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Guide to Best Places to Retire in South Carolina
Best Places to Live & Retire in South Carolina
Ideal-Living offers a free comprehensive service that begins with helping you find your Ideal Lifestyle. Until you know how you want to live, you can’t know where you want to live. We offer a wide array of tools to help you get answers to the questions that are keeping you from moving to your ideal destination. That includes finding the best place to retire in South Carolina.
We have nearly 40 communities within the state of South Carolina from which to choose, and if you know South Carolina, you know there are plenty of great places to retire to. From Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head to Charleston, we have information on, and can put you in direct contact with representatives from, the top 55 communities in South Carolina. And don’t forget other great locations, such as Greenville, Bluffton and Beaufort. Besides its natural beauty, warm climate and great retirement communities, South Carolina is one of the most tax friendly states for retirees and seniors. The tax benefits of living in South Carolina include:
- No tax on social security benefits
- Limited taxes on retirement income
- Very low property taxes
- Senior homeowners qualify for homestead tax exemption
Idyllic Communities in Ideal Locations
South Carolina is a lowcountry destination known for culture, art, and food. Many people love it for the weather, while others enjoy the coastal palms and scenery. Maybe it’s the food scene and history. It’s easy to see: South Carolina’s got a charm that’s hard to resist.
Prospective residents should choose a community that best fits their lifestyle. Some neighborhoods are only a short walk or ride away from bustling city centers. Others are closer to quieter, small-town shops.
Our free Digital Choose Your Ideal Place Guide and Ideal-Living Magazine offer an abundance of information on which states, towns and cities are the best for retirees, vacationers and second-home buyers.
Sample Communities to Discover
Woodside
Enhanced by the region’s lucrative cost of living, mild climate, stunning natural beauty, and charming
Southern hospitality, Woodside’s 3,000-acre community is ideally located in one of the Southeast’s best-kept secrets, Aiken, SC.
Meticulously designed from concept to creation for discerning active-active adults, downsizing retirees, and anyone else with a taste for the finer things in life, Woodside’s location in one of Southern Living Magazine’s “South’s Best Small Towns” offers residents walkable access to the best of both worlds. On top of Woodside’s world-class amenities, including 4 championship golf courses, 2 clubhouses, more than 60 member-led social groups and clubs, 2 resort-style pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center, over 21 miles of hiking and nature trails, 7 landscaped parks and green spaces – including a Certified Butterfly Park – Woodside residents enjoy 10-minute access to downtown Aiken’s Gilded-Age avenues filled with exceptional local restaurants, designer boutiques, art galleries, and more.
Whether you envision yourself perfecting your swing on our Nicklaus Design course, dozing by the pool,
or creating new memories with friends you’ve yet to meet, life at Woodside is designed to deliver you a
home that extends far beyond your property line!
Sun City Hilton Head
Welcome to Sun City Hilton Head, one of the top rated 55+ active adult communities in the US! Sun City has so much to offer and a perfect location in beautiful Bluffton, SC with its historic Old Town and pristine May River. It is a short 30 minute drive to the famous Hilton Head beaches and Savannah, GA’s bustling river street. Within the gated community is 3 golf courses and several restaurants. Use your golf cart or bicycle to make your way to the numerous amenities including multiple resort-style pools, 3 fitness centers, performing arts theater, community center, sports complex, pickleball courts, tennis courts, bocce, woodshop, leisure trails, dog park, and much more. Sun City has over 100 chartered clubs and special interest groups to help everyone connect with others. This spectacular community offers a variety of home plans from 1,223 square feet to 3,728 square feet. Come see all the possibilities waiting here for you today at Sun City Hilton Head!
Callawassie Island
Callawassie Island, located in the heart of the Lowcountry, is a private, gated island community offering world-class Tom Fazio golf and a full complement of amenities including a tennis center, clubhouse, pools, fitness center, and River Club. Secluded from the noise and congestion of the highway, Callawassie lies miles from Hilton Head and is also convenient to Beaufort and Bluffton (15 minutes away); historic Savannah, GA (a 30-minute drive); and the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (40 minutes away). A half-mile causeway provides a relaxing, slow-paced approach to the island, where peace and quiet are as plentiful as vibrant activity.
The community hosts numerous social events, activities and clubs connecting members by their passions for nature, art and giving back locally. Members take full advantage of the island parks, historical sites and recreation areas for enjoying remarkable views of undisturbed nature. Island dwellers have access to four community docks providing leased slips, kayak launches and excellent opportunities for fishing, crabbing and shrimping. The River Club, overlooking the Colleton River, is a warm gathering center with a library and fireplace, family swimming pool, and offers seasonal dining.
For those seeking a golfing experience like no other, the 27-hole, Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course is truly spectacular. Voted one of South Carolina’s top 50 courses, Callawassie recently enhanced the design with a four-million-dollar renovation in 2014. This renovation resulted in a brand-new pro shop with three Class A PGA Golf Professionals. The courses meander intimately along the waterways and salt marshes in a way that environmental regulations have made difficult for newer courses; visual interest is natural not manmade.
Callawassie Island is the first South Carolina gated community to have been designated a “Community Wildlife Habitat” by the National Wildlife Federation. This coexistence brings a true community balance with nature. The island is covered with live oaks and palmettos, egrets and herons, and encompasses a thriving salt marsh ecosystem.
Today, Callawassie is one of only four South Carolina communities holding this distinguished designation. The homes and homesites, including waterfront property, are among the best values in the area.
Get Started
Finding and choosing the right active adult community can be a daunting task. This is where ideal-LIVING can help. Sign up below to receive our complimentary relocation package, which offers tips on how to find a community that suits your needs. In this guide, you’ll discover the top communities in Tennessee, as well as what you can do to get started. Sign up for this free package to take the first step in your exciting journey.
Free Package includes:
- ideal-LIVING Relocation Guide
The ultimate guide to find your ideal destination, life and home. This annual guide contains more than 15 state maps, a location-based cost of living and climate comparison chart and discovery travel packages.
- ideal-LIVING Magazine
Quarterly print magazine features the best places to retire and/or purchase your ideal second home.
- ideal-LIVING E-Newsletter
Receive our digital newsletter, two to three times a month, highlighting communities around the country and abroad.
- Tickets to ideal-LIVING Live Events
The ideal-LIVING Resort & Retirement Show has helped retirees and second-home buyers find their ideal community and home for more than 30 years.
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