Blythewood vs. Irmo (Columbia, St. Andrews, Clemson: crime rate, house, to buy)

[lindz1116]

My husband and I are looking to buy a house. We have narrowed it down to our top 2. One is in Irmo, right near the dam, and the other is in Blythewood, right off I-77. Which area is better? Better schools? Lower crime rate?

[sirkokomo]

I grew up in Irmo and live in Blythewood. I can honestly say you can't go wrong with either choice. You will probably get more for your $ in Blythewood though.

[lagoon7]

I would imagine that crime is lower in Blythewood. Seems like a nice enough area, but sprawl is heading that way. At least Irmo is already developed and set. I've heard some say that Irmo isn't as nice as it used to be, but I can't say for sure. We've only been here for a couple years.

[deannasweat]

I think you can got to look it up i like blythewood it country out ther if you ask me

[momneedstoknow]

Blythewood for sure. Growth may be coming but it will be regulated. The i77 corridor is very nice for shopping and travel! Love it, get schools, no crime! Love Lake Carolina!!

[accufitgolf]

I think the I77 corridor (Garners Ferry to Killian Road) and Blythewood, have more interesting places to offer then the Irmo/Lexington area. Look at the new places opening and they are more along the I77 corridor from I26 to the Killian Road exit.

Wife and I recently spent time out on Forest Drive, Trenholm Road, Sandhills, etc. That is a jumping part of town. Even tired, dirty, Two Notch Road now gets interesting outside I20.

Harbison area is traffic bound and not very interesting/exciting.

We have no kids so schools do not interest us plus we are retired so we do not have to commute to work so take what I say in that context.

[Woodlands]

Not trying to split hairs but there is Irmo.. and there is "Irmo". You have the actual City of Irmo which is an older suburb while Blythewood is a newer suburb. In Irmo, much of what has been developed along St. Andrews Road..on up to new and old Friarsgate are older subdivisions built in the late 70s 80s on into the 90s. The further out you go you get closer to Lake Murray Blvd and on the Irmo side: Lake Drive, Dutch Fork, and Dreher Shoals and beyond.. you get more newer more expensive stuff and it gradually becomes "Ballentine" though that area is technically not a city. The "irmo" moniker as stated by people's mailing address but not necessarily the City Limits continues on the east side of I-26 over in areas like Riverwalk and the subdivisions off of Kennerly Road.. though you are further from Irmo proper.

Blythewood is also a City and a little more defined..along Killian Road, Farrow Rd and Wilson Blvd. The subdivisons tend to be newer and the prices are comparable depending on the size model. I have noticed that when some builders build in both Lexington and Richland Counties that the same house cost more in Richland all things being equal (i.e. lot size, home plan etc) I was told that was because the permit fees, tap fees, taxes etc are higher in Richland?. Not sure about which communities municipal taxes (Irmo vs Blythewood) are higher. Irmo may have a slightly higher crime rate because as of right now it is more commercialized.. there were also some problemed older subdivision and apt complexes that were causing problems.. but nothing major. Most of the stuff in Blythewood is still relatively new and the area is almost "exurbia" (outer edge of the suburbs going into rural) as opposed to Irmo's more traditional suburbia. Irmo does have the lake which is also a major draw to the area.. I believe that the schools in both areas are comparable in terms of quality...

[Brandon Hoffman]

They are similar. IMO Irmo has the advantage for outdoor activities with Lake Murray being so close. Most people don't think past Harbison but Irmo certainly is similar to Blythewood when it comes down to it. Traffic isnt any worse in Irmo than NE Columbia.

[Chi2Midlands]

Originally Posted by Brandon Hoffman

They are similar. IMO Irmo has the advantage for outdoor activities with Lake Murray being so close. Most people don't think past Harbison but Irmo certainly is similar to Blythewood when it comes down to it. Traffic isnt any worse in Irmo than NE Columbia.

If one is into large lake-oriented activities then perhaps Irmo has an advantage, but there are smaller lakes for boating, fishing, etc. on the Richland County side (Lake Carolina and Lake Columbia in the NE, Lake Catherine, etc. down into Forest Acres/SE Columbia). Lots of folks in the NE are into outdoor activities (biking, running, hunting, fishing, etc.) although they may be somewhat different than the traditional big lake stuff on the Lake Murrary side. But this is really splitting hairs.

I'll have to disagree on the traffic, though - going through Malfunction Junction (I-20/I-26/I-126/Bush River Road/St. Andrews Rd.) at 5pm is infinitely worse (especially on a Friday) than nearly any time going up I-77 towards Blythewood. I'll admit there are some bottlenecks like the I-77/Killian ramp and Clemson Road from I-20 to Sandhills/Two Notch that are probably comparable to localized congestion around Irmo/St. Andrews/Dutch Fork. But I have yet to see the bumper-to-bumper congestion on an interstate anywhere around Columbia like I've seen at I-20/I-26.

[accufitgolf]

Another good thing about living in the Blythewood area is close to cheap flights out of Charlotte airport.

Example:

Boston to Columbia (R/T) about $400.00.
Boston to Charlotte (R/T) less then $200.00.