Relocating to Beaufort in June (Port Royal, Bluffton: for sale, homeowners insurance, crime rate)

[SavvyDaze]

We're relocating from NC to MCAS Beaufort in June of 2006. I have a few questions for anyone who'd like to answer.

We have 1 boy in high school and a boy and girl in middle school. What schools in the Beaufort area are most recommended?

Also, which neighborhoods in Beaufort are family friendly and convienient to the MCAS? It doesn't have to be upscale and expensive...just nice and family friendly.

Also, we have sports oriented kids. Do they have any recreational sports, summer AAU sports, aside from school sports?

Thanks,
Kim

[mak]

I would recommend the Mossy Oaks area for several nice housing areas/ family neighborhoods and very good middle school. Beaufort Middle feeds into Beaufort High school which is on Lady's Island. Beaufort County has the PALs program which has fall, spring and summer sports. There is also a YMCA in Beaufort that is very nice.

[SavvyDaze]

mak, thanks so much for your reply. I will check into Mossy Oaks. We really want to get our kids into either Beaufort Middle/Lady Island Middle and Beaufort High. Those looks like the best schools for that area.

[KMK]

Also considering a relocation to the Beaufort area next summer. Any info on the Habersham neighborhood and Beaufort Academy? While visiting some folks highly recommended the Port Royal area? I did not have the opportunity to research the public schools in the area?

[Stacey M.]

Habersham is a great neighborhood, it is tucked out of the way abit, but well worth it! My husband and I had considered it for our next move. I have personally not looked in Beaufort Academy, but hear from some very reliable sources that it is a wonderful shcool. Port Royal is a nice area too. It is more small (old) town feeling to it. And has some beautiful homes, at reasonable prices.

[Pilot11]

Hello. We are seeing some great looking homes for sale in/around Beaufort. We are looking to move to SC and so far, Beaufort looks, at least on paper, to be the best. Homes seem priced reasonably, lots of water/views, marinas, golf. Is Beaufort really the hidden gem for which we have searched so long?
What are we missing?

[scjj]

Beaufort has an extremely high crime rate for one. There are a few good restaurants, but not much in the way of shopping. You really need to check it out in person to see if it's for you. Be sure to check into homeowners insurance as well.

[Pilot11]

scjj: Thanks for your input. After looking at Citidata crime stats, I am depressed. Is there some reason crime in Beaufort is almost twice the national average? That is in almost all categories too. We definitely will come down an look, but the crime thing is a negative. Thanks again.

Pilot

[baylovers]

I've read that Beaufort/Bluffton has a large hispanic illegal immigrant population. My folks live in Bluffton and it was evident when I made a trip to the Walmart on 287.

[scjj]

Beaufort doesn't seem to have much of a middle class. There is a lot of poverty in and around Beaufort. You see it driving into Beaufort and you see it within Beaufort itself. You have the nicer areas near the water and then you have everything else. The high poverty and crime rate go hand in hand.