A comparison - Greenville to Roanoke, VA? (Sumter, Wade Hampton: credit, houses)

[Ceezer]

Hey, y'all! We're currently living in Sumter and have been looking to relocate around this time next year, but I've already begun researching several months ago. After much deliberation and head-butting with the wife I've got primary locations narrowed down to two (with a handful of maybes): Greenville, SC and Roanoke, VA.

I've spent some time in Greenville but not Roanoke so I'm here for a little insight. I will eventually make time to visit/revisit each area (or another, depending on what comes about over the next year) but am in no big rush at the moment.

My big thing is wanting to be back in or at least near the mountains. I lived on the coast for 6 years and then in the midlands for 4 and I miss the scenery provided by hills and an abundance of trees. I enjoy mountain biking and hiking and stuff so access to state parks and forests is a huge advantage. Both Greenville and Roanoke have this.

I'm from a small farming community (about 1200 people) in nowhere OH about 12 miles outside Marietta which had a population of around 13,000. The closest "big city" was Parkersburg, WV which was around 30k. So while I'd like to be around a bigger city for opportunity and culture and entertainment, I don't want to be overwhelmed by size and mass. From my experiences a city population of around 60-75k feels good, metro population isn't all that important to me. Greenville seemed like a good fit, kind of like Concord, NC.

I'd like to be in-house with one of the big Aerospace/Defense guys like Lockheed/3M/Honeywell and I know Greenville has that; I think Roanoke has a little. I might also have to go back to school to get to that point so Greenville is close to Clemson and Roanoke is close to VT - both ACC schools.

My wife is in nursing school (we're both former Marines so we got a late start) so she can work anywhere but would like to be somewhere with a NIC unit.

Our daughter is 6 but is brilliant (tests at a 4th grade level and that's probably pretty accurate) and we want to continue to flourish her intelligence. I've read that Greenville has a high school for the arts & humanities, which is interesting, but Roanoke spends nearly 50% more per student than does Greenville.

Relocation to Greenville would be easier from our current position but Roanoke would be more centrally located between my family in OH/WV and hers in NC.

Taxes appear to be much lower in Roanoke, and weather seems to be more comfortable.

So does anyone have experience with the two cities that could enlighten me? They both seeem to be really similar in comparison, which is making this decision tough, but I want to do all of my homework because I'm tired of relocating and want to settle down somewhere for good.

I really appreciate any information y'all might be willing to share with me.

Thanks, y'all!

[gracygrape]

My grandmother lives in Roanoke and I have visited a few times, but I don't really have a ton of insight. Lived in Greenville forever though.

The only thing I would want to add to your comparison is that the snow in Greenville is a real joke but in Roanoke it can be a good 2 feet... you have to remember it's in the valley between two mountains.

Roanoke City Public Schools - Home

Look around this site for Roanoke City Public Schools information. There is a high school with an IB program which helps gifted children advance beyond high school into a college-level curriculum. I personally graduated class of 2004 from Wade Hampton High school, and one of the perks about Greenville is the Fine Arts Center (Fine Arts Center, Greenville SC) so your daughter can take fine arts classes at FAC and she does not have to be enrolled at the high school for arts & humanities (Are you referring to Greenville High?) Greenville also has an excellent AP program which gives dual credit for college & high school and much less expensive. Also, our school (WHHS) and I'm sure other high schools have a Teacher Cadet program which helps prepare seniors who are interested in being teachers.

Also the great thing about Virginia is all the Air Force bases, so you could probably easily find an aerospace/defense whatever with a short drive from Roanoke.

Greenville is larger so there are more businesses (meaning job opportunities) and there is more to do on a social level for you and your wife.

Let me know if you need more clarification or whatnot. I'm new to this forum but I wanted to share my insight!

[p2y2r7o]

I'm pretty sure most schools have Teacher Cadet programs. Greenville High does for sure.

[Ceezer]

Thanks, Gracy. I'm not sure what high school they were talking about, I just read somewhere (wikipedia, I think) that the governor founded an A&H high school in Greenville.

I also heard that there is an old air field that used to be an airport that now houses Lockheed, Honeywell, and a few other Aerospace/Defense corps.

There are indeed several AF bases in Virginia (my current company has contracts on them) but they're all over near the coast, and I'm trying to avoid the DC region as much as possible.

I appreciate your help, though!

[p2y2r7o]

Donaldson Center is the old air field you speak of. It used to be an Air Force Base actually...there was something in the paper the other day about the National Guard getting a bunch of new helicopters that would be stationed there, but I don't really have any other details on it. I'm sure you could find it at greenvilleonline.com.

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by Ceezer

Thanks, Gracy. I'm not sure what high school they were talking about, I just read somewhere (wikipedia, I think) that the governor founded an A&H high school in Greenville.

I also heard that there is an old air field that used to be an airport that now houses Lockheed, Honeywell, and a few other Aerospace/Defense corps.

There are indeed several AF bases in Virginia (my current company has contracts on them) but they're all over near the coast, and I'm trying to avoid the DC region as much as possible.

I appreciate your help, though!

The airpark you mentioned is known as Donaldson Center. Check out the directory to see how many companies have offices in the center.

The South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities is located in downtown, next to Falls Park on the Reedy. The website is not working for me right now (not sure why), but it is a great school with a fantastic education in the arts.

Of the two cities, I would definitely go with Greenville if you love international diversity and everything that comes with that.