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My husband and I are considering relocating from the Coast of Maine to the Coast of South Carolina (or near the coast). We are motivated to relocate because we would like to live in a community that shares more of our christian and conservative values than what is common in the NorthEast. We have two children: one entering junior high and one starting high school this Fall -- and are motivated to make a move before September. I work from home, so we are able to live anywhere. We are able to rent our home in Maine and will rent a home in South Carolina until we sell our home in Maine. Ideally, we like small, friendly, historic towns (under 10,000) with great resturant options nearby. We are looking at Beaufort, Lady's Island, Bluffton, Georgetown, Litchfield. We are traveling to South Caroline in early June for 2 weeks to do some legwork and explore these communities. Thoughts on these towns/others? Should we also consider neighboring inland communities?
Last edited by Stillriver; 05-12-2012 at 12:52 AM..
Reason: Community should have excellent schools Public, Catholic or Christian.
Beaufort is small and has a very nice historic area. The Marine Corps bases are near there so there's really two areas of Beaufort, the historic area closer to the water and the more middle class area closer to the air base. Lady's Island, I would consider part of Beaufort. Beaufort has that Lowcountry look and feel, much like parts of Charleston and Savannah.
Georgetown is a bit more economically depressed. One of the things that bothers me about Georgetown is the huge steel mill right in town. It's just very attractive. However, as you get closer to Litchfield/Pawley's Island, it is really nice up there; home of the Pawley's Island hammock! A very laid back, well-to-do beach type of community. But it's really retained that old beach seaside feel to it instead of getting built up by large commercial development.
Bluffton is quite built up now and has quite a large population of retirees. It's a lot of planned communities with golf courses. I do not personally feel it represents the Lowcountry well because there's hardly anyone from that area that is from the South anymore. There's a lot of Northeast retirees in that area.
For small towns along the South Carolina coast, I would suggest looking at the Beaufort area. I think you would find that historic and small area you're looking for in Beaufort. They have a pretty involved historic preservation society and a walkable downtown area.
If you go further South, I would suggest looking at St. Simon's Island. Very pretty and historic island with the amenities of Brunswick right across the causeway. St. Simon's has a nice Village area where you can have dinner, walk to the local ice cream shop, walk down to the water, and explore the small boutiques there.
We are looking at Beaufort, Lady's Island, Bluffton, Georgetown, Litchfield. We are traveling to South Caroline in early June for 2 weeks to do some legwork and explore these communities.
Beaufort public schools get average or better ratings, so you would not "have" to send your kids to private schools.
We also looked seriously at retiring in Beaufort, but it was a little too isolated for us. It may be perfect for you. BTW, married Marine officers and their families make good neighbors.
IMO, the Beaufort area is definitely worth a close look. When we initially considered that location, we found it hard to get our bearings and feel for the area, and probably did not give it enough consideration. We now regret not spending enough time scoping it out.
Litchfield is not really a town, but rather part of the unincorporated Pawleys Island mainland area of Georgetown County. It's not a bad area, but Myrtle Beach has continued to sprawl outward, and its urban tourism atmosphere now reaches pretty well from the NC border to Pawleys Island. It's not a bad place to live, as long as you can accept the downsides of living in a tourist town. After having lived here almost 15 years, our honeymoon with the area is over.
Georgetown does a good job of meeting your description. It's the third oldest settlement in SC, and the last population numbers I saw were around 9000. It's a mixed bag, as are most small Southern towns. There are nice areas and there are depressed areas. It's a working town, with a steel mill and a paper mill. Some folks find the paper mill aroma unpleasant, but it has never bothered us. Front Street has a nice, small-town feel, with small shops, excellent restaurants, etc. The surrounding residential area is making a come-back, with century-old homes being refurbished. There are some tourists, but nothing remotely like PI/Litchfield. You'll want to explore the school situation closely. I've heard mixed comments, but don't have any experience with them.
Myrtle Beach to Pawleys can be very touristy, honky tonk. Pawleys area very nice. Georgetown is shall we say the pits. South of Georgeown to Awendaw be very pretty but a bit isolated. McClelanville is lovely but isolated. Awendaw to Johns Island (including Charleston) is very nice. John's Island to Beaufort (Kiawah) lovley but also isolated and things will not get expensive. Beaufort is very nice area. Hilton Head gets busy and touristy.
The coastal area of SC is basically all sandy beaches. Forget the rugged Main coast. Does not exist here.
Religious and politically, SC is much, much, much (did I say much) more conservative/to the right then the Northeast is.
Summary. The SC coast is about 200 miles long. I would avoid Myrtle Beach as crowded, hony tonk. Look at Pawleys area. Avoid Georgetown for many reasons. Look below Georgetown down to and including Beaufort, about a 100 mile long stretch. Look hard around the greater Charleston area. Avoid the Islands off Beaufort only as they are isolated. Avoid Hilton Head as touristy and busy.
IF your looking for, undereducated to ask questions and follow blindly whatever their minister of the moment tells them to do, sheep, you'll fit right in to the SC life style. stay away from any universities as those folks get ideas that perhaps those far right politicians lie as well as the far left ones do.
Sheep of a feather, if you are conservative this is the place for you. If you believe in segregation, move on down, if you say you are christian and have christian values, like that's something better than another religions values, then come join in the fun... Maine ... you will melt in the humidity. You better try NC. the schools are much better there. google worst school districts in America and see what comes up, or worst rated schools in America.
IF your looking for, undereducated to ask questions and follow blindly whatever their minister of the moment tells them to do, sheep, you'll fit right in to the SC life style. stay away from any universities as those folks get ideas that perhaps those far right politicians lie as well as the far left ones do.
Sheep of a feather, if you are conservative this is the place for you. If you believe in segregation, move on down, if you say you are christian and have christian values, like that's something better than another religions values, then come join in the fun... Maine ... you will melt in the humidity. You better try NC. the schools are much better there. google worst school districts in America and see what comes up, or worst rated schools in America.
Perhaps you could work on your sentence structure and grammar next time when trying to cast aspersions on an entire area. It might lend some validity to your 'argument' if you did so in an intelligent manner.
IF your looking for, undereducated to ask questions and follow blindly whatever their minister of the moment tells them to do, sheep, you'll fit right in to the SC life style. stay away from any universities as those folks get ideas that perhaps those far right politicians lie as well as the far left ones do.
Sheep of a feather, if you are conservative this is the place for you. If you believe in segregation, move on down, if you say you are christian and have christian values, like that's something better than another religions values, then come join in the fun... Maine ... you will melt in the humidity. You better try NC. the schools are much better there. google worst school districts in America and see what comes up, or worst rated schools in America.
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