Live near Columbia... work in Sumter? Is this possible? (Cayce: house, YMCA)

[claymom]

It's looking good that we will be relocating very soon.
Husband's job will be in Sumter.
I'm from Metro-Detroit. (nice suburb with all that "suburbia" provides).
Suggestions please?
Sumter does not look like a fit for our family (3 young children, we homeschool), but Columbia looks like it would work! (or maybe the eastern "outskirts" of town?)

Thank you much!
L in MI

[Woodlands]

You may want to consider either Southeast Columbia (Garners Ferry Rd) which turns into 378/76 and runs directly to Sumter or NE Columbia and use I-20 to 521 and head south to Sumter. I used to travel the 378 route to Sumter since I lived in SE Columbia and found it very doable. Both routes are against Columbia "rush hour" though you may encounter some congestion on 521 since it is only two lanes until just north of Sumter. 378/76 Garners Ferry Rd is four lanes all the way. Also, not that Sumter has horrible traffic, depending on where you are going in Sumter 378 becomes Broad Street which probably has the worst traffic in the City.

[justNancy]

Since you are talking about Southeast Cola, I thought I'd jump on this thread. What's the town of Gaston like, and will the residents be warm to outsiders? The Columbia MLS shows some lovely, small homes overlooking a golf course in my price range. I don't have children, so my main concern would be safety and peace & quiet.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by justNancy

Since you are talking about Southeast Cola, I thought I'd jump on this thread. What's the town of Gaston like, and will the residents be warm to outsiders? The Columbia MLS shows some lovely, small homes overlooking a golf course in my price range. I don't have children, so my main concern would be safety and peace & quiet.

I'm not a big fan of the Gaston area, I find the scenery to be less appealing in the southern half of Lexington County (Gaston, Pelion, Swansea area) than in other parts of the metro. You will also find that area is not growing as much as other areas. You can get more house for the money there, however.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by claymom

It's looking good that we will be relocating very soon.
Husband's job will be in Sumter.
I'm from Metro-Detroit. (nice suburb with all that "suburbia" provides).
Suggestions please?
Sumter does not look like a fit for our family (3 young children, we homeschool), but Columbia looks like it would work! (or maybe the eastern "outskirts" of town?)

Thank you much!
L in MI

If you live on the east/southeast/northeast side of Columbia, it is possible to commute to Sumter. You're driving against traffic during rush hour so you won't have to deal with traffic delays. Quite a few people commute between the two cities.

[claymom]

Thank you, Waccamatt!

[Captain Worley]

I commuted from Cayce to Sumter for two years. It wasn't too bad. From The Garner's Ferry Road area, say LR High School, it is maybe a 35-40 minute commute. However, be advised that schools in the area are wretched, to be charitable.

Gaston would be too far to commute, unless you don't mind an hour and a half (easily) drive. As waccamatt alludedd to, unless you like pines or sand, there isn't much to see.

[aggienanoo]

I have to agree with the Northeast area of Columbia. The new Sandhills Village shopping center is great with a Plex Sport center in it and a new YMCA close by there are plenty of things for kids. For more info for stay at home moms Columbia has a website called Midlands Moms.com, it has alot of great tips. I too have three children although I must admit I am not brave enough to home school. For a truly subdivision feeling Lake Carolina and The Summit are the two main subdivisions for this area. My hat is off to you on the home schooling .

[Chi2Midlands]

Originally Posted by aggienanoo

I have to agree with the Northeast area of Columbia. The new Sandhills Village shopping center is great with a Plex Sport center in it and a new YMCA close by there are plenty of things for kids. For more info for stay at home moms Columbia has a website called Midlands Moms.com, it has alot of great tips. I too have three children although I must admit I am not brave enough to home school. For a truly subdivision feeling Lake Carolina and The Summit are the two main subdivisions for this area. My hat is off to you on the home schooling .

I would only add that Lake Carolina and The Summit are more accurately described as master-planned communities or developments, rather than just a subdivision. They are more truthfully collections of many subdivisions, not just one. There are many more stand-alone, "individual" subdivisions in Northeast Richland like Woodlake, Jacobs Creek, North Springs, The Highlands, Briarcliffe, etc.