After 14 straight years of being ranked the healthiest county in all of south Carolina, Beaufort County has now slipped a little, according to the County Health Rankings by Niche.com, one of the most popular rankings sites in the U.S.
Beaufort is a very active community and the findings show that Beaufort surpasses now nearly all of the other counties in South Carolina in its quality of life.
“Beaufort County is one of the best places to live in South Carolina. In Beaufort County, most residents own their homes, and many young professionals and retirees live there,” Niche.com said in the report.
Beaufort County’s grades were pretty good, and it received an overall A+.
Beaufort County received an A for Health & Fitness, being Good For Families, and for its Public Schools.
However, strangely enough, it received an A- for its Outdoor Activities and its Weather.
Beaufort County also received a B+ for Jobs, a B+ for [daily] Commute, a B+ for Diversity.
Beaufort County did, however, receive a B- for Housing, and a C+ for Cost of Living.
According to Niche.com, the 2026 Healthiest Counties ranking is intended to provide a comprehensive assessment of the general levels of health among residents at the county level.
“This grade takes into account key indicators of personal health, such as smoking, excessive alcoholic consumption, rates of obesity, as well as the availability and proximity of fitness facilities, doctors, and mental health practitioners, in an attempt to measure an area’s performance in health and fitness.”
Other popular studies have shown that Beaufort County residents enjoy the longest life expectancy in the state as well as the best quality of life in South Carolina. They’ve also found that Beaufort County leads the Palmetto State when it comes to health behaviors. This includes a lower amount of cigarette smokers, a lower rate of adult obesity and the ease of access to many exercise opportunities.
How else does Beaufort County rank?
Beaufort came in at #182 of the Healthiest Counties in the U.S.
It is also:
#22 Best County to Retire in America
#121 Best County to Live in America
#212 Best County for Public Schools in America
#229 Best County for Families in America
#247 Best County for Young Professionals in America
#375 Best County for Outdoor Activities in America
According to the study, the top 5 healthiest counties in SC are (in order) Charleston, Greenville, Beaufort, Richland, and York.
According to the study, the counties with the poorest health in SC are Hampton, Dillon, Allendale, Lee, and Marlboro counties.
See how Beaufort stacked up against other South Carolina Counties in different areas of interest.
See the full list of South Carolina counties and see how they ranked here.
Beaufort is surrounded by sea islands and that provides an easy way for folks to enjoy the water, do some fishing or take the kayak out for a few hours. Lots of beaches, trails and parks in the area make for some fabulous long walks as well.
If you’re looking for a good quality of life….Beaufort County is your obvious choice. Beaufort is the healthiest county in S.C., after all.
