Charleston Living (Columbia, North Charleston, Goose Creek: job, housing, crime)

[innocence123]

I Want To Move To Charleston, But The Cost Of Living Is So Expensive And There Are The Risk Of Hurricanes Being Adjacent To The Coast. Are There Any Areas Near Charleston That Are In The Metro Area, But Not Such A Risk Or So Expensive, And No I Dont Want To Live In Summerville. I Think Eventually Sville Will Succomb To Too Many People Moving In. Is There Another Suburb Maybe A Little More Inland But Within About A 45 Minute Drive Of Charleston????? Or Should I Just Suck It Up And Move To Affordable And Less Risk Cola????

P.s I'm Kinda Considering Walterboro But It Seems Like A Hicktown

[irisheyes12]

Walterboro is in the middle of nowhere. If you think the cost of living is too high here i'd love to know where you're coming from as the cost of living here is DIRT CHEAP. Anywhere in SC's lowcountry you're going to deal with the hurricane issue and if you want to be within 45 minutes of downtown Charleston you're looking at Summerville, Ladson, Goose Creek, North Charleston, Moncks Corner, Bonneau and West Ashley. West Ashley would be the best of those listed IMO.

[innocence123]

i know thats why waltersboro wouldn't be such a good idea. maybe i should try somewhere further inland like orangeburg. i just dont want to deal with hurricanes but i want warm weather and easy access to beaches. florida is out cause it is just way too expensive. charleston the city is expensive, i know that summerville is less expensive but i really would like to try somewhere different that everyone else isn't trying to live. do they have public transportation in charleston what is it like.

[Condorll]

Fargo, ND

Happy trails!

[DJShymansky]

i just dont want to deal with hurricanes but i want warm weather and easy access to beaches.

Unfortunately those three things tend to go hand-in-hand in South Carolina.

[Rggr]

Originally Posted by innocence123

i know thats why waltersboro wouldn't be such a good idea. maybe i should try somewhere further inland like orangeburg. i just dont want to deal with hurricanes but i want warm weather and easy access to beaches. florida is out cause it is just way too expensive. charleston the city is expensive, i know that summerville is less expensive but i really would like to try somewhere different that everyone else isn't trying to live. do they have public transportation in charleston what is it like.

There isn't much to Orangeburg either. Easy access to beaches = dealing with hurricanes.

[innocence123]

yeah i'm sure, but the elevation in orangeburg is close to 300 feet the elevation of summerville is 89ft summerville is 35 min from the coast while orangeburg is an hour and a half if a storm did come ashore the damage would be much worse in summerville than orangeburg. should i let hurricanes stop me from moving where i want? i would live in florida if i really could.

[fqtravlr]

If you want to move to Orangeburg, go ahead. Bet you won't like it.

[innocence123]

it seems like alot of people on here like to bash orangeburg. what is really wrong with it??? and why does summerville get glorified so much??? i mean orangeburg is just an option if i cant move within the charleston metro i just have to settle for THE CLOSEST AND NEXT BEST THING WHICH IS COLA.

[SCBeaches]

Orangeburg does have some redeeming qualities....quaint old neighborhoods with stately, historical homes and the beautiful park with many varieties of roses and boardwalk walking trails (I can't remember the name of the park)...and inexpensive housing costs, but that's about it.
My mom moved up there and worked at the Methodist Home for three years about 10 years ago. She loved her home, neighborhood, and job - but she either had to drive to Columbia or Charleston for shopping and any cultural activities. Also, there is a lot of crime in Orangeburg and (she thought) a lot of angry people....she witnessed arguments and fights in parking lots of the grocery stores, drug stores, and even at the post office while she was there. She got transferred back to Charleston to avoid all of that negativity.

Now, you might look into Holly Hill, just South of Orangeburg....very small, Southern town with small-town values and friendly people. My brother bought a house there 2 years ago, and loves it. True, he has to drive to Summerville for shopping and entertainment but he would rather spend his weekends fishing in his boat out on Lake Marion, which is just 10 minutes from his house. He is about an hour from the closest "ocean" beach, but minutes away from the lake beach...and is far enough from the coast not to feel the full effects from a hurricane if we have one.