South Carolina is one of the most beautiful states in the country, offering the chance to slow things down and enjoy the moments as they pass.  If you’re considering moving here, you’re not alone!  Unfortunately, it can be difficult to pick a single city in such a great state.

These are the happiest cities in South Carolina, and that is why their residents love living here so much! 

Port Royal

Although almost a third of residents start their work day before five in the morning here, this city is often voted as the happiest place in South Carolina!  Home to just over 11,000 people, this city has the lowest divorce rate in the state at 14% and an extraordinarily low cost of living.  

Multiple scenes from Forrest Gump were filmed here, and locals are always proud to show off the locations so you can catch a glimpse of movie magic.  Although this town is small and quirky, the people who live here love it! 

Columbia

The moment you start to get to know the locals, you’ll get an urge to go look at Columbia houses for sale.  Multiple offshoots like Cayce and Orangeburg often get listed as the happiest spaces in the state, but as suburbs of Columbia, they’re actually just supporting that this city is an incredible place to live!  From the short commute time, lowest crime rate, and low income spent on housing, there’s a lot to love about this city.

Columbia also has a stunningly long history that hasn’t always been good, but you can expect full honesty if you try to learn about it here.

Aiken

Often considered a tourist spot, Aiken is a small city of 30,000 people that sits near the Savannah River Site where the neutrino was discovered.  Residents here are paid more than in neighboring cities, but the average divorce rate is slightly higher. 

Of course, one big perk is that people get to sleep in later here!  Only 2.5 percent of people in this city leave before five in the morning for work. 

Mauldin

In the Piedmont region of South Carolina is Mauldin!  Home to 24,000 people, the average commute is close to 20,000 people, and the violent crime rates have dropped even lower than most cities on this list.  This is a fantastic place to live if you’re interested in retiring or just want to take life slower than the average city can offer.

Goose Creek

Although twice as many women here are divorced than men, this is still a generally happy area to live in!  Goose Creek’s main employer is the Naval Weapons Station in Charleston, which might be why the average person here wakes up a little earlier, with over 5% leaving for work before five in the morning. 

South Carolina Feels Like Home

South Carolina knows how to welcome someone and let them feel like they’ve finally made it home, even if they’ve never visited the state before.  Consider stopping in soon so you can feel a little bit of the love!