SC has the second worst place to live in US if you’re retired, new ranking shows. Here’s why

Two South Carolina cities earned recognition from the company ConsumerAffairs in a ranking of best places to retire — one good, one not so good.

Perennial ‘best of’ list maker, Charleston, was ranked No. 18 best city in the United States for retirement. Spartanburg was ranked second worst.

ConsumerAffairs is a private company that offers consumers reviews of products and services.

Charleston was listed because of a low crime rate and cost to rent, lower cost of living and high park access and walkability, the company said.

Spartanburg’s ranking came from a high crime rate and rent burden, no park access, high cost of living and no walkability, the company said.

“Charleston’s lower score in crime (2.83) is especially significant compared to Spartanburg’s score in crime (8.24),” the company said.

Charleston has received praise during the past few years from a number of magazines, including Southern Living, Forbes, the New York Times, Conde Nast and Travel + Leisure.

Earlier this month, Charleston ranked No. 9 on a list by personal finance website WalletHub for retirees due to lower costs, safer environments and activities that appeal to older adults.

WalletHub studied 182 cities to come up with its ranking.

ConsumerAffairs said South Carolina as a whole is “fairly popular.” About 14% of South Carolina residents are retired.

“This large amount can be a significant benefit for retirees looking to increase their savings or live a greater quality of life than they could in more populated places,” the company said.

Lincoln, Nebraska, was ranked first due to a healthy older population and access to parks.

Lake Havasu City, Arizona, was the worst place for retirees based on a higher cost of living and low score on a community well-being index.