A good retirement town hits a sweet spot: quiet and safe, close enough to a hospital and a grocery run, yet near enough to the water or the woods that an ordinary Tuesday can feel like a getaway. South Carolina has a deep bench of them, helped along by a mild climate, a low cost of living, and a tax code that goes easy on retirees, with no tax on Social Security and a deduction on other retirement income. Here are 11 of the best small towns in the Palmetto State to settle into.
Seneca
Seneca is a mountain town of about 9,000 in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, and for water lovers it is hard to beat. It sits on Lake Keowee, within easy reach of Lake Hartwell, Lake Jocassee, and the wild Chattooga River, so boating, fishing, and swimming are all a short drive away. Once a railroad town, Seneca now runs on lake life and a walkable historic downtown.