10 Wealthiest Counties in South Carolina and Where are People Moving from to Settle in South Carolina – New eye opening study
By Mark A. Leon
It is no secret South Carolina is one of the most sought after states for new residency, but do you know where people are moving from? Do you know which counties and regions have the most wealth. We are here to address those questions with the latest study and data from SmartAsset.
Let’s start by saying 3 of the top 10 wealthiest counties in the state are centered on the Tri-County (Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester) coming in a #1, #4 and #7. Our largest migration is coming from New York, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and California. Read on for more great insights:
SmartAsset top 10 wealthiest cities in South Carolina
∎ No. 1: Charleston County
∎ No. 2: Beaufort County
∎ No. 3: York County
∎ No. 4: Berkeley County
∎ No. 5: Lancaster County
∎ No. 6: Greenville County
∎ No. 7: Dorchester County
∎ No. 8: Georgetown County
∎ No. 9: Lexington County
∎ No. 10: Jasper County
What South Carolina county has the highest median income?
Charleston County ranked No. 1 for wealthiest S.C. county, with a median income of $81,260 and investment income at $107,231. Homes in the county also cost a pretty penny, with a median home value of $592,068.
Which South Carolina county had the lowest overall wealth?
Marlboro County ranks last at 46th, according to the SmartAsset formula, with a median income of $34,275, investment income of $28,568 and a median home value of $82,934.
Key Findings
- The New York tri-state area is flocking to South Carolina. New Yorkers added the highest net number of households to South Carolina at 5,476. New Jersey added a net of 2,978 households to South Carolina – third-most studywide – and Pennsylvania added the fourth-highest net households at 2,657. Of the three, New Jersey sent the wealthiest households with an average incoming adjusted gross income (AGI) of $124,621.
- North and South Carolina exchange the largest number of households. North Carolina is the most popular destination for South Carolinians moving out, with 14,681 crossing the state’s northern border. Meanwhile, 17,933 households made the opposite move, for a net movement of 3,252 from North to South Carolina – the second-highest studywide.
- Only one state is siphoning households away from South Carolina. Tennessee captured a net of 51 households from South Carolina. More specifically, 2,415 South Carolina households moved out to Tennessee, while 2,364 households moved in from there. Those households moving out of South Carolina took more money with them ($86,330) than those coming in ($80,604).
- Households from Arkansas are bringing the most money with them. While the exchange of households between South Carolina and Arkansas was relatively similar, with a net movement of 52 households into the Palmetto State, these households had an average AGI of $202,256. The second- and third- wealthiest households coming into South Carolina were from Illinois ($147,012) and Massachusetts ($144,052).
Where People Are Moving to South Carolina From
States are ranked based on the net number of households that moved into South Carolina in the 2022 tax year.
Top 10 States With the Highest Net Movement to South Carolina
- New York
- Net households moved into South Carolina: 5,476
- Net individuals moved into South Carolina: 10,896
- Households moved into South Carolina: 8,087
- Individuals moved into South Carolina: 14,971
- AGI, households moved into South Carolina from this state: $97,960
- Households that left South Carolina for this state: 2,611
- Individuals that left South Carolina for this state: 4,075
- AGI, households that left South Carolina for this state: $71,954
- North Carolina
- Net households moved into South Carolina: 3,252
- Net individuals moved into South Carolina: 7,806
- Households moved into South Carolina: 17,933
- Individuals moved into South Carolina: 32,901
- AGI, households moved into South Carolina from this state: $82,325
- Households that left South Carolina for this state: 14,681
- Individuals that left South Carolina for this state: 25,095
- AGI, households that left South Carolina for this state: $70,940
- New Jersey
- Net households moved into South Carolina: 2,978
- Net individuals moved into South Carolina: 5,982
- Households moved into South Carolina: 4,005
- Individuals moved into South Carolina: 7,582
- AGI, households moved into South Carolina from this state: $124,621
- Households that left South Carolina for this state: 1,027
- Individuals that left South Carolina for this state: 1,600
- AGI, households that left South Carolina for this state: $67,149
- Pennsylvania
- Net households moved into South Carolina: 2,657
- Net individuals moved into South Carolina: 5,285
- Households moved into South Carolina: 4,523
- Individuals moved into South Carolina: 8,309
- AGI, households moved into South Carolina from this state: $102,390
- Households that left South Carolina for this state: 1,866
- Individuals that left South Carolina for this state: 3,024
- AGI, households that left South Carolina for this state: $63,327
- California
- Net households moved into South Carolina: 2,563
- Net individuals moved into South Carolina: 6,178
- Households moved into South Carolina: 4,851
- Individuals moved into South Carolina: 9,949
- AGI, households moved into South Carolina from this state: $110,136
- Households that left South Carolina for this state: 2,288
- Individuals that left South Carolina for this state: 3,771
- AGI, households that left South Carolina for this state: $70,578
- Maryland
- Net households moved into South Carolina: 1,606
- Net individuals moved into South Carolina: 2,955
- Households moved into South Carolina: 2,832
- Individuals moved into South Carolina: 5,057
- AGI, households moved into South Carolina from this state: $108,427
- Households that left South Carolina for this state: 1,226
- Individuals that left South Carolina for this state: 2,102
- AGI, households that left South Carolina for this state: $74,162
- Virginia
- Net households moved into South Carolina: 1,295
- Net individuals moved into South Carolina: 2,756
- Households moved into South Carolina: 4,967
- Individuals moved into South Carolina: 9,205
- AGI, households moved into South Carolina from this state: $113,104
- Households that left South Carolina for this state: 3,672
- Individuals that left South Carolina for this state: 6,449
- AGI, households that left South Carolina for this state: $72,727
- Ohio
- Net households moved into South Carolina: 1,270
- Net individuals moved into South Carolina: 2,415
- Households moved into South Carolina: 3,166
- Individuals moved into South Carolina: 5,689
- AGI, households moved into South Carolina from this state: $97,365
- Households that left South Carolina for this state: 1,896
- Individuals that left South Carolina for this state: 3,274
- AGI, households that left South Carolina for this state: $65,871
- Massachusetts
- Net households moved into South Carolina: 1,238
- Net individuals moved into South Carolina: 2,415
- Households moved into South Carolina: 2,053
- Individuals moved into South Carolina: 3,676
- AGI, households moved into South Carolina from this state: $144,052
- Households that left South Carolina for this state: 815
- Individuals that left South Carolina for this state: 1,261
- AGI, households that left South Carolina for this state: $81,447
- Connecticut
- Net households moved into South Carolina: 1,180
- Net individuals moved into South Carolina: 2,287
- Households moved into South Carolina: 1,910
- Individuals moved into South Carolina: 3,506
- AGI, households moved into South Carolina from this state: $117,315
- Households that left South Carolina for this state: 730
- Individuals that left South Carolina for this state: 1,219
- AGI, households that left South Carolina for this state: $72,479
Charleston Daily
Charleston Daily is a concept in community. Its mission is to promote, assist, and celebrate in everything Charleston, South Carolina. By partnering with businesses, community leaders, volunteers and events, we are spreading the love that is Charleston. As this city continues to grow and prosper, we want to help spread the message to all about how wonderful this community is. Charleston is about the people, community, water, land, history, heritage and the true southern warmth it brings with each and every day.