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I have taken a job in Augusta. I am deciding where to live between the Evans, ga area or north Augusta, sc. I have two boys, 14 and 11. So schools are important. So want a comparison on schools, and resale value. Would love to live on sc side and get some acres but realtors etc. are directing me to the Evans area.
I'd say N. Augusta. It has a picturesque downtown, good schools (N. Augusta High has some major remodeling going on now too), and is a nice place. Anything you can't find there, Augusta is just a couple of minutes away. Nice neighborhoods too. Evans is nice and has a lot going on but taxes are higher and to me (I am from Aiken) it seems like it is mostly big shopping centers and stuff. Nice area with good schools, but I love a cute downtown area
I have taken a job in Augusta. I am deciding where to live between the Evans, ga area or north Augusta, sc. I have two boys, 14 and 11. So schools are important. So want a comparison on schools, and resale value. Would love to live on sc side and get some acres but realtors etc. are directing me to the Evans area.
so what did you decide? I'm trying to decide the same thing. Columbia county for schools vs. West Augusta for character & charm.....Or N. Augusta.
Based on the age of your kids, I believe Columbia County has better schools. But North Augusta has less traffic and is a slower paced area. Columbia County has seen an explosion in growth over the last ten years as people have fled the Augusta area. With that much growth there have been some pains.
I used to work with Mike Sleeper (https://www.linkedin.com/pub/mike-sleeper/5/142/236) who sits on the Columbia County school board. I would suggest shooting him a few questions. He's very open to that sort of thing. Be sure to tell him an old co-worker Charleston way suggested you contact him.
With schools being a factor, I'd probably check out Columbia County. You also wouldn't have to worry about paying taxes in two states.
Our family is relocating and I am/was considering N. Augusta, but didn't even think about the two taxes until I saw this. Don't want to seem ignorant, but would that really be a big hassle? Or does that mean we'd be paying twice the taxes? I'm trying to be fully educated before we make a decision.
Schools are important, but so is neighborhood charm. Which is why I'm drawn to West Augusta or N. Augusta. But my parents keep telling me how corrupt the Richmond County gov't is and that I want to be in Columbia county, or anywhere but in Richmond. Does that have any validity? From what I can tell, the housing market seems to be strong in W. Augusta, which is all I care about...resale in a few years if we have to move with the job again.
Richmond County has some issues, and is a joke among a lot of locals in neighboring counties at least (I'm from Aiken County, SC which borders Richmond County). They are trying to clean it up, but it is a mess honestly and has been for many, many years. It doesn't seem to stop people from moving to Augusta though. It seems like more of an annoyance to most people across the river from where I grew up rather than anything that really affects them.
Columbia County is very nice, but has a lot of suburban sprawl. It can be a long commute depending on where you're living and where you're working at. I've heard good things about whats going on in Grovetown (town in Columbia County).
North Augusta is smaller and is a slower pace. It has a small downtown area with restaurants, shops, etc. And yes, if you live in NA and work in Augusta you will be paying two sets of state taxes. Many people feel like its worth it because of the lifestyle in NA compared to Augusta (traffic, crime depending on the area, COL, property taxes are higher). I personally like NA better than Augusta or Columbia County, but I am a SC girl born and bred My husband and I have paid the two sets of state taxes before, when we both were living in Aiken but working in Martinez, GA and Evans, GA - it wasn't that bad. We use TurboTax and the whole process was a snap. Honestly state taxes in GA and SC don't seem that high. For schools - NA and Columbia County have good schools. There are some really good ones in Richmond County too though. West Augusta is really nice.
I recommend going to the GA - Augusta area forum and posting questions though, a lot of people from all over the CSRA (Central Savannah River Area - nickname for that metro area) post there and they are responsive over on that forum.
The two state tax issue is really more of an annoyance than a financial issue. You get credit in one state for taxes paid in the other. The Richmond County gov is simply dysfunctional. All the power lies in the council which can never get anything accomplished.
If you work down town, NA is going to be your quickest commute. Columbia county has better schools for your age kids. NA has more neighborhood charm, but not as many options as Columbia county. Unless you want Wal-Mart, you'll be doing most of your shopping in West Augusta if you're in NA. There is a CostCo just over the river in Georgia. NA is a slower pace, less traffic type of area. Columbia County will give you more opportunities for kids activities and a more suburban lifestyle.
I would agree that the Augusta, GA subforum would be the best place to ask this question. We lived in NA and Aiken for many years. It's an OK area. We wanted more for opportunities for our kids and more beauty in our surroundings so relocated to Charleston. I can say NA has some of the lowest cost of living around though.
Honestly, it depends on what you want. I grew up in Evans and Aiken and lived in NA as an adult. Evans isn't the Evans I spent the first part of my life in. It is suburban sprawl. There is no "town." Evans isn't incorporated. NA is a true town, with a historic district/downtown. Evans offers way more amenities as far as shopping or dining. Evans has, at times, God awful traffic. Traffic is a non-issue in NA. Columbia County taxes are significantly higher than Aiken County. However, you wouldn't pay any city taxes in Evans but depending on where you live in NA, could pay both city and county taxes. I think schools in NA are better. What they do with students on a daily basis is more than what is going on in Columbia County. Columbia County/Evans schools may have "preferable demographics," but in terms of instruction, technology, and athletics; I'd favor NA.
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