Things to consider if you are thinking about moving to Charleston, South Carolina
One of the most challenging decisions an individual, couple or family can make is the decision to move. It takes a tremendous amount of research to determine the feasibility of happiness and success in a new geographic region. We want to do our part to help by providing a simple checklist of things to think about as you make this big life changing decision.
Will we move to Charleston, South Carolina Checklist
- Are you comfortable with a consistent stream of construction (Commercial, residential and highway)? – Since 2012, cranes have been a part of the Charleston skyline and will continue for a number of years to come. The traditional Holy City skyline has been replaced with the new look and feel of modern Charleston. With Charleston being part of the Southern migration, this has resulted in new housing and expansion west with additional bridges, highway repair, new hotels and housing development as a new way of life.
- Can you deal with average commuter traffic in excessive of 30 minutes or more for under 10 mile commutes? Charleston does not have the volume numbers of drivers as Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston or Chicago, but it is a coastal community. Therefore, waterways are a part of the structure of the Lowcountry and it has made for some unique, narrow and singular roadways. Structurally, this region is not designed well for this level of growth, so expect delays.
- Is your vehicle water tolerant? I am sure you have heard the stories of flooding in Charleston. These are not exaggerations, but a very big reality. Pockets of flooding can be found in various places of the area due to rain or high tide. Ensure your car is made for high flood areas.
- Do you value change in seasons? Charleston is not a four season area. There has been two snowfalls in 10+ years and only one significant snowfall in over a decade. If you love the changing leaves of New England, you will have to head west toward the mountains to find that type of foliage. Expect Summer (Long), a brief cold period of Winter and a short Spring in the Lowcountry.
- Do you love professional sports and attending games/matches? Perhaps in a few years that may change, but Charleston does not have a major sports team in football, baseball, hockey or basketball (Before folks jump in and say we have the RiverDogs, Battery and the Stingrays), I am referring to NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA. If you want to watch those leagues live, you will need to travel to Atlanta (5.5 Hours) or Charlotte (3.5 Hours).
- Do you thrive in a diverse community? Charleston is not an ethnically balanced region. White and black residents make up the mass majority accounting for over 95% of the total population. (Census Analysis)
- Do you value education for your children? South Carolina ranks in the lower 10% of the nation in quality of education and US News and Worlds Reports ranked South Carolina 50 out of 50 in its most recent study. The growth of the student population, salary issues for teachers and the limited funding has raised concerns. In 2018, Charleston County set aside a mere $6.6 Million of a $480 Million dollar budget toward education.
- Can you afford to live here? For a family of 2 adults and 2 children, a recent study revealed you need to make $60,067 annually (Study Results)
- How important is religion in your decision? Here is a look at how Charleston County breaks down.
- How Liberal do you want your community? Many consider the Lowcountry a liberal area, but you must keep this in perspective. Compared to the rest of South Carolina, which is very conservative, yes, this area is liberal, but if your barometer of liberal is San Francisco, New York, Austin or Chicago, then this area is not of the same political and cultural thinking as you are accustomed to.
We hope these insights help as you begin to make some decisions about considering this area your new home.
Charleston Daily
Charleston Daily is a concept in community. Its mission is to promote, assist, and celebrate in everything Charleston, South Carolina. By partnering with businesses, community leaders, volunteers and events, we are spreading the love that is Charleston. As this city continues to grow and prosper, we want to help spread the message to all about how wonderful this community is. Charleston is about the people, community, water, land, history, heritage and the true southern warmth it brings with each and every day.
Good assessment! However, I don’t agree with the salary reports for a family of four. Charleston has become a very expensive place to live and many of the companies here (including the recent transplanted corporations) do NOT pay the local employees based on the cost of living. Probably because the minimum wage is still very low and not comparable to current demographics.
Exactly
I totally agree with you it is so hard to make it down here I been living here all my life.
Thanks 4 the insight.
Not the Charleston as when you played at St Andrews
I called it the “Crane City..not the Holy City” anymore.. the mayor won’t get his head out of his rear and slow down the overwhelming hotel growth. So sad that money is making the city greedy. Its terrible. Reminds me of Atlanta crammed in a small town. I’ve lived here my whole life and I am embarrassed about the goverment.
Don’t be Steve. Since SC is low on the list of a good education state. The money can be used for that. I am from the northern part of SC off of I-95. I no longer live in the state, but I go home frequently. I went to school in Columbia SC for two years at a Private school. I never been to Charleston but I am glad that it is a possibility that our state could soon get a professional sport team of some kind. North Carolina has professional teams and I don’t see no reasons why SC cannot. Do you not want your hometown to improved and not be left behind? Charleston has to improved or become an old and broke down city like Detroit with no jobs, abandon houses and buildings, people moving away and you need to bridges and waterways. Advance yourself too. Charleston can start a domino effect in having good schools and colleges.
Not sure where you moved from but compared with Chicago, Charleston is a dream. VERY affordable! Saving $5,000 a year on property tax alone is a great start not to mention income and sales tax, fuel, parking, less traffic to name just a few!
I’m not sure where you lived in Chicago, but I’m spending over twice what I used to pay on rent here. If you can afford a house, sure, the taxes are great. If you’re not rich, the sales tax will destroy you.
And i for one would like better use of tax funss!
Granted, real estate taxes are considerably lower. However, it’s a giant trade-off. With low RE taxes, you get a school system ranked last in the nation, one of many reasons why families who can afford it, send their children to private schools at 15,000 a year for each child beginning at age 3. No savings there! Also, it has a high regressive sales tax on everything, leaving a direct affect on the poor.
Don’t listen to this columnist. I have lived and worked all over the country and when I found Charleston I found Paradise. Sure Charleston is growing but still retains her charm. It hasn’t been ranked number one travel destination for 7 yrs for nothing. Beautifully beaches, sunsets and weather. Sure it gets hot in the summer but we don’t have snow for half a year. Traffic is only bad during work travel hours, if you call a 15-20 minute delay bad to go acoss town. As for cost of living, When gas is $3 around the country, we pay 2.50 here and without harsh winters and summers my power bill avgs. $250Mth for a 5000 sqft home. Also property taxes are low. If things were as bad as this report makes them, why would everyone be moving here. Actually I feel sorry for this commentator because he/she will never know what true living is all about.
I agree! All situations in life are how you deal with them, not reacting to them. So leave early for work and listen to some kick ass music, do the same on the way home or listen to an audio book. Relax and enjoy the minutes that you have so generously been given each day your eyes open in the morning. So there’s cranes, big deal! That’s how things get built. So the minimum wage is low, budget!! Get a part time gig doing something more fun than your full time job.. Live your life instead of analyzing everything that isn’t going your way! Chill out and slow down to the speed of life. Surely you can think of worse places to live besides Charleston/Paradise!
Well said!! And I agree whole hearltly. Charleston is my home but I had moved to Charlotte,NC for about 13yrs and came back home to Charleston 10yrs ago. Yes,it’s hot the most of the time, no we do not have 50ft of snow every year like some of the other states have for over 4-5 months out of the year, yes there are cranes every where because we are having to build more due to the influx of people moving here which says that Charleston is doing something right! EVERY CITY has it’s pro and cons BUT let’s give credit where credit is due!
Totally agree with you. We have been in Charleston 24 yrs now. Retired military and retired civil service and we live very comfortably in a gated community. We enjoy traveling and showing our out of state friends all the beauty Charleston has to show. And we pay very low RE taxes on a 2,758 sq ft home. We love Charleston.
Where are you originally from ?
Just sounds like Charleston doesnt want anyone else moving there, lol. And I live on the western tip of SC dont send people this way. Traffic is already terrible!!
And we are getting sick of all the transplants that have invaded our once quiet , affordable and beautiful city!!! It’s becoming a nightmare!!! We are thinking about leaving because we are being edged out!! The crowds, traffic and liberal loons have destroyed this once great city!!
Dude its last in education what are you talking about.no education no growth higher crime rate…are you serious. I lived here all mylife.i travel a lot Charleston is beautiful but it’s spending money very irresponsible. Roads are terrible bridges are damn near dangerous to cross….please be aware of everything before you spread this false information or one sided information
I am a current resident, and I want out of here…it has become TOO EXPENSIVE, and I actually make pretty good money, but the commute, the traffic, people constantly moving into the area is driving prices way up and the roadways cannot handle the volume, not to mention the heat index exceeding 100 degrees with 95% humidity…phew…I have lived here most of my life and I have seen enormous change. If you want to go to the beach …better get there at 6am and leave at 12pm to get back home (15 miles) by 2pm.
I just do not like it anymore…too busy, too expensive, insane traffic
Good point. Not only is the change of expense features. There’s the Hurricane season has now been extended.
I’m with you Kellie !!!!! ???. I’ve lived here all of my life except for when I was in central Pennsylvania for 20 yrs. I love South Carolina but if the traffic doesn’t kill you the heat will !!!! I want to move to the mountains of South Carolina ?????
You’re totally right, I grew up here and greed and crowds and high prices,rents ,i are ruining the whole laid back affordable vibes, we had here in 1980s, it’s backed up traffic all day long, and all da traffic is speeding or looking at the stupid phone, causing horrible wrecks. People should stop moving here, and go to less crowded cities,towns, cause this charleston nowadays, is not paradise!
We made 4 trips to explore the area.Traffic is a nightmare. No roads. Housing is very expensive, 400k + for decent middle of road house. Typical tourist prices in town. Alot of rednecks in suburbs, very conservative. Glad we decided not to move here. Realtors and builders are not ethical, only want your money. Beware.
A lot of snobs who think they are better than others as well. We are glad that you moved elsewhere as well.
Thank for your glowing report ????? now if we could only get others to chime in about how bad the traffic,taxes,schools and weather are hurricane’s and high ,high, high humidity and scorching HOT HOT HOT weather. Don’t move here ????
I agree with kelly,I have a home on John’s Island and I have rented it out and moved to the upstate.it is to expensive and the traffic on the island is crazy.
A flood- proof car? ??? Few people here have those. Just don’t leave it parked in an area that floods easily. When we’re expecting floods, the area garages open up and allow free parking.
What about Beaufort?
Do not listen to this columnist. The peace, grace, and hospitality of the Low Country are unmatched…. slow down and enjoy the experience. Expensive and traffic…have you lived in LA, Chicago, or NYC….how about Atlanta or Charlotte? Schools….some of the best private schools in the country are here….who in North Atlanta goes to public school? Yesterday…Saturday…I spent the day at the beach…arrived at 11am and parked…walked off the beach at 3:30, had a burger at a beachside Tavern and back home downtown by 5:30. Where else can you do that? 30A, Myrtle, Miami…not a chance. If you can’t live and love the life in Charleston, you will find out how great life here is, if you move.
This is a hit piece on the success of this community. I’ve traveled all around the country. Charleston is a great place to live. All points discussed in the article are negative and a very biased opinion of someone dissatisfied with the culture of this beautiful state. How liberal should it get before people start running away?
Well, a lot of what the article is true. However, I’m from NYC, so to me everything is cheaper! And traffic is nothing compared to what you have up there. Also,what you get for a house! $400.0? You get a nice house compared to the Northeast! You would have to pay twice as much if not more and so much more in taxes. However, I do agree on the education system. BUT, they have charter schools here. So you can get free schooling. It’s also unfortunate that SC is based on the entire state. Where you hv pockets of areas where the public schools are very good. You can also home school. And to be honest, if I had kids in school today, I would Home school them!!! They know nothing! My high school diploma is an equivalent to a college degree! The heat is bad. I stay in . I just built a new home on Johns Island. My friend in Los Angeles could not believe how much I paid. My house in Sherman Oaks would be atleast $ 2 million. But it’s CA. However, I miss the seasons, and I may move to the mountains in 3-5 years.
The education statistics are misleading. SC as a whole is challenged but there are several schools in the Charleston area that are in the top 10% or so of schools nationally.
This is an extremely exaggerated view of negative comments on this columnist list. Really!
I grew up in the Lowcountry, lived in the Northern Virginia-Washington DC area for 27 years.
I returned to the Lowcountry 8 years ago.
Live in a metropolitan area, like DC, if you want to know what major. traffic problems and expensive real estate prices are like.
Let me give you the true breakdown.
Yes, the commute traffic is heavy. Ridiculously heavy.
More roads/bridges need to be built to handle the every growing population. Typically the congestion is during commuting times.
House prices are very adorable in Summerville and West Ashley. As you move closer to the beach, like Mt Pleasant, Daniel Island the price point increases, as you would expect. Everyone would love to be close to the ocean or waterway. Property tax is very affordable, this is very important to many retirees.
Education, for those living in Mt Pleasant, Goose Creek, Dorchester II District in Summerville there are good public schools, also there are several Magnet Schools in the Charleston area.
Flooding and cars, that is primarily a problem if you live on the peninsula, downtown Charleston. Flooding is more of an isolated problem .
Every area of the US has it’s pros and cons. Charleston has some but there are far more positives, the charm of the historic downtown buildings and streets, the 5 star restaurants, the plays , theatres, beauty of the lime green marsh at the beginning of the summer, the white sandy beaches, the roar of the ocean waves, the lovely heritage of the south with its true Southern Charm, those are the things that draw us all to Charleston and the Lowcountry.
First who ever wrote this story is only talking about Charleston down town. Some of the best school are in Summerville and Wando. Then they did not say anything about job opportunities. Boeing,Bosch,Volvo and Mececede. All have factories.Part of the Navy and a full size Air Force Base. If you are looking to move here mild winter and
Very hot summer. But when you look to move look at more than just the
town it self the areas around a city. Might be more important that the down town which in this case makes up less that 25 percentage of the area.Long time resident
Hello, I am a South Carolina girl born and raised. I live in NY. Let me tell you Charleston is cheap compared to NY. Upstate NY is reasonable. Charleston is one of those places that have old world charm and is full of breath taking views. It is a tourist place because it is No longer a sleepy little city. It has been built up and YES it is pricey. In order to grow you have to spend. I wish when they build they work on the traffic in the areas. You build and traffic is a nightmare…it will only get worse. Work on the traffic issues! I visit Charleston…the Battery is my go to spot. The Market is another. I like to walk all around downtown. Beautiful views…Plan accordingly! Make sure you have enough funds for what you want to do. I have family all over. As much as I love to visit Mt Pleasant…traffic is a nightmare! I remember the sleepy town. I know things change. So I travel a few times a year. Just to escape. I travel because the people are warmer; much nicer. NY everything is fast paced. Nice to slow things down. Calhoun and Meeting streets, Rutledge Avenue…traffic. I have to travel on those…memories. Do your homework and enjoy your visit to to Charleston! You will not regret it!@
I lived in Summerville 20 yrs ago. Moved to NC. I love NC. My children stayed in Charleston, and now my Grandchild. I hated SC, the weather is horrible, people seemed so phoney. Now,im faced with going back to be with my kids, 20 yrs I have dreaded this decision. Housing is crazy, I keep asking myself what do they think they have there to price homes like this? I am dad to go back there, my children are the only light burning in SC for me.
Summerville was my home for 28 years and I never thought I’d leave. I loved it and Charleston but if you don’t have money and are a average blue collar worker it’s become impossible to afford the area. Once Charleston became high $everyone started moving west making my little town crowded and expensive and crime went up. Guess it’s the price you pay for progress. What I’m saying is it’s a great area if you make $100,000 a year.
I live in charleston 17 years and I used to love it. To many people moving in and overgrowth of housing has ruined the charm of charleston!! The tax’s will kill you. Ican say comming from Denver that what I most love is how genuine and giving the folks are here. So with that in mind and the fact that it is to hot and crowded, I decided to move to the mountains but still staying in s.c so I could still be around the gracious, sweet and genuine people of the south.
I moved to North Charleston. We have no problem with crime. Housing is very affordable. Cost less here then in MD. Saved over $1k a year on car insurance and $300 a month on home mortgage,insurance, and taxes. We love the area, including Charleston, always something to do, even if it’s a relaxing day at the beach. Charleston county park at folly beach is a great place to visit. Never regretted it.
Like someone else said it is what you make it to be. I am one of those redneck fokes the someone had mentioned, I live on the outskirts of Charleston (Summerville, Moncks Corner, Goose Creek area Carns Crossroads).
Is traffic a bit crazy why of course it is mostly around rush hour, in town and interstate.
While I do work for myself I am able to set my own hours which is a plus in the eyes of dealing with traffic, I ABSOLUTELY hate sitting in slow traffic, so what I will do is stay an extra hour at work, or find something else to do till traffic clears up, you can always find something to do to kill an hour or so in Charleston!
I most definitely can’t say I’m living the good life, it is a struggle only making $55-$65k on a good year, but again it is what you make of it.
If you keep your head out of the clouds and don’t worry about what others have and their ritzy lifestyles, just keep it simple, you will find that this is a really nice area to live.
Yes the cost of living is higher than alot of places, but if you like where you are now you wouldn’t be looking into this area anyways.
Yes it is hot and humid here but the worst of it is just mid day heat between 1:00 and 4:00pm which still leaves you plenty of time to do outdoor activities in the mornings or late afternoon or evening.
People that complain about being stuck here just don’t have the will power to move on… Being self employed here is a up hill battle it’s rough especially in the lower income range. But I would in no way say that I am stuck here if I wanted to go I’d go… If like some say it is so hard to make it here then why not move on..if you feel the cost of living here is to high then certainly you should be able to find somewhere else where the cost of living is lower. Stop looking so much at the cost of living and look more at the quality of life!
Live life with what you have, make the most with what you do have, don’t try to live outside of your means, or worry about what others have.
It took me just over 10 years to be able to afford to buy a house in this area. But I did it. I went from struggling to make ends meet, to living comfortable but not owning anything, to home ownership and back to struggling to keep thing up!
I can’t blame Charlseton for that!
All in all Charleston and it’s sorrounding areas are a nice place to live. If you are makeing less than $50k why would you be looking to live in town anyways, head towards the outskirts a 20 to 30 minute drive and you can still enjoy what Charleston has to offer.
Trust me I came from a small town up north where a 30 minute drive was like a road trip, but being here for the past 15 years, it does take me 25 to 30 mins to get to downtown Charleston (without heavy traffic) but it doesn’t seem like it!
If you are in the position to where you are able to buy a home in the Charleston area, you really have nothing to loss, with the housing market increasing annually, you can get in now and probably have a good ten years before the next housing market fallout to decide if you like it here or not. The good thing is if you decide you don’t, you shouldn’t have a problem selling or renting and moving on!
For example; We purchased our house in 2014 for $178k now in 2018 it is valued at between $246-270. We probably owe around $160 so what is keeping us here. Once the quality of life is what you make of it!!
We moved from Connecticut to Charleston two years ago but have been coming down for twelve years. It’s expensive but no more expensive than any other city. The traffic is bad but no worse than any other city. The drivers are a different story. But all in all, for some inexplicable reason I wakeup almost every morning saying “It’s another beautiful day in Charleston”
There is more to do and appreciate here than anywhere else I have traveled. Charleston is a state of mind that you perhaps, are not visiting anymore. Let me reiterate the point; you have described the downfall of city living in general-any city. Moving here gives you a different rhythm to dance to and if you don’t get off of your chair you won’t enjoy it.
Clearly the writer is trying to dissuade folks from moving to Charleston and adding to the population. I’m fine with that – less congestion for the rest of us. ?. The fact is that Charleston has grown significantly over the last 30 years but it still beats DC, NYC, etc.
Charleston is definitely not like the rest of S.C. I rent in a fairly safe neighborhood for almost 1,200 for a one bedroom. I barely make ends meet on a teacher’s salary. Southern charm is leaving this area amidst consistently rude drivers and very impatient people. Not the S.C. this southern belle is accustomed to.
If you are an immigrant with visa and buying house in Charleston, Columbia and Florence end up paying 4 times higher property taxes.
Where I live by Bees Ferry all our tax dollars are spent downtown. We were promised a city center with restaurants, movies, library ect. TO BE COMPLETED BY 2008. WE ARE STILL Waiting
The writer seemed to accomplish their goal of getting people to voice their opinions! All of the various perspectives have been helpful and insightful. The Charleston area is beautiful, friendly and charming. It is my happy place and I hope to live there some day. Coming from the suburbs of Chicago, it would be a significant improvement for me!
I want to move there and work at Volvo!
Moved to Brunswick GA. Feels like I’m in the Charleston I remember from 20 yrs ago. Affordable and friendly.