Difference between South Carolina & North Carolina? (Charlotte: employment, high schools)

[MomOfTriplets]

Perhaps this is a stupid question, but are there MAJOR differences between the 2 states? We are planning to relocate to the Fort Mills, Tega Cay, SC area, but are also looking at some subdivisions in Charlotte. Are there obvious advantages in choosing one state over the other? (e.g. taxes, crime, cultural differences?) Thanks for your assistance!

[seahawks80]

I know a bunch of people who live in the Fort Mill/Tega Cay area, and they love it. Good schools, low taxes, and the areas are generally safe. It's one of the more popular areas in the Charlotte metro region. Some of the other areas in SC near Charlotte (Indian Land, for example) are not quite as nice in my opinion, but Fort Mill/Tega Cay would get a thumbs up from me.

One disadvantage to SC over NC would be higher education down the road. If you lived in NC, your children would qualify for in-state tuition to the UNC system, which would be a big plus. If you lived in SC, you could get in-state tuition to the University of South Carolina, but I don't think it's as highly regarded as the UNC system. Just something to consider for down the road.

Depending on work location, Fort Mill or Tega Cay can be tough. If you work in the South Charlotte or uptown areas, you'd be fine. But if you worked in the university area, which is another employment hub, you'd have a pretty long commute.

[MomOfTriplets]

Thanks for the reply. My husband will be working in Rock Hill, so I think the commute will be okay. Good point about the higher education. I have only been focusing on middle and high schools. Haven't even thought about the college years yet!

[DawnW]

We actually did choose NC over SC because of the higher ed. It isn't necessarily that NC schools are better (although I prefer them) but it is also about choices. I think there are more choices in NC for state education than in SC.

I don't even know if we will live here when my kids are college age, but it is something to consider.

But then there is this.....if your DH works in Rock Hill, do you want to live near a larger city? Or would you rather even live South of Rock Hill and enjoy more of a rural setting? Maybe get more land, more house, etc...???

It really comes down to person preference.

Oh, and I would love to live at Lake Wateree.....I don't even know that much about it, but it seems to be so much more of an untouched lake than the Charlotte area lakes.

Dawn