Anderson Tops in Studies on Housing, Family Life

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

A pair of national reports from the past week bring more good news for Anderson County.

SmartAsset listed Anderson County as the second-best county in the state, and the 39th nationally on their Best Places to Raise a Family Index 2025. Excellent schools, lower childcare costs and the appreciation of housing prices were among the things considered in the ranking.

In the report, Anderson ranks first in the state in education (39th nationally), fourth statewide in housing equity (277th nationally), second statewide in childcare costs (1,236th nationally), and only comes up short on recreation facilities where the county is ranked 12th in the state (1,702th nationally).

“We knew this was a good place good place to raise a family and now everybody else does,” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns of the study.

Last week the National Association of Realtors the Anderson-Greenville area as among the top 10 hot spots nationally for the 2025 housing market. The group included available inventory at affordable price points, a better chance of unlocking low mortgage rates, higher income growth for young adults and net migration into specific metro areas when including the county in the list.