best coastal area to raise a family (Charleston, Summerville: transplants, low crime)

[CHELLIW]

Hi everyone! My hubby, 2 preschool children and I are considering a coastal move--he is originally from Florida and I from Wisconsin. We currently live in the foothills of NC. Are there any coastal areas (or within 45 minutes) that still have a low crime and drug rate? Good healthcare? Good schools? and a friendly community feel? Also reasonable cost of living--decent home for around $200K? Thanks for your help!!! Chelliw

[angelinasia]

Originally Posted by CHELLIW

Hi everyone! My hubby, 2 preschool children and I are considering a coastal move--he is originally from Florida and I from Wisconsin. We currently live in the foothills of NC. Are there any coastal areas (or within 45 minutes) that still have a low crime and drug rate? Good healthcare? Good schools? and a friendly community feel? Also reasonable cost of living--decent home for around $200K? Thanks for your help!!! Chelliw

Hi I'm Cindy,
I'm a realtor here in myrtle beach sc area... may I suggest a few places? Georgetown sc is a small community with old docks and historical homes... there is a paper mill in the town which makes the prices reasonable. I live in North Myrtle Beach and love it. It has less tourist and is close to everything. Little River and Cherry Grove are right down the road, still have great deals right now on properties.
Hope it helps,
Blessings
Cindy

[imperieux]

You could also take a look at the suburbs of Charleston SC. It's beautiful here.

[baylovers]

We moved from NY to Pawleys Island and have really found a home here. There is a nice mixture of transplants & locals and everyone has been very friendly. Murrells Inlet is another nice town with similar attributes.

The schools here are very good, as a matter of fact, the high school just made the finalists in the Palmetto Gold schools.

Twelve schools selected as finalists for Carolina First Palmetto's Finest Awards - Wednesday, January 16, 2008

It may be hard to find a home under $200k, you may have more luck in Murrells Inlet or Georgetown.

[anonymous]

Originally Posted by angelinasia

Georgetown sc is a small community with old docks and historical homes... there is a paper mill in the town which makes the prices reasonable.

In other words, you'll get to smell sulfur dioxide when the wind blows in your direction. Georgetown seems nice, but I'd have a hard time dealing with that paper mill.

[scyogi]

Summerville is a cute town--a suburb of Charleston. I lived there when I was in Elementary school--so I have a 'everything was great' view because I was a kid. I have been back twice as an adult just to drive through the area and it is still cute. I am unsure about schools (it only had 1 HS when I lived there, Summerville High), crime, or the economy.

[Heatheray]

Here's a great Squidoo lens that has a lot of information about Georgetown.
Hope this helps!

Georgetown, SC on Squidoo

[sheena]

Originally Posted by angelinasia

Hi I'm Cindy,
I'm a realtor here in myrtle beach sc area... may I suggest a few places? Georgetown sc is a small community with old docks and historical homes... there is a paper mill in the town which makes the prices reasonable. I live in North Myrtle Beach and love it. It has less tourist and is close to everything. Little River and Cherry Grove are right down the road, still have great deals right now on properties.
Hope it helps,
Blessings
Cindy

Now Georgetown comes up alot on the front page of Myrtlebeachonline for crime. I agree with N Myrtle Beach, Cherry Grove, Little River, also throw in Calabash and even Carolina Forest Myrtle Beach.

[katydiditbabyy]

calabash has alot of crime? we were looking to relocate to that area from upstate ny any info would be great.

[ah090206]

We live in Summerville (as mentioned above...outside of Charleston) and we love it. It has a small town feel, but its growing quickly! There are a lot of family oriented neighborhoods around here and the school district is great (Dorchester 2.) We're about 45 min. from the beach...so you could definitely make the trip on weekends...but we get the warm (hot sometimes) coastal climate. I the crime rate is pretty low...but don't know the exact stats. You can definitely find good homes here for around $200K. There is definitely good health care (in Summerville as well as in downtown Charleston at MUSC).

I agree with above post...I wouldn't want to live in Georgetown either. I know there is a historic part...and there are people who love it...but you can smell that paper mill from miles away.