Beaufort ,HIlton Head ,Bluffton (Hilton Head Island, Welcome: crime rate, houses, buying)

[wynettam]

I know there all in the same county which is beaufort county which is better,is it true that Hilton Head Island has alot of bike paths,how is crime rate and the schools I have a 3 and 11 yr old my youngest one is not in school yet she'll be starting pre-k next year 2007 ,and of course my 11 year old is in 7th grade she'll be 12 in December she has a late b-day ,anyway I am a laid back person ,and i want a taste of country quiet life do you think one of those cities would be alright with me ,I know i have to visit and i will,if hilton head has alot of bikep paths then i may considering moving there iplan on buying some bikes ,scooters and whatever else on wheels anyway can someone giveme some feedback

[moondoggy95]

Beaufort Co. is separated by the broad river, and SOB (south of broad) and NOB (north of broad) are too very different worlds. Hilton Head is first and foremost a resort town. There are plenty of bike paths, restaurants, golf courses, and shopping, but you have to deal with the high housing costs, high traffic, and the difficulty of finding anything (there's a town ordinance that limits sign heights and colors and bans neon lights, so you have to really be on the lookout). Bluffton is basically an outgrowth of Hilton Head... more traffic, golf courses, and shopping. It does have a very cozy historic downtown, but most of the town consists of bumper to bumper traffic and high housing costs. I'm not sure about the lower level schools SOB, but there are 4 high schools (2 public, 2 private) that are usually the best in the county. both of the towns are catering to the wealthy and/or retired, so if cost is an issue you may want to look on the other side of the broad.

after you cross the broad river bridge, you enter a completely different world. Beaufort and it's surrounding areas are dominated by history and military. Beaufort's the 2nd oldest town in the state and has a very well preserved downtown area (filled with antebellum houses, old churches, and old shops). there are 3 military bases in town, so there is a very good cultural mix. Some of the things that Beaufort is lacking is shopping and dining variety. There is also a very strong sense of heritage in Beaufort, and that can make it difficult for newcomers to assimilate into local society. Beaufort's middle and high schools are neither spectacular or seriously lacking. Your daughters can get an excellent education at any of the local schools, but will definitely need parental inclusion.

One of the issues with the entire area is lack of industry. The F&B industry dominate the entire county, and the distance from the interstate keeps most new industry away. The influx of retiree's coupled with the lack of serious industry is slowly making the middle class in the area disappear. I've been in the area since 1984, but am planning a move to the upstate next year because job prospects in the area are so slim.

Hope you enjoy your trip, and if you decide to move Welcome!