Charleston area (North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Goose Creek: apartment complexes, high crime, private schools)

[JELLABIAFRIA]

where are all of the best possible areas to relocate in and around Charleston,where its kinda safe crime wise,and you dont have to be insanely rich to move. and is it kinda warm year round?

[anonymous]

First off, nowhere in Charleston is cheap. But there are affordable areas. Not everywhere is insanely expensive. As far as weather goes, I wouldn't say it is warm year round. It is like anywhere else in the lower part of South Carolina. Hot summers, mild winters.

If you live on the peninsula, downtown, it will either be very expensive, or very ghetto. If you have kids, there are no acceptable public schools downtown. Everyone goes to private schools like Porter Gaud, Bishop England, or First Baptist. Downtown is great - my older brother lives there, but it is not practical for everyone.

Mount Pleasant is probably the best 'normal' place to live. It is directly east of the peninsula. Good shopping, good public high schools (Wando), and a huge new bridge into Charleston. It is close to the beach - Sullivan's Island or Isle of Palms are the closest beaches, both are very nice.

James Island is similar to Mount Pleasant, but maybe not quite as nice. It is directly south of the peninsula. I haven't heard much about James Island HS. It has more college kids, more apartment complexes, and bad traffic. The really nice places on J.I. are on the marsh. Folly Beach is the nearby beach - it has decent surfing, lots of college kids, etc.

West Ashley is probably 3rd on the list. It still isn't cheap, but it is probably cheaper than James Island or Mt. Pleasant. Most people I know don't like W. Ashley, for what they call "Some unexplainable reason." I think it's very cookie-cutter, unlike the rest of Charleston, but I am not sure.

Don't live in North Charleston. Dirty, high crime, bad schools, etc.

There are other options. Some people live in Summerville but claim Charleston. Summerville is nice, and probably cheaper than anywhere in Charleston. I think some people on this board live in Summerville.

Ladson or Goose Creek aren't too far either. I can't tell you much a/b those areas, I don't really know. Hollywood (south) and Awendaw (north) are little towns, kinda redneck, but IMO would be good places to live.

anyway, that oughta get you started! GL
-Matt

[salatheel]

I just spent 4 days in the Charleston area looking for possible locations to relocate to. Summerville was my favorite affordable area but is getting kind of crowded. The locals didn't seem to happy about more people constantly moving in. My wife really didn't feel comfortable anywhere in the Charleston of Myrtle beach areas for living there. Fantastic to visit. We also went to Wilmington and while there we liked Hampstead quite a bit. You can't escape the feeling of overcrowding in the cities themselves. This was our third scouting trip in the past year. We are going back down in August. I think we are pretty settled on relocating to the Raleigh area now. Just more comfortable for someone from the northeast.

[JELLABIAFRIA]

thanx guys,you all are helping me more than you know