South Carolina stands out for southern hospitality, antebellum cities, the sea coast, and relatively cheap living prices. Nevertheless, this does not inevitably mean that the rates of crime are the same in every region of the country or even the world. If helping the safety_factor is on your list of important values when it comes to choosing the place to live in, this overview contains a list of the safest cities and towns in South Carolina according to the latest FBI reports.
Tega Cay
Taking our safety analysis into consideration, the safest city in South Carolina is Tega Cay – a small suburban city in the northern part of Rock Hill with a population of about 10,000 people. Tega Cay is secure with extremely low violent and property crime rates significantly lower than the state and national average. No murders were reported in Tega Cay during the entire year and the violent crime rate was zero per 1,000 people, and only 8 property crimes per 1,000 people.
The quiet town is strategically located on Lake Wylie, with well-maintained parks and paths for strolling, excellent golfing greens, a beach club, and proximity to the facilities of the big cities, being only about 30 minutes south of Charlotte, North Carolina. It has also been noted that new developments are in the pipeline and will provide additional retail and restaurant space. The public school system is also very good and this has made Tega Cay famous among young families who are in the process of parentage and looking for a safe community with all basic amenities, good schools, and affordable houses.
Fort Mill
The town of Fort Mill which adjoins Tega Cay also benefits from considerably low crime rates. Sitting on the I-77 strip in York County, Fort Mill has grown from having 2,500 residents in the early 1990s to over 24,000 residents in the present because of the town’s appeal of a small town with Charlotte’s opportunities and reasonably affordable housing.
Now boasting a population three times greater than before, Fort Mill remains a charming town and is proud of the crime rate of only 10 violent crimes and 139 property crimes per 100,000 residents. This is because Fort Mill has good and comfortable weather and the retirees will be able to live comfortably without having to strain themselves for some physical exercises as there are several places within Fort Mill where they can go to enjoy their leisure by going for a golfing, jogging or even walking in the park, even visiting the various recreation departments in Fort Mill.
Hanahan
The Berkeley County town of Hanahan is among the least risky locations in the Charleston metropolitan area and the entire state of South Carolina. Surprisingly, the city of Hanahan which borders North Charleston experiences a much lower level of violent and property crimes than North Charleston; the city has an annual rate of 2 violent crimes and 182 property crimes per 10,000 residents.
At the same time, Hanahan remains within commuting distance to Charleston’s employment centers and remains more affordable as well as boasting significantly lower crime rates than Charleston especially in the family-oriented neighborhoods. Many residents find Hanahan desirable because it has a good neighborhood, good schools, churches, parks, beaches, and towns nearby.
Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, which is located in the suburb of Charleston, is also one of the best cities in South Carolina as well as one of the safest cities due to minimal crimes. According to the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics, there were only two murders and 193 property crimes per 100000 people.
Mount Pleasant boasts beautiful suburban-style neighborhoods, well-reputed schools, a beautifully restored old town that offers cute shops and some of the best restaurants, over thirty parks, and ten miles of untouched beaches and shorelines lying on the Charleston Harbor, Bulls Bay, and the Intracoastal Waterway. The locals can go out kayaking, fishing, playing golf, and tennis, and taking walks along the trails all within short distances because Mount Pleasant is a small town of 47 square miles but still has proximity to city life.
Simpsonville
A further list of the five safest cities in South Carolina includes Simpsonville in Greenville County only. Simpsonville as a mid-sized city seems to offer convenience in being close to downtown Greenville while recording considerably less crime rates with 3 murders and 125 forcible per 100,000 of the population.
The quality of life of people living in Simpsonville is still high thanks to numerous parks and recreation, historical main street shopping and eating places, committed schools, and family-oriented facilities but, at the same time, the risks of high crime rates characteristic of densely populated cities are also absent. Being very near the family adventure destinations such as Falls Park on the Reedy in the heart of downtown Greenville’s developing city center, Simpsonville affords convenience when needed for a change but otherwise security.
Best Small Towns with Population
Besides, we reviewed the safest cities in South Carolina with above 10,000 inhabitants rating them above 10 and other cities with populations below 10,000 that have low crime rates reported each year. They are the places that enable one to live in the virtual Mayberry but at the same time get decent jobs, schools, and other facilities and above all spirited members of the society.
The following are the best small towns in South Carolina with a population of fewer than 10,000 people in terms of safety; Pawleys Island, Chapin, which is in central South Carolina, and Kiawah Island, south of Charleston. Each of these three has stunning natural landscapes and lively small cities, and they rarely have violent or property crimes each year.
Additional Safe Options by Geographic Region
Aside from the overall lowest crime cities and towns list of the top 10, South Carolina has safe places for neighborhoods all over the state. We’ve summarized additional great low-crime options for your consideration in the state's major geographic areas:
Upstate/Midlands: Mauldin Wade Hampton, Taylors, travelers rest
Along the coastline north of Charleston: It also contains Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Summerville, Hilton Head Island, and Bluffton.
South Carolina’s PeeDee Region: Florence was a town located in Sumter
State Capital Area: It’s a town in Lexington County, Irmo.
Ten Most Safe Cities in South Carolina – Major Points
Tega Cay, Fort Mill, Hanahan, Mount Pleasant, and Simpsonville stood highest on the lowest crime large city category while Pawleys Island, Chapin, and Kiawah Island stood as the safest small towns with a population of less than 10,000. The options are spread out in various locations about geographical areas of the state from upstate to the coastal areas. South Carolina can maintain the preservation of innumerable numbers of small-town havens with a neighborly feel and a high quality of life intact without much violence or theft-related interference.
