A lakeside York County suburb has claimed the top spot in the state, with a neighboring community not far behind.
Tega Cay ranked first on Niche.com’s 2026 Best Places to Live in South Carolina list, earning an overall grade of A+ and a perfect A+ for public schools. Fort Mill came in fifth, also earning an A+ overall and an A+ for public schools, giving York County two communities in the top five of a ranking that evaluated 438 places across the Palmetto State.
Niche.com builds its annual rankings using data from the U.S. Census, FBI, Bureau of Labor Statistics, CDC, and other sources. Communities are graded on categories including public schools, crime and safety, cost of living, job opportunities, and local amenities. User reviews factor into the scores as well.
Tega Cay, a lakeside community of roughly 13,600 residents situated along Lake Wylie, drew strong reviews from residents who praised its family-friendly atmosphere, low crime, and access to quality schools. Niche users gave the city an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars across 40 reviews.
Fort Mill, with a population of more than 30,700, ranked as the largest community in the top five. Residents highlighted the town’s job opportunities, the reputation of its school district, and the range of activities available to families. Niche users submitted 214 reviews of Fort Mill, giving it an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars.
Rounding out the top five were Central at second, Forest Acres at third, and Five Forks at fourth, all earning overall A+ grades from Niche. Clemson, Lexington, Taylors, Wade Hampton, and Mount Pleasant filled out spots six through ten.
Source: Niche.com, 2026 Best Places to Live in South Carolina
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