Looking for upscale community near the Columbia area (Irmo, Lexington: homes, neighborhood)

[MovingSoon2CT]

My family will be moving to SC soon near the Columbia area. My office will be near Ridgeway, but I do not mind commuting an hour to live in a nice area. I am moving from CT and have a budget between 600K to 700K. We want to move to a more upscale suburbian area. However, the final decision will be based on the school system. We have a 5 year old and a 3 year old. We plan to live here for at least 10 years, so High School is just as important to us as Elementary school. The schools have to be rated no less than a 9 on greatschools.org, but we would prefer 10s across the board. We are willing to spend more than 700K if need be, but would rather stay within our price range.

Any recommendations to get us started will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your help.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by MovingSoon2CT

My family will be moving to SC soon near the Columbia area. My office will be near Ridgeway, but I do not mind commuting an hour to live in a nice area. I am moving from CT and have a budget between 600K to 700K. We want to move to a more upscale suburbian area. However, the final decision will be based on the school system. We have a 5 year old and a 3 year old. We plan to live here for at least 10 years, so High School is just as important to us as Elementary school. The schools have to be rated no less than a 9 on greatschools.org, but we would prefer 10s across the board. We are willing to spend more than 700K if need be, but would rather stay within our price range.

Any recommendations to get us started will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your help.

Northeast Richland County (Columbia) will be your best bet as there are many areas with nice homes in your price range. Wildwood, Spring Valley, Lake Carolina, several parts of Blythewood and many other developments will be options for you and you'll be well under an hour away from Ridgeway.

[MovingSoon2CT]

Thanks for the information. Which of these areas has the better schools?

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by MovingSoon2CT

Thanks for the information. Which of these areas has the better schools?

I'd look at schools that are in the Spring Valley, Ridge View or Blythewood zones of Richland District 2. In your price range you will also be overwhelmed with the type of home you can purchase.

[MovingSoon2CT]

Am I better off looking at Richland County properties or Lexington County properties? How are the homes in the Chapin area? Is this too far of a drive to Ridgeway?

[MovingSoon2CT]

Here is another way to look at it... If someone were to ask where all the rich and snobby people live in the Columbia area, where would that be? We are neither rich or snobby, but we are fully aware that the best schools are usually around the money.

[Columbiadata]

Heathwood, zoned for Dreher High School - rated excellent by South Carolina's toughest-in-the-nation standard of excellence model for schools; you can't out-snob those people if you try - there are no McMansions in that neighborhood, only mansions

[MovingSoon2CT]

It looks like Lexington 5 schools are ranked slightly better than Richland 2 schools. Would this be a true statement for those who actually live in the area?

[Columbiadata]

I'd go by the school, not the school district. The excellent high schools in this year's ranking just out are Dreher in Richland One; Spring Valley and Ridge View in Richland 2; Lexington High in Lexington 1; and Irmo, Dutch Fork and Chapin in Lexington-Richland 5.

[Brandon Hoffman]

I think you'll find Lex 1, Lex/Rich 5, and Richland 2 all to be good schools. Dreher HS and it's feeder schools are also great. Many parents specifically ask for Blythewood. Take a good look at it. You also have some great communities over there.