Last updated 2026-06-12 ยท MovePlan Editorial Team
Grand Strand value, low-country charm, and a beach town for every budget.
1. Mount Pleasant: Best overall
2. Myrtle Beach: Best value
3. Hilton Head Island: Best resort island
4. Folly Beach: Best surf town
5. Pawleys Island: Best quiet Grand Strand pick
6. Beaufort: Best historic low-country town
7. North Myrtle Beach: Best family Grand Strand pick
8. Bluffton: Best low-country value
South Carolina coast runs from the golf-and-beach Grand Strand around Myrtle Beach down through the historic Charleston area to the quiet low-country islands near Hilton Head. These towns balance sand, cost, and community for full-time living. Here are the 8 best beach towns in South Carolina, ranked.