9 Best Rural Places to Live in South Carolina
We looked at all the small towns around the state and determined the 9 best rural places to live in South Carolina. We specifically found places that offered wide open spaces, yet still provided some key amenities and a high standard of living. Basically, we searched for the best country living in South Carolina that you could get.
Additionally, we made sure to find towns that were safe and offered a strong school system. Some other aspects that we considered were:
- Affordability
- Economy
- Desirability
- Things to do
But first, what is the real definition of “rural”?
The U.S. Census states that any area of less than 2,500 people is classified as rural. That makes 19% of the U.S. population considered as rural. South Carolina’s rural population is much higher, totaling 34% of the population.
So, we made sure to only include communities that had less than 2,500 residents. But, just because a town has a low population does not necessarily make it rural.
There are many towns that feel more suburban and urban despite having a small population. Therefore, we took an extra step to ensure that our choices really captured true country living in South Carolina and the feel of southern, rural America.
It is easy to understand why South Carolina is so attractive for people seeking a relaxed lifestyle. It truly offers some of the best rural places to live in, with its great weather, low cost of living, and carefree spirit.
You can enjoy long, lazy nights out in the countryside without a care in the world. There is no feeling of being rushed or needing to be somewhere when you are out in rural South Carolina.
Meanwhile, there are enough large cities all across the state, such as Charleston, Greenville, and Columbia, that can offer you an endless list of things to do, while the state offers a beautiful mix of beaches, mountains, and vast parklands.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s find out the 9 best rural places to live in South Carolina so you can relax sooner.
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Best Rural Places to Live in South Carolina
9. McClellanville
Pros and Cons:
+ Directly on the water
+ Low crime
– Elevated cost of living
Location: Check on Google Maps
McClellanville starts off our list of the best rural places to live in South Carolina. It is located right on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, in between Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
Those big cities are about 1 hour away, making McClellanville secluded enough, yet close enough to more things to do.
This rural town of roughly 600 residents offers a relaxed pace of life, with almost no major commercial chains in the area and only a few locally-owned shops. That is the true definition of country living in South Carolina.
The crime rate is also quite low in McClellanville, 44% lower than the US average.
8. Reidville
Pros and Cons:
+ Close to big cities for jobs
+ Open spaces with a large park
– Limited diversity
Location: Check on Google Maps
Reidville is a small, rural town of just 600 people that is also just 20 minutes away from bigger cities like Greenville and Spartanburg. It was even ranked as the #1 best place to buy a house in the Greenville area.
In Reidville, housing costs are roughly 15% lower than the US average.
Also, there is the Tyger River Park, a huge outdoor space that has 13 baseball fields as well as a playground and an amphitheater.
7. Peak
Pros and Cons:
+ Small and quiet
+ Perfect for nature lovers
– No supermarket or restaurants in town
Location: Check on Google Maps
Peak is the smallest town on our list, with just 60 residents living among its heavily wooded streets. It is located right on the Broad River and is about 40 minutes from Columbia, South Carolina.
There isn’t much commercial activity in the center of town, just a pharmacy and a post office next to the town’s church. But, that is the major draw of this community. It is the ultimate country living in South Carolina in a safe and quiet area.
But, don’t worry about finding amenities, as the town of Chapin (which will appear later on this list) is just 15 minutes away and offers supermarkets and many restaurants.
6. Shell Point
Pros and Cons:
+ Right on the water and close to the beach
+ Low crime
+ Good schools
– Limited activities available
Location: Check on Google Maps
Shell Point is a small town of 2,000 people in the southern part of South Carolina. It sits directly on the water and offers its residents a relaxed atmosphere with easy access to boating or fishing.
But, it still offers some nice amenities. There is a small town center with a Food Lion supermarket, Waffle House, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and several locally owned restaurants, which is quite a treat for a town this size.
Shell Point is also just 45 minutes away from Hilton Head Island and its wonderful beaches.
5. Briarcliffe Acres
Pros and Cons:
+ Direct access to the beach
+ Excellent schools
+ Strong economy
– Very expensive housing
Location: Check on Google Maps
Briarcliffe Acres is one of the last rural suburbs of Myrtle Beach, offering a more secluded lifestyle compared to its neighboring communities.
There are less than 600 people living in Briarcliffe Acres, but they are spoiled with direct access to the beach and can reach Myrtle Beach in just 30 minutes.
The school and employment opportunities in the area are great, both earning an A+ from AreaVibes. But, this rural coastal living does come at a price, as the housing costs are 172% higher than the national average.
4. Landrum
Pros and Cons:
+ Quaint main street with bars and restaurants
+ Affordable
+ Close to the mountains
– Some areas of crime
Location: Check on Google Maps
Landrum is a quaint, rural town of roughly 2,500 residents that sits near the border of North and South Carolina. This affordable community offers housing that is on average 41% lower than the national average, while still providing many amenities, such as a small main street with locally-owned bars and restaurants, a library, and a large park right in the middle of town.
Landrum also provides easy access to the great outdoors. There are mountains and hiking trails that are just a short drive away from the town.
It was even ranked as the 13th best place in South Carolina based on overall livability, making it one of the best rural places to live in South Carolina.
3. Chapin
Pros and Cons:
+ Affordable with high standard of living
+ Close to lake and state capital
+ Great school system
– Starting to expand
Location: Check on Google Maps
Chapin is a quaint, rural town of 1,600 people that sits right on Lake Murray. It is just 30 minutes from the state capital of Columbia, yet offers a much quieter lifestyle.
For such a small town, it packs quite a punch in terms of the amenities that it offers. There are several supermarkets, including a Publix, as well as many types of restaurants – pizza, Mexican, Chinese, and fast food chains like Sonic.
On top of that, Chapin is known for having excellent schools. Its education system was rated an A+ by AreaVibes, making it one of the best small towns to live in South Carolina.
2. Quinby
Pros and Cons:
+ Affordable small town
+ Solid school system
+ Great for retirees
– Limited job market
Location: Check on Google Maps
Quinby is located in the northeastern part of the state as a small town near Florence. Its population of 900 residents enjoys a low cost of living with low crime rates and a strong school system. There is a small shopping plaza in the middle of town for convenience as well, making it one of the coziest places to enjoy country living in South Carolina.
The cost of living in Quinby is 9% lower than the national average, while housing costs are a full 30% cheaper.
Quinby was even named the 8th best place to retire in South Carolina.
1. Due West
Pros and Cons:
+ Affordability
+ Strong education system
+ Low crime
– Not close to other cities
Location: Check on Google Maps
Due West, South Carolina tops our list of the best rural places to live in South Carolina. It was ranked as the 6th best place in all of South Carolina, beating out all the other rural towns as well as many bigger cities.
What makes this town of 1,200 residents so attractive? First, it offers a great standard of living for a very affordable rate. Its overall cost of living is 13% lower than the US average, while its housing costs are 38% cheaper.
Meanwhile, its crime rate is 42% lower than the national average. Additionally, Due West offers a great education system. Erskine College is located in Due West and Dixie High School is rated as one of the best in the region.
It’s also about 1 hour from Greenville and Augusta, allowing it to be separated far enough from the big cities, yet close enough to visit once in a while.
Summary – Best Rural Places to Live in South Carolina
These are the 9 best rural places to live in South Carolina. We included a blend of ultra-rural towns with less than 1,000 people as well as some bigger areas that offered some bars and restaurants.
Either way, all of these places offer a quiet way of life with the chance to spread out on large pieces of land and enjoy life as it was meant to be.
When choosing the best fit for you, it is just a matter of how rural you want to be. Regardless, the Palmetto State provides some of the best opportunities to enjoy country living in South Carolina.
If you want to see all of the best cities to live in South Carolina, then check out our comprehensive review of the 12 best ones in South Carolina in 2023.
