Need inside info on Berea, SC (Greenville, Taylors: house, neighborhoods, schools)

[jjajohns]

[SIZE=3]My husband is planning to move our family to Berea, SC after his retirement. [/SIZE][SIZE=3]We will be visiting the area shortly to look around and view different neighborhoods and schools. We have a son who will be entering 10th grade then.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Can anyone provide any inside tidbits on Berea? Any info will be helpful. Thanks! [/SIZE]

[guestposter24]

Berea has a nickname of Little Burrito because of it's large Hispanic population.

[pgriss]

I believe it will depend on the exact location you are refererring to. If you go North up Hwy. 25 some parts are called Berea but if you check the map it is Greenville SC. There are also some other outlying areas that are close such as Dacusville or Easley and even the outskirts of Travelers Rest. Do you care to elaborate on where your husband will be working exactly and I may be able to give you some more information.

[pgriss]

Sorry I missed the retirement part. Could you be more specific on location?

[Tommy1981]

Originally Posted by guestposter24

Berea has a nickname of Little Burrito because of it's large Hispanic population.

I've heard that one as well.

As Pgriss said, Berea is really integrated in to Greenville now. Its on the Northwest side of town, which isn't as desireable as the southwest or East.

The biggest suburbs of Greenville are to the south and east, like Simpsonville, Mauldin, Taylors, etc. These places are large enough to include better shopping and restaurants.

Berea is "smaller" and the income levels would be lower than the other areas mentioned so the restaurants and stores there are fewer, and there are more fast food places and discount stores. All of malls and high-end shopping areas in Greenville are to the east side (along 385 @ woodruff Rd, and Haywood Rd).

Depending on your Income level, you may feel out of place in Berea, but you could probably get a bigger house there for less money than other places. If you don't mind driving a little further for shopping then it might be a decent place for you.

I don't know too much about the schools there, but the area doesn't have a particluarly big reputation for having great schools like the the areas to the East. Berea High doesn't have the greatest of marks:
Greenville EAA School Report Cards 2007 - South Carolina Department of Education

[Skyliner]

I think Berea has become a fascinating cultural center in the Greenville area. It is loaded with Latino businesses and has everything they would want being so far from their native countries in Central and South America. I will have to get over there for a photo shoot sometime soon.