The best place to retire? SC is home to the nation’s top destination, report finds

Move over, other cities. South Carolina is home to the nation’s best place to retire, new rankings show.

Charleston ranks No. 1 on a list of destinations offering entertainment options, lower costs of living and other qualities that make them appealing to older adults, according to results published Tuesday, Sept. 6.

The personal finance website WalletHub said it created the rankings after it studied 182 cities, “including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state.” Using data from the federal government, AARP and other resources, WalletHub scored each place in four categories: activities, affordability, health care and quality of life.

Charleston catapulted to the top of the list after receiving one of the highest scores for its activities, a category measuring the number of recreation centers, arts venues, golf courses, fishing spots and volunteer opportunities per capita. The city, a popular tourist destination, is home to several museums and parks.

Charleston also earned higher marks for affordability, which includes its cost of living, taxes and prices of adult care services. Despite the city being ranked among the most wallet-friendly, the metropolitan area recently was named South Carolina’s most expensive place for renters to live, The State reported in August.

Also in the WalletHub rankings, Charleston received lower scores when it came to other categories. Those included health care and quality of life, which considered the city’s weather, crime rate, walkability and population trends for people ages 65 and older.

The rankings come on the heels of other honors that Charleston has received this year. It was named among the nation’s best places to live and the trendiest travel spots, McClatchy News reported.

On the latest WalletHub list, the only other Palmetto State destination that earned a spot was Columbia, which landed at No. 29.

In addition to Charleston, the cities rounding out the top five were Orlando, Cincinnati, Miami and Fort Lauderdale. The lowest-ranking place for retirees was Bridgeport, Connecticut.

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