South Carolina city tops ‘Best Places To Retire’ list

We bet there is only one South Carolina city that comes to mind when thinking about this list, and you would be right.

While a lot of us have a long way to go before we can even think of retirement, that doesn’t stop us from dreaming about where we want to spend our later years. But as great as some locations may sound, they may not be ideal for retirement for a variety of reasons, and now a new report reveals which places are the best and worst to live out your golden years.

WalletHub has just come out with its picks for the Best and Worst Places to Retire in the U.S. They judged more than 180 cities across 46 key metrics ranking them in areas like Affordability, Activities, Quality of Life, and Health Care.

According to the site, Charleston, South Carolina is the best place to retire scoring 58.97 out of 100. Charleston gets its best marks for activities (15) and affordability (21). Overall, retirees would do pretty well in Florida, with four of the Top 10 cities in the Sunshine state. When it comes to affordability, Montgomery, Alabama, is tops, while Washington, DC is number one for activities, Freemont, California is number one for quality of life, and South Burlington, Vermont is best for health care.

Top Ten Best Places To Retire in the U.S.

On the flip side, Bridgeport, Connecticut is the worst place to retire in the U.S., scoring just 37.21 out of 100, landing close to the bottom for affordability, and pretty low for activities as well.

Ten Worst Places to Retire in the U.S.

Click here to see where other cities fall on the list.

Nothing like a little Southern charm. Of all places with the most charm, it's surely South Carolina. Home to unique landmarks, amazing views, and rich history you could see tons of landmarks throughout the state. The state offers some of the best beaches, best food, and even better people.

Travel 2 Next breaks down some of the most famous landmarks in South Carolina. These landmarks are a traveler's must-see destinations whenever they are in town. From down in Charleston to the beautiful upstate views, South Carolina truly won't disappoint. Wondering where to stop during your next trip to South Carolina. How about you start with these 20 famous landmarks in South Carolina?

This cathedral is the oldest episcopal cathedral in South Carolina. The original church was built in 1812 and later transformed into the beautiful landmark that stands today. The church has a burial site where famous South Carolinians like American Revolutionary War Generals, poet Henry Timrod, six of South Carolina’s governors, and Dr. Thomas Cooper, former president of South Carolina College, were laid to rest.

Home to the gravesites of more than 18,500 veterans from every war since the Civil War is Beaufort National Cemetery. The cemetery is shaped like a semi-circle with the roads laid out like spokes on wheels. 

Visit Myrtle Beach and stop by to experience their 8 piers offering fishing, art, music, food, and more. This is one of South Carolina's most famous vacation destinations.

Patriot's Point is a naval maritime museum in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina (near Charleston). It consists of 3 naval vessels with war participation history. The USS Yorktown is a WWII-era aircraft carrier and is Patriots Point’s top attraction for visitors. 

Fort Sumter is a sea fort that was erected in 1812 to protect Charleston from naval invasion. This was the official location to the start of the Civil War where the first shots took place and the war began. 

Magnolia Plantation is one of the oldest attractions and most visited plantations in Charleston. Visitors can tour and learn about the dark history of this home.

Visit Middleton Place in Charleston and experience the oldest landscaped gardens in America. The landmark is a living museum that houses artisans who demonstrate pottery, blacksmithing, etc. 

If you're ever in Charleston Rainbow Row is a MUST! These 13 homes painted in pastel colors is one of Charleston's and South Carolina most noticeable landmarks.

Table Rock Mountain is a portion of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the upstate. Visitors can hike to the top and even experience the views of the beautiful waterfalls.

Lake Jocassee is a hidden South Carolina treasure. This is your chance to view crystal-blue water in South Carolina's northwestern corner. 

The Savannah River is the longest river in the state running at 301 miles. The river marks the border between Georgia and South Carolina and flows to meet the Atlantic Ocean. 

At 3553 ft. above sea level, the Sassafras Mountain is the highest point in the state. Climb to the top and catch the fantastic views. Stand in two states at once because the state line of North and South Carolina passes through the tower structure. 

This 32 acre gem is right in the heart of Downtown Greenville. This landmark is the birthplace to Greenville in South Carolina. It was built in 1967 and replaced textile mills near the river.

5 miles of a sandy slice of Atlantic coastline is one of the top beaches in the area of Hilton Head. From the beach to restaurants to stores, you will enjoy all this beach has to offer.

Visit the waterfall that is the highest and most photographed in South Carolina. Located in Greenville County, the waterfall formed because of a sudden drop in the Blue Ridge Mountains escarpment. 

This may not be Georgia, but South Carolina is truly the home to the peach. South Carolina's official state fruit is indeed, the peach. Visit Peach County and take a picture with this famous landmark.

Head back down to the Lowcountry and visit the Angel Oak Tree. It is one of the largest and oldest live oak trees east of the Mississippi located on Johns Island. 

The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge down in Charleston was one of North America’s longest bridges when it was inaugurated in 2005. You can not only drive across, but also walk, run, skate or bike along the trail on the sides of the bridge over the Cooper River. 

Head to Downtown Columbia to visit the SC State House and government headquarters. The building is over 150+ years old and also houses the South Carolina General Assembly and South Carolina’s Governor’s and Lieutenant Governor’s offices.

Of course, Charleston has the top landmark! Visit the Charleston Pineapple Fountain for an amazing view and photo op. Pineapples are not indigenous to the area, historically, they symbolised hospitality and hints of a juicy Carolinian colonial past.