Best City in South Carolina.. Need Help!!! (Columbia, Charleston: vacation, job)

[ShabbyChick]

Originally Posted by Skyliner

Greenville doesn't have much of an identity??? Click here to see a few reasons why I disagree.

Greenville is the epicenter of the most populated region in the state, the Upstate. Greenville and the Upstate have by far the largest amount and concentration of international investment, and is easily considered the economic engine of the state. Greenville is as culturally and ethnically diverse as any city you will find in the state. Greenville's Furman University is a great school that is nationally recognized for its beauty, education, sports, and environmental awareness. Clemson University is a globally recognized school with multiple campuses around the state and overseas. The university is currently developing the highly acclaimed International Center for Automotive Research (ICAR) campus in Greenville. The University Center of Greenville is a great place to take classes from several of the state's largest and best universities. For more information, be sure to visit the Greenville-Spartanburg subforum.

Skyliner, I love the looks of Greenville! We are really considering it, moving from Michigan. What can you tell me about the Greer and Taylors areas for housing and jobs? Would you rather live in Greer, Taylors or Greenville itself?
We need a strong job market with good opportunities and pay, SAFE, fun for kids, very good schools. Our housing budget is around $185,000 for
2,000+ sq. ft. All of our criteria is on the thread "Jobs in Greenville area" if you need more specific info. I'd love to know everything about Greenville that will help us make this decision final. Thank You so much!!!!

[g-man430]

Originally Posted by ShabbyChick

Skyliner, I love the looks of Greenville! We are really considering it, moving from Michigan. What can you tell me about the Greer and Taylors areas for housing and jobs? Would you rather live in Greer, Taylors or Greenville itself?
We need a strong job market with good opportunities and pay, SAFE, fun for kids, very good schools. Our housing budget is around $185,000 for
2,000+ sq. ft. All of our criteria is on the thread "Jobs in Greenville area" if you need more specific info. I'd love to know everything about Greenville that will help us make this decision final. Thank You so much!!!!

Taylors and Greer are both fairly nice areas. I would say Greer is growing faster but Taylors is more denser. Greer is a city with a true downtown while Taylors is just the name of an incorporated area.

[Aggie]

Depending on your tastes ... Greenville sits right on the edge of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Very easy drives to several Mountain towns in NC .... Saluda, Hendersonville, Brevard, and many more. About 55 inches of rain a year, but with lots of sun between showers.

I live in the metropolis of Pumpkintown 'bout 20 minutes from Greenville, and work at Clemson University (I'm resisting the urge to further discuss the University of SC being the flagship university of SC????? )

Good luck and come on down ...

FWIW

[Skyliner]

Greenville is also a short drive from Highlands and Cashiers, NC, my favorite weekend getaway. I have actually taken day-trips there as well, since it is so close. For those who are less familiar, Highlands is the highest incorporated town east of the Rockies. It is also a very quaint and adorable arts & crafts village with high quality products sold in the small shops. The surrounding scenery is second to none in the nation, in my opinion.

[GOODTOGO]

We had vacation there last summer & was very taken by Greenville, especially downtown & so dog friendly! The folks were so great & the drivers so courteous to others. Left with a great impression! We have never spent time in any other part of SC, so can't voice our opinions there

[middleam]

Look at Bluffton - it's a great, charming little city close to Hilton Head Island. You'd love it for your lifestyle. There are neighborhoods walking distance to Old Town Bluffton. You can't beat the weather here either!

[pgriss]

Thanks for speaking up for Furman. It seems to get lost in the Clemson hype. Let's not forget North Greenville University as well.

[simpsonville2]

Hands down the Greenville area which encompasses Greer, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Fountain Inn and others as well. Greenville has a wonderful downtown with numerous celebrations throughout the year & an abundance of Condos, Apts, restaurants, and of course the Peace Center for Performing Arts. USC is an excellent State supported University as well as College of Charleston, USC Medical University, many private schools Ex: Wofford, Converse, Furman, Bob Jones
The job market here is very strong: expansion of hospital systems, shopping centers, new subdivisions, & Spartanburg Regional will open soon with a new hospital on Hwy 14 S of I 85 & ads are already posted for hiring. The medical field here is excellent with Drs for just about every specialty. The Greenville Hospital Heart Institute is rated one of the best in the country & the Spartanburg Hospital & Gibbs Cancer Center is now partnered with MD Anderson in Houston. The BMW factory has yet another expansion under construction & now hiring via their website.
I live in the Highway 14 & Woodruff Rd area & our neighborhood is very desireable & resells extremely well. This is also an excellent school district with the ever sought after Oakview Elementary. The Greenville area has built many "new" schools that are "state of the art" Realtors contact us often to ask if we're interested in selling because so many relocating want to live in this subdivision. We haven't been so far but retirement is causing us to have 2nd thoughts. You will find Southern Charm in just about every small town in the state & of course Charleston being the creme de la creme. The very best of luck to you wherever you decide to relocate!

Originally Posted by jrod2828

Wife and I are moving from Indianapolis to the south. We've heard great things about SC. A few questions..

What are the best cities?

Looking for...
University
Good schools
Southern Charm
Safe neighborhoods
Good job market

We are in our mid 20s, no kids but soon.

Thanks.

[RangerDuke08]

Originally Posted by jrod2828

Thanks for the info. So, a little breakdown of the big 3.

What do you like and dislike about Charleston, Columbia & Greenville?

.. kind of a pros and cons. Thanks.

I'm not a South Carolinan so don't take my word for it but I spent 2 months down in SC this year was hoping to move there ... I have been to Indiana as well, dated a sweet, corn-fed girl once, wouldn't ever move there ... and though I'm not moving to SC in the end, I did enjoy it a lot and I could live there if I chose to. Definetly as the saying goes "smiling faces, beautiful places".

Charleston is a beach town, it's gorgeous, not really that touristy as in Myrtle Beach but maybe in the summer, the suburban sprawl was what I didn't like, there were a lot of second homes, mainly from the North, some areas were very ritsty as Isle of Palms, Mt. Pleasant, Kiawah Island and some area like North Charleston were slummish. It wasn't that expensive compared to the North or the West coast but I probably would only live there if I was making a good wage.

The flagship school is at Columbia and State government, but besides 5 points a small shopping area near the school it didn't seem to have much going on, at least for me Greenville had some mountains and Charleston had them beaches. I would say schools like Clemson, CofC and Citadel are smaller but great schools as well. I could see myself living there if I had family and kids already and landed a great job. A lot of people say SC doesn't have jobs and has a 6% unemployment rate but personally I found many job openings in government with a pay around $40,000-$50,000 and being such an affordable town it was an option, but being such an outdoorsy person from Colorado I need some hills or water.

Greenville is called the buckle of the bible belt and it sure is present with churches on every block. I personally and several other people I met in their 20s all felt it was a great place to raise kids. There's downtown greenville which is very small but growing with businesses and they revamped the streets. There was a fair share of suburban sprawl but everyone waved at me when I passed by their neighborhood for a jog, and there's quite a few state parks in the area to visit. Only one thing about greenville, it's the allergy capital of the world, just my 2 cents, good luck with the move.

[CarolinaSouth803]

Originally Posted by RangerDuke08

I'm not a South Carolinan so don't take my word for it but I spent 2 months down in SC this year was hoping to move there ... I have been to Indiana as well, dated a sweet, corn-fed girl once, wouldn't ever move there ... and though I'm not moving to SC in the end, I did enjoy it a lot and I could live there if I chose to. Definetly as the saying goes "smiling faces, beautiful places".

Charleston is a beach town, it's gorgeous, not really that touristy as in Myrtle Beach but maybe in the summer, the suburban sprawl was what I didn't like, there were a lot of second homes, mainly from the North, some areas were very ritsty as Isle of Palms, Mt. Pleasant, Kiawah Island and some area like North Charleston were slummish. It wasn't that expensive compared to the North or the West coast but I probably would only live there if I was making a good wage.

The flagship school is at Columbia and State government, but besides 5 points a small shopping area near the school it didn't seem to have much going on, at least for me Greenville had some mountains and Charleston had them beaches. I would say schools like Clemson, CofC and Citadel are smaller but great schools as well. I could see myself living there if I had family and kids already and landed a great job. A lot of people say SC doesn't have jobs and has a 6% unemployment rate but personally I found many job openings in government with a pay around $40,000-$50,000 and being such an affordable town it was an option, but being such an outdoorsy person from Colorado I need some hills or water.

Greenville is called the buckle of the bible belt and it sure is present with churches on every block. I personally and several other people I met in their 20s all felt it was a great place to raise kids. There's downtown greenville which is very small but growing with businesses and they revamped the streets. There was a fair share of suburban sprawl but everyone waved at me when I passed by their neighborhood for a jog, and there's quite a few state parks in the area to visit. Only one thing about greenville, it's the allergy capital of the world, just my 2 cents, good luck with the move.

I guess it's time to dispell myths again. I don't understand why people feel Columbia has no geography and nothing going on. 5pts is a great place to bar hop and shop local...the Vista is emerging as an art, and overall entertainment district. Those 3 rivers are beautiful and with the plans of Innovista, a $75million riverfront park in the works, 7miles [and growing] worth of greenway trails along the rivers [which people tube, kayak, and canoe in daily also], and Lake Murray it's plenty to door outdoors. Like Peach Tree Rock in Lexington county, the Congaree Nation Park [and the hiking trails, birdwatching and canoing there] and more. This city is directly on the Fall line and it's absolute beautiful during the fall season. Let's not forget Little Mountain, Sesquicentennial State Park, USC is a wonderful school with many acclaimed colleges with in it [like the top ranked international business college of 2008].

Sure Columbia took it's sweet time putting emphasis on it's features and focus on downtown, but it's coming together just as well as any other city in the state. Columbia is a wonderful city, growing well and has plenty to do...this area is above sea level at times, and below at other times...this area is full of trees, but also has sandhills and even a desert area.

So if you want foothills...go to greenville or spartanburg...I mean the Upstate [because they never talk about just one city...they all are one...lol] if you want coastal waters...go to Charleston, the grandstrand and the low country.... the truth is that without these "scenic backdrops" this area of the state is still growing just as fast as the rest of them. So while it can be debated all day as to which city is the best...i can tell you Columbia is best to "Me" and my family.