The City of Mauldin was listed among Fortune’s 25 Best Places to Live for Families for 2022. Fortune evaluated nearly 2,000 U.S. cities, towns, suburbs, exurbs, villages and townships with 25,000 to 750,000 residents to see where multigenerational families are most likely to have access to critical resources, community support and financial wellbeing. This range provided a broad universe of places that offered high-quality amenities in communities with a hometown feel.
To analyze each place, Fortune collected more than 215,000 unique data points across five broad categories:
- Education
- Aging resources
- General wellness
- Financial health
- Livability
Mauldin was the only South Carolina city to make the list. This Greenville suburb is a hidden gem that scores high marks for the comforts it provides residents and up-and-coming projects designed to put this city on the map. Mauldin has been ranked as one of South Carolina’s safest cities, and its schools boast a better than 85% graduation rate. The housing market is affordable—with the median sale price just topping $275,000—and growing, with a number of new subdivisions built in the past year.
“We are glad that Fortune recognizes the qualities that make Mauldin a great place to live,” Mauldin Mayor Terry Merritt said. “Even with a growing population and major developments in progress, we strive to keep Mauldin a place that always feels like home.”
Quality of life is where Mauldin shines. The city boasts 78 acres of parks and greenways, 11 bike trails, and a thriving cultural center. Construction recently wrapped up on Maverick Station, a restaurant and retail development that is already 100% leased, and construction is underway on BridgeWay Station – a $100 million, 170-acre village that will bring housing, shopping, dining, entertainment, and a pedestrian bridge connecting Mauldin to the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
“It’s nice to be recognized for the culture we work to improve every day,” local Councilman Taft Matney said, noting that quality of life is something the city prides itself on.
Other cities in the southeast that made the list include:
- Morrisville, North Carolina
- Leesburg, Virginia
- Sarasota, Florida
- Statesville, North Carolina
The full list from Fortune can be found on their website at fortune.com/best-places-families.
