8 Budget-Friendly Towns in South Carolina for Retirees

If you want a moderate climate that rarely swings to extremes, a place with opportunities for an active outdoor lifestyle, or a state that exempts Social Security retirement benefits from taxation, you should pay attention to South Carolina, often ranked among the best places to retire in the South. On one side are pine-speckled mountains and sparkling lakes — on the other white-sand beaches and tasty waterfront views. If you are thinking about retiring in the Palmetto State but are worried about affordability, the following are 8 budget-friendly towns in South Carolina for retirees.

Fountain Inn

Fountain Inn is an affordable South Carolina town that had its start as a dusty stagecoach stop. Homes in Fountain Inn fetch a median listing price of $329,900, way lower than South Carolina’s median listing price of $359,990. A senior will love the fact that Prisma Health Hillcrest Hospital is less than 10 minutes down the road in Simpsonville. In a similar vein, Greenville, which provides even more amenities, is just a short, 20-mile drive away. Fountain Inn is racially diverse, with Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics comprising 57%, 29%, and 10% of the population, respectively. Plus, empty nesters aged 60 and above comprise 14% of the population. For those who enjoy a short, quiet walk along a creek, Trail Head for Swamp Rabbit Trail will be a delight. Once in a while, a senior will enjoy a lively show at CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park, a 15,000-seater outdoor entertainment venue in Simpsonville. And if the weather permits — as it often does, an afternoon round of golf at Carolina Springs Golf Club will be something to keep looking forward to.

Batesburg-Leesville

With a home median listing price of $213,800, Batesburg-Leesville’s affordability is hard to beat. To make it even more exciting, Columbia, the state’s capital and second-largest city, is just about 40 minutes away. Therefore, a senior here will relish fantastic access to big-city amenities, including hospitals (some of the best in the state), shopping venues, and cultural attractions. Another exciting feature about Batesburg-Leesville is that seniors aged 60 and above comprise a whopping 28% of the population. This means an empty nester can tap into the town’s social support networks, a key factor in health and well-being. Batesburg Reservoir is an awesome spot for outdoor fun and adventure — as is the Ponderosa Country Club and Stutman Hollow, famous for its creepy outdoor trails.

Socastee

To retire next to a pretty beach, an international airport, one of the finest blackwater rivers in the Southeast, and a wildlife sanctuary that spans more than 50,000 acres will seem too good to be true. Yet that is what Socastee, one of a handful of communities that make up the Grand Strand area, provides. We are talking about Surfside Beach (and Myrtle Beach), Myrtle Beach International Airport, the Waccamaw River, and the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge. All these are at a median home listing price of $335,000. If this is not a good bargain, nothing is. Moreover, residents aged 60 and above comprise 20% of the population, meaning one can easily link up with peers in the same age bracket. Grand Strand Medical Center, ranked among America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Critical Care Award, is just 20 minutes away.

Little River

The chance to retire on the Intercoastal Waterway, where one will occasionally enjoy a round of golf at Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf, mingle with herons at the Heritage Shores Nature Preserve, and have evening walks at the dog-friendly Vereen Memorial Gardens — will make any empty nester start scoping for a realtor. Little River provides all these — and at a median home listing price of just $324,00. If under the weather, McLeod Seacoast Hospital, a 2024 recipient of the Vascular Surgery Excellence Award, is right in town. But wait for the sweetest part. The median age of Little River residents is 50, with seniors aged 60 and above comprising 35% of the population, one of the highest in the state.

Cayce

Cayce is a dainty suburb of Columbia that normally stays quiet — though filled with grocery stores, retail venues, and inviting restaurants. The median listing home price in Cayce, SC was $255,500 in June 2024, earning it a spot among the most budget-friendly towns in South Carolina. Columbia, a heartbeat away, is filled with world-class hospitals, including Prisma Health Baptist, ranked among America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Surgical Excellence Award. Residents aged 60 and above comprise 26% of the town’s population, meaning seniors are well-represented in the town’s social landscape. Lake Murray, known for its largemouth bass, offers a world of outdoor fun and adventure. Other outdoor venues include Timmerman Trail, where one can spot an alligator — and Congaree River, designated a Globally Important Bird Area.

Pendleton

Unless one is a celebrity jet-setter, there is no reason to splurge on a retirement home, especially when locations such as Pendleton have a median home listing price of just $302,500.

Small and quaint, with a population of less than 4,000, Pendleton offers an exciting line-up of recreational sites. There is the Boscobel Golf & Country Club, where one can tee off a slow afternoon; the bass-filled Lake Hartwell, Clemson Little Theatre; an excellent spot for a good laugh — (and mingling with friends) — and Pendleton Library, loved for its great collection of books. This town also hosts a Dairy Queen, a convenient spot for a quick bite or lick. The lovely town of Seneca, just over 10 miles down the road, hosts the award-winning Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital. There is no need to worry about chances of meeting fellow empty nesters either. Pendleton residents aged 60 and above comprise 30% of the town’s population.

Anderson

The median listing home price in Anderson, SC, was $299,500 in June 2024, way lower than many spots in the state. Anderson downtown is something out of a fairytale, with lovely places to walk, pretty shops, and lots of historical buildings. AnMed Health Medical Center is right in town, Saluda Valley Community Hospital is in nearby Williamston — while the award-winning Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital is a short drive away in Greenville. Once in a while, a senior here will want to step back in time at the Anderson County Museum, sniff some fresh air at Rocky River Nature Park, or hang out at Carolina Wren Park, a multi-purpose recreational area in downtown Anderson. The town’s median age is 40, a sweet blend between the young and old.

Lyman

Rounding off the list of 8 budget-friendly towns in South Carolina is the beautiful town of Lyman, ranked by Safewise as the sixth-safest in the state. In June 2024, the median listing home price in Lyman, SC, was $327,300, significantly lower than the state median. Situated right between Greenville and Spartanburg, with quick access to both, Lyman’s setting is unbeatable. Greer, just six miles away, hosts award-winning hospitals such as Prisma Health Greer Memorial, a 2024 recipient of the Gastrointestinal Care Excellence Award. Venues such as Shipwreck Cove Town of Duncan, a pirate-themed water park with a lazy river, Lake Cooley, whose calm waters span over 300 acres; the Middle Tyger River — and the quiet park on its banks — are top-notch sites for outdoor fun and entertainment. Lyman residents aged 60 and above comprise 16% of the town’s population.

Ideal Retirement Destinations in South Carolina

We all want to retire where we can wake up to beautiful views of sparkling lakes, where neighborhoods are safe and filled with laughter, and where we can enjoy a hobby — or pick a new one. Most of all, we want to retire where we can afford. South Carolina presents many retirement options, some of which are long-running favorites. The most budget-friendly destinations, however, include Fountain Inn, Socastee, and Anderson, whose downtown area looks like something out of a fairytale.