Greer ranks No. 12 among the best places for young families in South Carolina, according to consumer finance NerdWallet. Greer’s ranking was based on 88 cities in the state with a population of at least 10,000.
Taylors is ranked No. 13.
Greer was ranked fourth in the group’s first report in September 2013.
Home prices, good schools, safety and local economy are the measures most important to young families, according to the report.
The state’s economy, according to economists at the University of South Carolina, is expected to show the seventh year of economic growth. Personal income is projected to grow 4.9 percent and wages are projected to climb.
The median value of the consumer group’s homes is $130,450 based on prosperity and income growth, education and family friendliness.
The consumer group’s analysis cited the western part of South Carolina with sprawling communities located along the I-85 corridor and suburbs of Charlotte. Greer is 90 miles from Charlotte.
Factors that needed improvement, according to the consumer group, included the median school rating in communities, six out of a top score of 10. The report showed 26.55 percent of families in poverty have a child under five-years-old.
The second edition of the consumer report analyzed released data from the Census Bureau’s American Survey to assess factors like education quality, home affordability and used Neighborhood Scout’s crime risk to gauge safety.
The top 10 best places for young families are:
1. Oak Grove.
2. Fort Mill
3. Clover
4. Simpsonville
5. Tega Cay
6. Clemson
7. Boiling Springs
8. Lugoff
9. Red Bank
10. Five Forks
11. Garden City
12. Greer
13. Taylors
See complete state rankings here.