Maybe relocating to South Carolina from Arizona... (Columbia, Charleston: car insurance, transfer)

[aebert]

Hi Everyone!
My husband is interviewing this weekend for a job at Bosch and it looks like they will offer him the position. We currently live in Phoenix, Az and are really thinking of making the big move! We don't have the friendlist of neighbors in our last two neighborhoods. We are a pretty normal family, we are married, in our 30's and have a 5 year old and 2 year old. We have done quite a bit of research and think Summerville may be a great area for us. Any info you could provide would be great. Cost of living (health care, car insurance, housing, schools, taxes). I see a lot of new communities being built right now. Is Summerville better than Hanahan...Ladson? We are very used to the heat, but a dry heat. Do you think that is comparable to your wet heat? Thanks so much!

[PHX]

Hi,
I live in Phoenix also. I was in SC 4 months ago to look around. Culture shock is an over statement. My husband has a position which would allow us to transfer there. Maybe we could meet to share info. Schools are my main concern at this point, as I would like to find a situation comparable to where we are now. Hope you get this post.

[scjj]

Summerville will be the best location if he is working at the Bosch plant. Ladson is starting to develop, but I find Summerville a more desireable area. I don't think the heat you are used to in AZ and the humid heat here are going to be the same. It's like you walk out the door here and you are dripping within seconds, I literally feel like I can't breathe sometimes. As far as schools go, you are not going to find any better schools in the area than Dorchester District 2 which is in Summerville. Housing in Summerville is still pretty affordable, but it is steadily on the rise due to the growth.

[dajohnson50]

Hi,

I live in Summerville and love it. My husband and I have been here for over two years moving here from Ohio. Before Ohio, I lived in Colorado Springs and Atlanta, GA. Colorado was probably the most beautiful area I ever lived in but Summerville is the friendliest and where I feel more like part of a community than I have anywhere else. Even though Summerville seems to be growing leaps and bounds it still has that small town atmosphere. I do worry about the vast amount of new housing development however as the industry here just does not seem to warrant it. Dorchester II schools has the reputation of being the best school district in SC. I know several teachers but do not have any children in the school system. The only thing I really miss about being in Summerville, SC is the lack of shopping but it is getting better. We have a brand new outlet mall in North Charleston and a pretty new nice shopping complex in Summerville.
One thing that got me was car insurance. It is higher here than it has been in any of the prior places I have lived and was a shock as Colorado Springs had a lot of wind damage claims and in Atlanta fender benders were every where. I asked the agent why the high rates and was told it is due to the large amount of uninsured drivers on the road.
Hope this helps.

[a1m1700]

Originally Posted by scjj

Summerville will be the best location if he is working at the Bosch plant. Ladson is starting to develop, but I find Summerville a more desireable area. I don't think the heat you are used to in AZ and the humid heat here are going to be the same. It's like you walk out the door here and you are dripping within seconds, I literally feel like I can't breathe sometimes. As far as schools go, you are not going to find any better schools in the area than Dorchester District 2 which is in Summerville. Housing in Summerville is still pretty affordable, but it is steadily on the rise due to the growth.

I'm from Phx too moving to NC and I don't think the heat is as bad. I was just out to NC last week and the mornings felt like our Winters. It does get a little stifling in the afternoon but then it cools down, not like Phx.

[anonymous]

it's been a long while since i've been in Phoenix, but the last time I was, it was the month of July. And I think the Arizona heat is more pleasant than the area you're talking about. In SC, if you're in the sand hills (Columbia), the piedmont (Greenville), or the mountains, things aren't too bad. Also, if you're right on the ocean, things are cooler as well.

But Summerville is in a hot, muggy, low-lying area - and it's just far enough away from the ocean to have a brutally high heat index.

[TornadoAlley]

Originally Posted by PHX

Hi,
I live in Phoenix also. I was in SC 4 months ago to look around. Culture shock is an over statement. My husband has a position which would allow us to transfer there. Maybe we could meet to share info. Schools are my main concern at this point, as I would like to find a situation comparable to where we are now. Hope you get this post.

..................Explain?

[TornadoAlley]

Originally Posted by anonymous

it's been a long while since i've been in Phoenix, but the last time I was, it was the month of July. And I think the Arizona heat is more pleasant than the area you're talking about. In SC, if you're in the sand hills (Columbia), the piedmont (Greenville), or the mountains, things aren't too bad. Also, if you're right on the ocean, things are cooler as well.

But Summerville is in a hot, muggy, low-lying area - and it's just far enough away from the ocean to have a brutally high heat index.

What about Fort Mill?

[a1m1700]

Originally Posted by TornadoAlley

What about Fort Mill?

Phoenix pleasant in July? I have yet to experience that in 18 years. I'll take the humidity for a few hours a day.

[anonymous]

Originally Posted by TornadoAlley

What about Fort Mill?

Fort Mill is right between the piedmont and sand hills, I believe, so it doesn't have that swamp-climate. It is still hot and humid, of course, but the hilly terrain and higher elevation help things out a bunch.