are The 10 Safest Cities To Live In South Carolina
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Robin Jarvis
Author
South Carolina has tons of beautiful and quaint towns, but you might wonder which are the safest. The numbers are in and the data has been sufficiently analyzed to name the 10 safest cities in which to live in South Carolina in 2021. And Safewise, a company obsessed with home security that ranks cities around the country each year according to how safe they are, ranked these towns in order of their safety. Check it out:
10. Mauldin
Mauldin, SC, USA
With a population of more than 25,000, Mauldin manages to retain a small-town feel, perhaps because it's located in Greenville's shadow. The FBI statistics showed a violent crime rate for Mauldin of only 1.7 in 2020, which is very good. The property crime rate for the same period, however, was 17.3.
9. Central
Central, SC 29630, USA
Named for being the halfway point between Charlotte and Atlanta, the small town of Central (population 5,380) is a sleepy bedroom community in Pickens County. Known, in part, as the birthplace of Lindsay Graham, Central is also the home of the Central Railroad Festival held each October. In 2020, the violent crime rate in Central was 1.0. Property crimes fell in at 25.3 for the same year.
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8. Walhalla
Walhalla, SC, USA
Found within the Blue Ridge Escarpment, Walhalla is a wonderfully beautiful spot all year long, especially in the fall when the leaves light up the city like a spilled box of crayons. The 4,384 residents of Walhalla must get pretty spoiled by the amazing views. Perhaps that's why violent and property crime rates are so low. It's worthy to note that from 2020 to 2021, Walhalla rose 41 notches on the list of safest cities in South Carolina. Go Walhalla!
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7. Hanahan
Hanahan, SC, USA
Population: 26,941. Located at the very southern end of Berkeley County, Hanahan is a bedroom community within the Charleston Metro. With little development other than residential, Hanahan is a city that's mostly all residences, although there are some warehouses found here. With the lack of business development, the city enjoys a low violent crime rate (2.3 in 2020) as well as a low property crime rate (13.3 in 2020).
6. Isle of Palms
Isle of Palms, SC, USA
Falling from the number one position in 2020, Isle of Palms was unseated due to a rise in reported property crimes. In 2019, property crimes represented 15.5 but rose to 18.2 in 2020. The island has a year-round population of 4,236, which rises considerably when vacation rentals fill up during the season, bringing a transient population to this sleepy island. Still, having lived here and raised a child here myself, I'd say the level of feeling safe on the Isle of Palms is pretty significant.
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5. Bluffton
Bluffton, SC, USA
Situated along the May River between Hilton Head and Interstate 95, Bluffton has, in recent years, swelled in terms of tourist interest. It's also grown exponentially in terms of residents. Today, Bluffton's population sits at 24,812, showing, surprisingly, that not all of the safest cities in South Carolina are extremely small in size. In 2020, Bluffton's violent crime rate rested at a rate of 2.2 out of 1,000 people falling victim, up from 2.0 in 2019. Due to the rise, Bluffton fell from #4 to the #5 safest city in the state in 2021.
4. Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, Mt Pleasant, SC, USA
Ranked #3 last year, Mount Pleasant is the largest of the 10 cities on the list of top 10 safest cities to live in 2021. In terms of violent crime, the residents of the Town of Mount Pleasant fall victim at a rate of 1.5 in 1,000.
3. Tega Cay
Tega Cay, SC 29708, USA
Sitting on the shores of Lake Wylie in the Piedmont, Tega Cay enjoys the most income of any city on this list, with a median household income of $123,564. The city rose 21 positions on this list compared to last year. Perhaps the most influential reason for the increase was Tega Cay's incredibly low violent crime rate. It currently sits at 0.4 occurrences for every 1,000 residents. That's super low and a testament to this wonderful lakeside community. Way to go, Tega Cay!
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2. Fort Mill
Fort Mill, SC, USA
Fort Mill's name is derived from a fort constructed by the British and a nearby mill. Fort Mill's small population of 21,219 help this small city retain a small-town feel. Fort Mill saw a low, low violent crime rate of 2.7 in 2019 and 1.7 in 2020.
1. Woodruff
Woodruff, SC 29388, USA
Debuting in the #1 position of the safest city to live in South Carolina, Woodruff moved up 26 points from its position on the same list in 2020. Looking at the numbers, Woodruff certainly has earned the jump. The city's violent crime has fallen from 4.7 in 2019 to a current rate of 0.7 instances per 1,000 residents. Woodruff's population is 4,356.
Well, did your town make the cut? Were you surprised by any of the towns on the list? Let us know what your favorite towns in South Carolina are in the comments. While you’re in the state, be sure to visit some of the small towns with the best downtown areas in South Carolina.
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More to Explore
The Best Places In South Carolina
What are the most charming small towns in South Carolina?
The most charming small towns in South Carolina include:
- Pawley’s Island. This little town was settled by rice plantation owners in the early 1700s and is known for its slow pace of life.
- Cheraw. This was once a trading village that started in 1740 and it is located on the Great Pee Dee River.
- Edgefield. This town was part of the Great Wagon Road and is also known as the Home of Ten Governors.
- Chesterfield. This town has grown into a charming, lovely town, but was once occupied by General Sherman during the Civil War.
Discover more about the most charming small towns in South Carolina.
What are the top bucket-list attractions in South Carolina?
The top bucket-list attractions in South Carolina include:
- Joe Riley Waterfront Park. Located in Charleston, this is a gorgeous park with waterfront strolls and a beautiful fountain.
- Falls Park on the Reedy. This is one of the most beautiful parks in America with skyway walks and waterfalls all over.
- Coligny Beach Park. This lovely beach on Hilton Head Island is a wonderful place to spend a day watching the waves.
- Middleton Place. This is 65 acres of amazing gardens. It has a stable yard and offers history tours.
Find out more about the top bucket-list attractions in South Carolina.
What are some hidden gem attractions in South Carolina?
Some of the hidden gem attractions in South Carolina include:
- Vien Quang Monastery. This beautiful Mahayana Buddhist monastery in Clover has 22 acres of beauty to discover.
- Runway Park. Located in Greenville, this is a children’s park with a cafe and views of the runway where planes can be seen taking off.
- Pearl Fryer Botanical Garden. This is an amazing collection of intricate topiary that everyone should see.
- Gassaway Mansion. This castle in Greenville has 40 rooms and exquisite gardens and it is open for private events.
Learn more about these and other hidden gem attractions in South Carolina.