Summerville, I'm just scouting (Charleston, North Charleston: crime, house, neighborhoods)
Charleston areaCharleston - North Charleston - Mt. Pleasant - Summerville - Goose Creek
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And just looking for information. I am currently in south Florida as a snowbird. We have a north house in Pennsylvania. I love Pennsylvania, but it snows too much there for my liking. (Poconos mountains). So this is my second winter down in florida. We will be returning north in a few weeks.
My husband is really ill, battling stage 4 melanoma. So the back and forth is too much. I would like to settle in one place. SF, too busy, hot and urban for me. Pa, too much snow in the winter and where I am the stores are very far away. Sooo. I am looking mid way, thus South Carolina. ( Well a little more than mid, way but I want to insure little or no snow.
I've been searching and searching. Northern Florida seems nice too, and I posted over there as well.
How is Summerville in sc? Is it low cost of living? Bad areas?
Also,has anyone heard of nexton in Summerville? I tried to search for it but it doesn't come up. There putting a new sun city Ctr there.
I also looked at murrells inlet. That place also seems nice. Does anyone know how it compares to Summerville?
I know I'm throwing a lot out there but even a little info is so greatly appreciate. Like I said, I'm just gathering info.
Nexton is fine. It'll be huge when it's done, but it's all new, close to the interstate, and close to shopping.
Cost of living is below average for the US. Property tax on a $200k house would be about $1000 a year. Gas is among the cheapest in the nation. Some people claim food is more but I can't tell a difference.
Summerville itself has a nice historic downtown and is about 30 min to downtown Charleston (non rush hour) and about 45 or so to the beach.
To add to the info you have already been given: Property tax will probably depend on which county. Here in Dorchester County--Summerville, our 4% tax (plus whatever they add to it) on an approx. $200K house is $1600.
I don't think grocery prices are any higher than in NC, but I do think restaurant prices are higher.
Summerville has just about any normal shopping you could ever want, and often multiples of many stores at opposite ends of town. It is not lacking for everyday retail, pharmacy, grocery stores. No really high end stores. The Tanger Outlets are about 20 minutes away near the airport and there is a regular mall in North Charleston about 15 minutes away. Traffic within Summerville can be heavy but you learn alternate routes, and it's not terrible getting around if you can do so during mid-morning or afternoon. Locals complain about traffic and growth, but those are good things, in my opinion. There is hardly any traffic at night.
There are a few "bad" areas, but overall there doesn't seem to be much crime. When you look at neighborhoods, it will be obvious which ones those are. We noticed that except for a handful of establishments that sell alcohol, most restaurants close quite early. I wonder if that helps the crime rate?
I'm assuming you will be researching medical facilities. There is a small hospital here in Summerville, and another nearby in Ladson near Coastal Carolina University. MUSC, a large, well respected hospital system, is in Charleston with satellite offices all throughout the area. This may be of interest to you: Hollings Cancer Center | MUSC | Charleston SC Plenty of doctors here as well.
We looked at Myrtle Beach, Murrell's Inlet and Pawley's Island as well before we moved to Summerville. They are pretty areas with miles of accessible beaches. There just wasn't enough for day-to-day living for us. The Myrtle Beach (Grand Strand) area is primarily a tourist destination even though people do live there year round. The influx of summertime vacationers was more than we could handle as residents, but just fine when we're the ones vacationing!
Thanks so much BSJSAS. Very informative post. Yes medical facilities are very important. I hope the traffic isn't as heavy and crazy like it s here in SF. The traffic here is maddening.
Thanks so much BSJSAS. Very informative post. Yes medical facilities are very important. I hope the traffic isn't as heavy and crazy like it s here in SF. The traffic here is maddening.
Well, Summerville's population is only around 50,000 so it is all relative! I looked up some population growth statistics because I wanted to understand why long-term residents were complaining so much about increased traffic. I guess they have a point somewhat because what I found shows population in 1990 was 22,000 and in 2000 it was 27,000. It's not a sleepy small town any more although it has retained its downtown charm.
You mostly want to avoid the hours just before and after school, and the normal rush hours (towards Charleston in the early am and from there in the evening.)
Emily, Summerville is really a great place to live and growing steadily. We actually have 6 55+ communities in the immediate area and I'm sure more are coming. We also have quite a few neighborhoods that aren't age restricted but cater to the 55+ lifestyle. We also have access to some of the best medical facilities you can't find just anywhere.
Come look around the next time you make your trek south. Summerville is about 40 minutes from I95. Or, since you are interested in Murrell's Inlet, you could take Hwy. 17 as well and check out the Myrtle Beach area. Just do that before the beach season starts!
Emily, Summerville is really a great place to live and growing steadily. We actually have 6 55+ communities in the immediate area and I'm sure more are coming. We also have quite a few neighborhoods that aren't age restricted but cater to the 55+ lifestyle. We also have access to some of the best medical facilities you can't find just anywhere.
It's funny that we are moving from Ladson really North Charleston area (not too far from Summerville or the Trident hospital). When we moved here from VA four years ago we moved into a two story home. Now we want a one story home and we don't have any roots here so we are moving to Conway SC. This puts us two hours closer to family in VA.
I think that the medical facilities in the MB area have come a long way and still is growing. I don't think we would have to come to Charleston much as maybe someone would have to do just three years ago. I researched what the medical facilities have and they have all the major stuff now.
We do love SC and plan on staying here for a very long time.
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