Shaw AFB/Sumter, SC

[jessicalynn11]

Originally Posted by Grave

I'm in the USAF and I have orders to Shaw AFB. I'll be there in mid/late march.

Basically, what I need to know is: Where are the good neighborhoods to live?

Right now I'm just looking at rental houses (not apartments). I won't be in the market to buy for about another year.

I've been doing some research online, and it seems the NW part of Sumter and Dalzell is the better choice. How is the Millwood area?

I also have a daughter who will be attending elementary school here. Although I wish I could afford a private school's tuition, I'm afraid I can't do that at the moment. From what I've reseached, Alice Drive seems to be the local's pick as far as public elementary schools.

Also, I don't mind if I have to commute to get my daughter to a decent school. So if I live in Dalzell, but take my daughter to Alice Drive, so be it.

Anyway, input on various neighborhoods to look at and/or avoid will be greatly appreciated.

1) If you go to Shaw AFB they have on-base living for the people in the usaf if thats where they are being stationed.
2) Alice Drive isn't that good of a school, district 17 is the worse place, you might want to send her to High Hills or Shaw Heights, and as for middle schools, Hillcrest, then high school-Crestwood or Lakewood.
3) Dalzell is a very good neighborhood, I live in that area, and the on-base living is pretty good to, I have friends out there.

Hope this helps

[tckl_3]

~ as soon as you can get outta SC...RUN!!!! The school systems here really are bad, the education is to me and my two behind other states & not up to par. And i'm not sure if it's just this area of SC or the whole state...but alot of people live in the times of racism and that i can't tolerate. I am a single mother so i can not afford private school...and i can't make enough money to move to another state!!!!

[nissanv8]

it cant be all that bad because i know lots of people who retire from shaw choose to stay here in the sumter area. i work at the paper mill and at least 50% of the people there are prior military from all over the country and for some reason they seem to love here but again thats not evryone.

[Rophlmao]

"i work at the paper mill and at least 50% of the people there are prior military from all over the country and for some reason they seem to love here but again thats not evryone."

Prior military like it here because it is affordable, peaceful, rural, and has Shaw AFB, where many of us were stationed. The Sumter area has many prior military and is a solid pro-military community. The "goodness" or "badness" of Sumter is situationally dependent on your background and interests. It's great for some and bad for others.

Rural areas are "good", as are developments if you prefer those. Do not live around poor people and you'll be fine, but that's a rule everywhere.