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Hi, currently living in NC. Moved here for work and school. In the next year will have to make a decision if staying or going. We have family in the Conway area. Wife and I do have a child.
We were looking at the Horry County area, Sumter, Columbia suburbs, and Charleston area.
I mean it's been 30 years since I have been to Lexington SC. Used to spend Summer's in the area with my grandparents. I imagine it has changed a lot.
We work in healthcare so being near hospitals is a plus. Also, being near a college is a plus.
Just curious thoughts on these areas one stick out more for you as your favorite place?
Currently live in the Triad area of NC. We love the area. Rural areas on the outskirts but close to cities if need something or so something. Science center close by. Zoos and aquariums. Greenways and parks. It's the Winter's can be a bit too cold and too far from the ocean.
I live in the Charleston area now, but lived in Eastern NC and used to work in Raleigh. I think the Charleston area would have what you're used to in the Triad, it's just more compact and definitely closer to the ocean. If you post on the specific forums for the areas you are looking at, you might get more specific advice.
We tried to relocate to the Raleigh area for a long time. It is almost too hard now with the housing market and the changes made in our profession under NC rules. So, we gave up on that plan.
If you are already in NC near Raleigh, I would think before leaving! Perhaps the outskirts of Raleigh would suit what you are looking for? Charleston SC is great for tourism and also if you have kids and family. There is a lot to do around here.
However, there is a lot of over crowding going on in my opinion, traffic can be very rough and the yearly stress of hurricanes is a real thing. A lot of people don't worry about hurricanes. But the marshes and trees that once existed have now given way to new developments. Tornadoes, flooding and hurricane related threats are real. They don't happen very often. A lot of people don't even evacuate. But with all the crowding from recent times, I assume that IF a need arises to evacuate, the roads would be packed and one could get stuck in the traffic, like has happened in some other coastal cities.
So please think hard before relocating to Charleston. The downtown area floods for rains, tide, just about every month.
Also consider schools. Not a lot of good schools around here and those that are 'rated highly' are getting crowded.
If you do move here, Nexton is where a lot of new development is.
Sometimes, storms move mostly inland and even areas 'inland' like Ridgeville can get the storm while the coast is missed entirely.
A lot of people here don't seem to worry about storms. But it is a risk worth considering. If one stays put during a storm, there are chances for power outages etc.
Unless you have a really good reason, I would recommend staying put in NC.
Those are my two cents. If our jobs and professions had not changed drastically in NC, we would be still trying to relocate to the triangle. There are a lot of companies as well in the Biotech and IT sector as well as colleges in NC. I don't feel that those industries are as big or even close to that down here in Charleston.
Other than that, Charleston is really a fun place to be at. Wonderful weather (and I love the heat and humidity). Lots to do, beaches and activities. All great. But the rush hour traffic and the other things I mentioned above don't contribute to a stress-free life.
Last edited by sparklingstars; 03-02-2022 at 04:16 PM..
I mean it's been 30 years since I have been to Lexington SC. Used to spend Summer's in the area with my grandparents. I imagine it has changed a lot.
We work in healthcare so being near hospitals is a plus. Also, being near a college is a plus.
Just curious thoughts on these areas one stick out more for you as your favorite place?
Currently live in the Triad area of NC. We love the area. Rural areas on the outskirts but close to cities if need something or so something. Science center close by. Zoos and aquariums. Greenways and parks. It's the Winter's can be a bit too cold and too far from the ocean.
I can’t speak for the other potential places on your list, but the Columbia area may be up your alley. There is the State Museum and EdVenture (kids museum) downtown; the Riverbanks Zoo; and parks like Saluda Shoals near Irmo and the Riverwalk paths downtown in West Columbia. We live near Irmo but looking to move to Lexington. So there are suburbs but only 20 minutes from downtown. Plenty of hospitals and USC downtown.
I’ve only lived here for just under 2 years but people tell me traffic in Lexington is bad and it’s changed a lot in 20 years. But coming from the DC area, it’s manageable and doesn’t stress me out. But I imagine if you haven’t seen it in 30 years, it probably looks different. Just to warn you!
Overall we love the area (hence why we are looking to buy this summer) and I think is a great area for you to look into as it may meet what you’re looking for. I love how centralized it is - 2 hours to the mountains or 2 hours to the beach, depending where we want to go!
To many of us "from off", the SC traffic is sissy traffic.
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