Just a few questions if you don't mind (Charleston, North Charleston: neighborhoods, gated)

[madman29]

Iv been to Folly beach a few times visited and don't remember thinking anything negative about it!?

[Browsing Duo]

If you have children, or plan on having them, do a lot of homework on school districts wherever you plan to move. Tennessee is #10 in the nation on SAT scores; SC is #49 in SAT rankings. SAT scores, though imperfect, are one of the few yardsticks for measuring state-to-state educational achievement. A state's educational quality affects its ability to attract new businesses and generate jobs.

[moneill]

The SAT scores are a poor way of ranking schools. Some schools encourage all kids to take them and other schools don't. In those high schools where there is a higher percentage of participation, the scores tend to be lower but does that mean it is not as good a school -- not necessarily.

Also -- some states have great disparity. Georgia is in the bottom 5 for SAT scores but has some high schools that score quite high. There is disparity between the scores in the greater Atlanta area and rural Georgia. I would suspect it is the same in South Carolina. There are high schools that are very good but the rural high schools may indeed lack the resources....most of us wouldn't choose to live in those areas anyways.

A good high school may have diversity....bringing down the overall school's score but it may have an amazing AP program or gifted or honors program.


There are private schools in Charleston and I understand that Wando & Summerville High School are considered to be 'good' schools. I would bet the other high schools in the area also produce students that have gone on to be successful in good universities.

Google liked Charleston well enough!

[Etacovda_00]

Thanks again for all of the help and information - really appreciate it!

[meks]

Originally Posted by Etacovda_00

I'm in Knoxville, TN right now working remotely. My wife and I have an opportunity to relocate this March and we're really considering Charleston, SC as our location.

We haven't had a chance to visit yet, and will do this soon. We're from Florida and miss the beaches, but want to be close to family at the same time. How's the area for kids under 3? The problem we have with Knoxville right now is mainly crime, and there's nothing to do except visit the Smoky Mountains. There's a lot of drugs in the area (leading to escalated crime) and I just can't see raising kids here.

What type of feel does Charleston have? Do a lot of people walk around downtown at night? My wife wants to know if there are a lot of shopping options lol

We can't walk around here at night downtown (or anywhere) without fear of being mugged - thanks in advance for your help

yeaa I heard about that horrible crime that happened to Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom... and that that whole area has gone way past downhill, it's a shame...

this place has it's good and bad places as well, but many more good places... and lots of places to shop

[meks]

Originally Posted by USCJoe

I think you are going to find that taxes in the Dorchester2 School District are equal to if not higher than those in Mt. Pleasant, even though Mt. Pleasant is in Charleston County.

not even remotely close...

I live in the DD2 district in Dorchester County, our taxes are nearly half of what Charleston's are... and nearly 40% below what the town limits of S'Ville's are

I moved out of the ChasCo area years ago because of the poor quality of schools and the high taxes, high water/sewer etc etc...

[elston]

Mt Pleasant is a really beautiful community and the beaches on the Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island are gorgeous.

[USCJoe]

Originally Posted by meks

not even remotely close...

I live in the DD2 district in Dorchester County, our taxes are nearly half of what Charleston's are... and nearly 40% below what the town limits of S'Ville's are

I moved out of the ChasCo area years ago because of the poor quality of schools and the high taxes, high water/sewer etc etc...

I made reference to the town of Mt. Pleasant which should have taxes equal to or less than the town of Summerville. Much of Charleston County does have relatively high real estate taxes but this is not the case in Mt. Pleasant.

[OleTomCat]

Joe,

Are you saying that you don't pay Charleston County Taxes in MP? If you are paying higher county taxes in Charleston County than Dorchester County how could taxes be cheaper in MP than Summerville, are the city taxes that much higher in Summerville than MP?

I was making the comparison to Dorchester County and Charleston County taxes, I don't live inside of city limits so I am not sure what the city taxes are.

[USCJoe]

Mt. Pleasant has one of the lowest millage rates in Charleston County, which keeps the taxes quite low. A home assessed at $500,000 will run you about $1875 a year. Compare this against a similarly assessed home in the town of Summerville and I think you will find taxes higher.