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South Carolina is a state known for its incredible coastal beauty, charm, hospitality, acclaimed golf courses, and vibrant culinary scene that’s full of rich Southern dishes. It’s also home to some of the most desirable retirement destinations in the country—and for good reason.

Considering a move to South Carolina? Here’s everything you need to know about the state from taxes and climate to places to live and popular active adult communities to consider.

Retiring in South Carolina Pros and Cons

Quality healthcare. There are several prominent health care systems throughout the state that have been nationally ranked for different specialties, including cardiac surgery; rheumatology; ear, nose, and throat; and cancer.

Low taxes. South Carolina has relatively low property taxes compared to the rest of the country. Also, there are several tax exemptions as well as tax deductions available for seniors.

Plenty of outdoor recreation. From world-class golf courses and historic sites to a myriad of water sports along the coast and mountains in the Upstate, South Carolina has no shortage of things to do to stay outdoors and active.

Mild winters. Mild winters make it possible for residents to stay active outdoors throughout the coldest months of the year.

The heat and humidity. While winters are mild, summers are intensely hot and humid with high temperatures starting as early as May and averages in the 90s during July and August.

Hurricane season. Because of South Carolina’s location along the eastern seaboard, the state is typically impacted by at least one hurricane a year. Coastal towns are often hit the hardest with major flooding, including the popular areas of Myrtle Beach and Charleston.

High housing prices. Though the state has some of the lowest property taxes in the country, the most popular areas of the state—especially along the coast—often have high price tags on homes.

South Carolina Climate

Residents can expect to find a humid subtropical climate in South Carolina with mild winters and hot and humid summers. According to US Climate Data, the average high is 75 degrees, and the annual low is 52 degrees. The warmest months of the year—July and August—see averages between 91 and 93 degrees. Colder months see averages between 58 and 60 degrees.

Hurricane season can often cause problems for coastal towns during September with high winds, flooding, and possible hail damage.

South Carolina Taxes

There are a number of positive benefits that come with living in South Carolina when it comes to finances. The state doesn't tax Social Security benefits, and it boasts some of the lowest property taxes in the country. There’s also a substantial retirement income deduction in regards to state income taxes. Additionally, there are no inheritance or estate taxes, and there are other perks for qualifying seniors.

According to SmartAsset, "The average effective property tax rate in South Carolina is just 0.55 percent, with a median annual property tax payment of $980." That's a much better rate than the national average. Currently, households in the U.S. spend an average of $2,471 on property taxes each year, according to WalletHub.

Social Security benefits are exempt from taxation in South Carolina, and the state income tax offers some very good deductions on retirement income for residents.

Senior homeowners may qualify for a homestead exemption that allows the "first $50,000 of a property’s fair market value to be exempt from local property taxes,” according to Kiplinger. There are also no inheritance or estate taxes, which often affect widows and widowers.

South Carolina Health Care

South Carolina has a range of health care facilities that vary from large hospital systems and general practitioners to rehabilitation centers and clinics. Some of the most well-known health care facilities in the state include The Grand Strand Regional Medical Center as well as the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), which is renowned and nationally ranked for three adult specialties: rheumatology; ear, nose, and throat; and cancer.

Where to Live in South Carolina

Take your pick from a charming coastal city drenched in history, a bustling state capital, or a small town in the Upstate—South Carolina has it all when it comes to where to live.

If the tranquil miles of coastline and Southern hospitality aren’t enough to convince you to consider moving to the South Carolina coast, maybe the area’s rich history, renowned culinary scene, or world-class golfing might do the trick.

Myrtle Beach is home to 60 miles of shoreline, virtually endless entertainment options, countless championship golf courses, and popular shopping destinations. There are also three hospital systems in the area—Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, Georgetown Hospital System, and Loris Healthcare System. Communities to consider in the area include Del Webb at Grande Dunes Myrtle Beach, Berkshire Forest, and Myrtle Beach Golf & Yacht Club.

Historic downtown Charleston is another popular retirement destination for active adults looking to settle down near the ocean. The charming city is full of things to do and interesting sites to see from Revolutionary and Civil War forts to some of the most beautiful architecture in the South. Along with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options, the city is also home to MUSC, giving residents easy access to top-notch health care. A few 55+ communities in the area include Cresswind Charleston, Del Webb at Cane Bay, and Del Webb Charleston at Nexton.

Similar to both Myrtle Beach and Charleston, Hilton Head, offers residents everything from resort-style communities and celebrated golf courses to pristine shorelines. Some of the largest active adult communities in the state are located in Hilton Head, and they have very impressive amenities, including the 8,000-home Sun City Hilton Head, Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head, and Alston Park at New Riverside.

The northwestern part of the state known as the Upstate area sits along the I-85 corridor between the major cities of Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA, giving residents easy access to everything in each city, while allowing enough space for residents to enjoy a slower pace of life in smaller towns and suburbs. Active adult communities in the Upstate include Annadale Estates, Edgewater The Cottages, and Four Seasons at Gold Hill.

The state capital of Columbia is teeming with cultural amenities from museums to an expansive zoo. It’s also home to charming tree-lined streets that are dotted with local boutiques, antique shops, and eateries. And, because of its central location, Columbia residents have easy access to the coast and Upstate. Popular communities in Central South Carolina include Hulon Green, Lexington Villas, Peach Grove Villas, and Savannah Lakes Village.

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A new 110,000-square-foot office and retail development on the upper Charleston peninsula has landed its first tenant.

Interior Elements, a contract furniture dealer, will open a 2,500-square-foot office and showroom in The Quin on Algonquin Road off Meeting Street Road. The design showroom is expected to open in the latter months of 2021.

The Quin, which includes a 300-space parking deck in a separate structure, is a five-story development by Charlotte-based real estate investment firm White Point. It includes 5,000 square feet of outdoor recreation space.

The Quin was originally called The Belvidere, but changed the name since it was tied to a former plantation site. Quin is taken from the street, Algonquin, where the building is located.

The Quin’s completion by Frampton Construction marks the end of the first phase of White Point’s development on Algonquin Road.

In 2020 White Point purchased the 5.6-acre lot across the street which houses a Pepsi distribution plant. The developer plans to build apartments, offices, and food and beverage venues with second level/rooftop patios.

Phase II will begin when Pepsi vacates the property at a future date. The company has selected a site in Palmetto Commerce Park in North Charleston for its new distribution facility, according to Pepsi spokeswoman Elisa Baker. The building has not been constructed.

Locals restaurant is working on a second Mount Pleasant venue that will not include sushi while a British-inspired restaurant plans to open in the same shopping center. King Street will welcome two new retailers on May 15.

224: Number of units planned in a new apartment development in Point Hope off Clements Ferry Road in Charleston.

99: Number of acres in the new Downtown Nexton development of retailers, restaurants, hotels, offices and apartments coming to a $300M-plus investment on the edge of Summerville.

49: Record number of homes and homesites sold during the year’s first three months in the 2,000-acre Kiawah River development on Johns Island where 1,000 new homes are planned.

+ Tiny homes: New rules for small houses may be put in place for an Upstate county.

+ Boom & Balance: Summerville sees need for affordable housing options but struggles to find a place for it as the Charleston region’s growth spills into the Dorchester County town.

+ New apartments: Berkeley County’s Cane Bay community opens new 300-unit, multifamily development.

Charleston-area home sales continue to soar even as inventory of available houses continues to dip further. The median price of a home in the four-county region climbed to nearly $344,000 in April.

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COLUMBIA — The S.C. Department of Public Safety and S.C. Department of Transportation, in conjunction with a number of state and local agencies, will conduct a hurricane evacuation exercise on Thursday to test lane reversal plans for all three major coastal areas of the state.

“This hurricane exercise is critically important to the coordination of assets and personnel and represents one of many ways that state agencies collaborate to prepare before a hurricane event,” S.C. Department of Public Safety Director Robert Woods IV said.

The exercise will simulate reversal operations on U.S. 278 and U.S. 21. The deployment of equipment and personnel will be made on these roads leading out of Hilton Head and Beaufort.

Law enforcement personnel and traffic control devices will be deployed on Interstate 26 from the intersection of the 197 mm (Nexton Parkway) and I-26 in Charleston to I-77 and I-26 in Columbia.

Traffic control equipment and personnel will be stationed on U.S. 501 beginning at S.C. 544 and ending at U.S. 378, as well as between S.C. 22 and the Marion By-Pass.

Aerial units from SLED, the Civil Air Patrol, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the S.C. Forestry Commission will be flying assigned aerial surveillance routes.

The exercise should not interfere with the flow of traffic. Intersections will not be blocked, and motorists will be allowed to move freely. However, the Highway Patrol cautions motorists to exercise caution and be aware that law enforcement officers and state personnel will be located on the shoulder of the highway and at exits.

Visit the SCDOT website to view evacuation routes and the updated lane reversal video for I-26 at www.scdot.org.

For more information about the upcoming hurricane season, visit the S.C. Emergency Management Division’s website: Hurricane.SC and download the SCEMD Emergency Manager app to stay up-to-date during hurricane season. Also, check out the S.C. Emergency Management Division’s 2021 Hurricane Guide.

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BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – Meals will be available at 11 Berkeley County School District schools this summer as a part of the 2021 BCSD Summer Feeding Program. All children 18 years of age and younger qualify for meals as a part of the program.

Summer feeding sites will be open for parents and/or students to come in and grab a meal to go. Students DO NOT have to be present to receive a meal.

The locations listed below will be open Monday – Thursday from June 21 until Aug. 6, 2021.

Locations (sites subject to change)

BCSD Child Nutrition is currently accepting applications for locations interested in becoming volunteer summer feeding sites. Applicants can complete an application online or print a paper copy.

Summer Feeding Applications

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Kick off your weekend with a trip to the latest S.C. eateries to earn a national nod. Or better yet, if you’re downtown, visit both.

D'Allesandro's Pizza, which has three state locations, was named to The 50 Best Pizzas in the United States by U.K.-based online travel site Big 7 Travel. The restaurant offering authentic Italian pizza, calzones and subs was ranked No. 38.

“No local in Charleston can deny that this neighbourhood pizza joint is a go-to haunt for some of the best pizza in the city. Actually, some of the best pizza in the U.S.,” Big 7 Travel said in its list.

Hungry patrons can choose from a list of curated pizzas or create their own from more than 30 toppings.

“The end result here? A pizza that is absolutely bursting with flavour through every single mouthful,” Big 7 said.

D’Allesandro’s can be found at 229 St. Philip St. in Charleston, 414 Nexton Square Drive in Summerville, and 17 Mohawk Drive in Greenville.

Off Track Ice Cream, just a mile and a half away, earned a nod as having the best ice cream in South Carolina from Food & Wine.

Owners Marc and Alissa Zera opened the sweet shop in 2019 after making ice cream as a creative outlet, they said on their website.

The ice cream is made from scratch and in-house at 6 Beaufain St. Flavors include chocolate fudgy brownie, peppermint chip, Fluffernutter blondie, cold brew honeycomb and birthday cake donut. Some flavor options are vegan-friendly as well.

“Our mission is to bring you the most flavor-packed, creamy, decadent ice creams possible, because you deserve great ice cream,” the owners said on their website. “Our Production Kitchen, located in the back half of our shop, is viewable through large floor-to-ceiling windows, so you can stop in to see for yourself.”

The owners use natural and local ingredients, such as sea salt from Bulls Bay Saltworks in McClellanville, wildflower honey from Red Clay Hot Sauce in Charleston and pecans from Brickyard Point Farm Lady’s Island.

In February, Charleston Regional Business Journal reported that BKeDSHoP, Hall’s Chophouse and Jack of Cups Saloon also earned shout-outs from Food & Wine and Yelp.