Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index · South Carolina

Best Places to Live in South Carolina

Every South Carolina county scored on the Bolthole Index for seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. Barnwell County leads at 70/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, South Carolina ranks #31 for homesteading and #42 for off-grid living.

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Counties by Index Score

    Off-grid & homestead laws in South Carolina

    How South Carolina treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. State law also feeds each county’s admin, autonomy, and carry factors; rules often vary by county.

    General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

    All 46 South Carolina counties, ranked

    1. 1Barnwell County70
    2. 2Williamsburg County69
    3. 3McCormick County68
    4. 4Abbeville County66
    5. 5Colleton County66
    6. 6Greenwood County65
    7. 7Georgetown County65
    8. 8Fairfield County65
    9. 9Bamberg County64
    10. 10Berkeley County64
    11. 11Hampton County64
    12. 12Florence County63
    13. 13Chester County63
    14. 14Edgefield County62
    15. 15Marion County61
    16. 16Clarendon County61
    17. 17Allendale County61
    18. 18Orangeburg County61
    19. 19Calhoun County61
    20. 20Union County60
    21. 21Lancaster County60
    22. 22Saluda County60
    23. 23Chesterfield County60
    24. 24Sumter County59
    25. 25Jasper County59
    26. 26Beaufort County59
    27. 27Marlboro County59
    28. 28Laurens County59
    29. 29Aiken County58
    30. 30Kershaw County58
    31. 31York County58
    32. 32Lee County58
    33. 33Horry County57
    34. 34Darlington County57
    35. 35Cherokee County57
    36. 36Anderson County56
    37. 37Oconee County56
    38. 38Dillon County55
    39. 39Lexington County54
    40. 40Pickens County54
    41. 41Newberry County53
    42. 42Charleston County52
    43. 43Dorchester County52
    44. 44Spartanburg County51
    45. 45Richland County50
    46. 46Greenville County50

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