Looking for a place in SC to live (Columbia, Charleston: crime rates, home)

[lansmom]

I'm considering moving to South or North Carolina and I haven't found a good place to start looking yet. I was just wondering if someone could give me suggestions based on what I'm looking for.

-a family friendly area - no high crime rates, great schools(public schools and possibly a college nearby), parks, etc.
-I would really like to be close to a beach(preferably no longer than a two hour drive).
-close to shopping
-a decent sized town or city(over 20,000 people)

That's pretty much the basics. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks. =)

[NS_Highlander]

In the Charleston area Mount Pleasant SC and Daniel Island. Also Summerville! Close to Charleston and 40 min to the beach. Dorchester II schools in Summerville as well as Charleston Southern, Trident Tech and College of Charleston. Downtown Charleston has tons of shops as well as the airport Tanger outlets.

I was to Rock Hill for the first time this week. I don't know much about it, but it is a nice town and very close to Charlotte, but probably too far from the beach. Also check out the Market Common area of Myrtle beach. I just can't comment on the schools. But, for recreation it has to be one of the best area's I have ever seen! Great for kids.

[Lone Star Rooster]

Irmo/Lexington area of SC:

-Has decent shopping, incl. a good-sized mall (Columbiana Center)
-Is very family-friendly
-Good schools
-The Univ. of SC is closeby
-Is on the outskirts of Columbia (itself a city of over 100k)
-Is about exactly 2 hours from the Charleston area beaches

I would also recommend the Greenville-Spartanburg area, particularly the towns of Easley, Greer, and Simpsonville. All the advantages listed above for Irmo/Lexington (Clemson Univ. is closeby), except that you're about 3.5 hours or so from the beach.

[JN5147]

If you are planning to buy a home, I would recommend trying North Carolina. The point-of-sale assessment for the purchase of a home has raised property taxes on a home in South Carolina much higher than a like property in North Carolina.