Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I am looking to relocate from Salt Lake City, Utah to the east coast. I want warmer weather and I have narrowed my search to North or South Carolina but I am having trouble narrowing down the cities. I am looking for a coastal community with year-round residents, not just seasonal residents. I have 2 kids, elementary and high school so community and schools are very important. I would love some recommendations of cities, areas, towns etc.
I will be taking a trip this spring and would love to visit several areas and find the right one for my family. I have a good career and work from home, however, I always want to stay near a solid job market just in case things change.
In addition to the SC and NC/VA communities I'll mention I highly recommend Kingsland-St Mary's GA. It's a beautiful area with good schools, similar climate, much less risk for hurricanes than the NC or SC coastal areas, and just outside the thriving/rapidly growing job market in Jacksonville FL. https://visitstmarys.com/Kingsland DDA
There are a couple of areas in SC I'd recommend focusing on. Summerville-Goose Creek or Mount Pleasant, both of which are just outside Charleston. Again good schools and close proximity to Charleston for work if needed.
One more area that skirts your focus states is Virginia Beach VA, just above the NC state line. You have the advantage of a larger job market on hand if needed, very good schools and a diminished hurricane risk than points south in NC and SC.
..... I am looking for a coastal community with year-round residents, not just seasonal residents. I have 2 kids, elementary and high school so community and schools are very important. I would love some recommendations of cities, areas, towns etc.
......
Wilmington and Jacksonville are really the only "coastal" cities with solid job markets. Jacksonville is heavily dependent on the Marines and Navy, so it helps to have the skills and clearances they want. The beaches are at Emerald Isle and the Topsail Island towns.
Wilmington has larger and more diverse job market. Healthcare, education and hospitality-related skills are in demand. There is also engineering and legal work. Wages are not great because it is a popular area for new graduates who want to work there. Wilmington has a scenic and historic downtown as well as very nice suburbs. The beaches are at Wrightsville or Carolina Beach.
Both areas have decent schools.
Last edited by goldenage1; 01-06-2021 at 09:47 AM..
I am looking to relocate from Salt Lake City, Utah to the east coast. I want warmer weather and I have narrowed my search to North or South Carolina but I am having trouble narrowing down the cities. I am looking for a coastal community with year-round residents, not just seasonal residents. I have 2 kids, elementary and high school so community and schools are very important. I would love some recommendations of cities, areas, towns etc.
I will be taking a trip this spring and would love to visit several areas and find the right one for my family. I have a good career and work from home, however, I always want to stay near a solid job market just in case things change.
Thanks in advance for any recommendations!
Have you ever been to coastal NC or SC ? Coming from Salt Lake City, you will find it to be a huge culture shock. I recommend Charleston SC if you are set on moving to coastal NC-SC.
Charleston is 6.2% less expensive than Salt Lake City. Charleston housing costs are 19.3% less expensive than Salt Lake City housing costs.
Health related expenses are 3.3% less in Charleston.
Have you ever been to coastal NC or SC ? Coming from Salt Lake City, you will find it to be a huge culture shock. I recommend Charleston SC if you are set on moving to coastal NC-SC.
I think we have narrowed our searches to around Myrtle Bch, SC, just north into coastal NC or Belhaven / Bath, NC but am still not clear on tax rates , possibilities of renting out the property part time, cultural differences between the areas ?
Very different areas is terms of population, access to amenities, cost of housing, etc. Belhaven has a population of about 1,700 people, with 1 grocery store. Bath is tiny...less than 300 people. Frankly I can't imagine moving to either place, especially with school aged children.
Southern Brunswick County is more populated and has much better access to shopping, healthcare, etc., but its population is heavily skewed towards retirees. To be honest, both these locations strike me as odd choices for you, and I urge to you actually visit them before making a decision.
As others have said, Charleston and Wilmington sound like much better choices for you.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
SC Vs NC
