Pawleys Island, pounded earlier this year by Hurricane Ian, is the coziest small town in South Carolina, according to a new study from a matchmaking platform. It’s 58th coziest nationally, said the study by MyDatingAdviser.com.
But don’t worry, some of Charleston’s area communities are on the list, too. Coming in second place (and 125th overall) as the most relaxing tiny town in the Palmetto State is Isle of Palms, which the study described as offering peaceful and quiet beaches, gorgeous bike paths, a variety of delicious dining experiences and warm winter temperatures.
Ranked sixth in the state was Mount Pleasant. South Carolina’s other small towns that were among the 170 cozies in the nation included Beaufort (third in S.C.), Georgetown (fourth) and Hilton Head (fifth). According to the study, Beaufort, which now is home to a national park, came in third because of its famous Antebellum mansions, stunning coastal backdrops and its variety of delectable cuisine options, including shrimp and grits.
The website says that it ranked the six South Carolina towns based upon factors like weather, food options and the types of activities that are indicative of what makes a small town “cozy.”
Pawleys Island is a barrier island with a population of just over 100 people. The small town is filled with a number of quaint cottages, historic buildings that can be traced back to the 1700s, numerous unique and fun shops — including a shop dedicated to selling hammocks — and more, which makes it easy to see why it was named the coziest town in South Carolina.
To rank the coziest small towns in the United States, MyDatingAdviser.com specifically analyzed ten key metrics, including the winter temperature, average snowfall, bookshops, cafes, bakeries, among others.
Read more about the study here.
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