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I'm originally from Pittsburgh but have lived in the south since 2006. I lived in Greenville for 2 years before moving to Charleston and do not regret the change. I moved here because I've always loved the city and culture. It's just totally different than Greenville. I think it just depends on your personal opinion. The only thing I wish I could bring from Greenville to Charleston is the amazing cost of living!
I am a Yankee (Boston) that lived in Mount Pleasant from 2001 to 2010 when we moved to Lexington SC. I have never lived in Greenville but I have spent a good bit of time there.
Simple answer is I would pick Charleston over all other areas in SC (including Greenville and especially Columbia) but coming from the north, all urban areas here are more enjoyable, easier going, cheaper, etc. then where you are from.
Greenville has a more seasonable climate including cold/snow in the winter but less humidity in the summer. It also is more rural and conservative right leaning.
Charleston is warmer in the winter and hotter/humid in the summer It is more developed and more liberal leaning. Liberal as for in SC.
Mount Pleasant is more beach FL like. More casual dress. More expensive. More management types then hourly workers. Highly rated schools. Many transplanted northerners. Much less bible belt. Notice I am saying MTP, not the entire Charleston area and that is another subject.
I always heard Charleston was the most liberal area of the state but am now thinking maybe Columbia is... either that or it's just more conservative where I live (I do live in the country) and I have a lot of former military and veteran friends who just vote Republican.
I still think it's more liberal than Greenville... .
I've only been to Greenville a handful of times but in my experience it's a nice city. So is Mt. Pleasant. I don't think you could go wrong with either one of them really. Maybe one is better but the other is still pretty good .
[color=black][font=Verdana]SC gets such a bad rap ya know. I guess if you live outside of the large cities its understandable.
Being a current "northerner", soon to be a Charleston resident, it's really mainly just ignorance. The first concern most people display to me when I revealed my move was the schools for my child... I quickly had to put that to bed with the Mount Pleasant district track record in which we'll be...
We live in Greenville and I think it is pretty diverse. I saw a six foot tall, 125# man dressed as a woman (complete with Lady gaga shoes) tottering down Main St the other day. Now there's an educational opportunity for your children.
As a black man, I often wonder how truly important diversity is for people. I also wonder how many people misuse that notion to hide their own feelings of inferiority (or superiority) over others.
Greenville is a great place to live. So is Mt. P. Greenville is much less expensive. Both school systems are on par with each other. Both have Earth Fare, Trader Joe's & Whole Foods. Do you like the beach or mountains is the real question. But don't hide behind some predisposed need for immersion around people of different colors & values. They're already wherever you are, if you just look hard enough.
I enjoy visiting GVLs downtown its very walkable, diverse and the hanging bridge over the stream is gorgeous!
Was there for last yrs Fall into Greenville Fest. Fun! I also counted a dozen fire and brimstone street preachers. Folks for the most part walked on by and let them do their thang.
No doubt GVL is a Christian fundamentalist stronghold and you feel it. By the same token have heard its become multiculturally diverse given the global corporations that have campuses in the area.
Charleston is def more laid back.
Charleston downtown THAT IS as well as
west ashley inside the loop, JI,FB,and Park Circle in North Chuck are chilled out. Given, that chas is an international destination we are used to people from all over coming and going and there is a big art scene that attracts lots of freethinkers.
Get past N.Charleston, its a different story: Summerville,Goose Creek, etc etc have a much more conservative christian vibe and are lovely if you are a very devout Christian family.That just aint my thang so would not live out there.
I do not consider the former listed above to be liberal areas, having lived and traveled in NYDCSF, London, Paris they are by SC standards I suppose. If you are coming from rural SC it must feel like San Francisco!!!
we've been in the Cola area for close to 5 years, coming from WI. While we had the choice to move where we wanted (work from home), at the time we prefered to stay in SC's midlands and on the lake here. But having said that, we enjoy day trips both west and east. While we like walking Greenville's main st and doing some waterfall hunting when the colors change, our "go-to" for a day trip is Charleston. From the beach to the history and charm downtown, that for visiting is our fave spot.
I dont think i'd choose to live in the upstate over what i have here, but i could consider Charleston.
I think chas can learn a lot from gvls downtown in regards to pedestrian friendliness. I love all of the benches and spots to relax there.
Charleston has a severe lack of benches
and other areas to just sit and watch city life go by. And if you stay too long at the few parks downtown the cops hassle you.
Because the city cares the most about the tourists. Having benches might provide a resting spot for the poor and working class.
Can't have that, might make the tourists uncomfortable. It doesn't look "classy" or " charlestonian".
Last edited by driftaway123; 09-30-2013 at 04:16 PM..
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