Relocation Tips

live4rachael · Mar 3, 2007

Columbia area includes West Columbia, Lexington, Northeast Columbia, Irmo, St Andrews, Cayce, Forest Acres... Further out would include Chapin, Gaston, Pelion, Gilbert... School districts are Lexington County 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and Richland County 1 and 2. The state newspaper is called "The State" and is out of Columbia, so it may help too (www.thestate.com) and Columbia has a website (www.columbiasc.net).

Not sure how much that helps, but that at least will give you some town names and school districts to search. I grew up in West Columbia so am most familiar with that area but am now in Charleston. I've become partial to Charleston, but my parents are still back in W. Cola and love it too.

Stdy2BaNurse · Mar 3, 2007

Thank you :) This helps a lot! I have done some more research as the day progressed and I'm finding that I am falling in love with Columbia and haven't even been there yet. The Lexington area looks very nice - Lexington Medical Center seems very appealing, too.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond!!

T

live4rachael · Mar 3, 2007

Glad that helped! Lexington is a very nice area and I have several friends & relatives that work at LMC. That's Lexington District 1 and they are usually rated very well education-wise.

Feel free to ask me any specific questions or PM me if you want.

NICHOLERN · Mar 5, 2007

I also would like to relocate but i was thinking more of the Greenville area. Does anyone know about hospitals or salaries in this area? I also have children and schools and good neighborhoods is very important to me as well. Any suggestions?? Thank you

momof4ndocswife · Mar 8, 2007

I'm from Greenville. 'Grew up there, but have lived in Lexington since 1984. I've watched Lexington grow from a small town into a bustling suburb of Columbia over the years. Lexington Medical Center is a great hospital, but there is lots of competition between LMC and the downtown Columbia hospitals (Palmetto Baptist, Richland and Providence). Lexington has a very high nurse retention rate so they don't have to work to recruit nurses. It's not easy to obtain a job there as a new grad. All 4 of my children graduated from Lexington High School with excellent grades and went onto Furman, Clemson, and the Citadel, where they have done well. This has been a wonderful community for a growing family, but I really preferred the days when traffic wasn't so congested and schools not so crowded.

Our daughter (Furman grad) and husband (Wofford grad)recently moved to the Greenville area (Greer). They actually live in Spartanburg county and near the new medical facilities Spartanburg Regional Hospital is building. Spartanburg Regional is SC's only Magnet hospital and is becoming fiercely competitive with the Greenville hospital system. When I go visit her, the area where she lives reminds me of Lexington 10-15 years ago... before it got so congested. If I could convince my husband to move, I'd find it more attractive than the Midlands area these days. I think Spartanburg Regional might have a lot to offer nurses and would be worth checking into. In fact, I've been thinking about looking into a part time job there, and staying overnight at my daughter's house.. since she's due with our first grandchild this summer!

The upstate is a beautiful area.

NICHOLERN · Mar 8, 2007

Thanks for the info! What do you think the average home sells for in that particular area? Again thanks alot that makes me feel a little less uneasy about moving where I have no family or know noone with two kids.

Stdy2BaNurse · Mar 8, 2007

I'm from Greenville. 'Grew up there, but have lived in Lexington since 1984. I've watched Lexington grow from a small town into a bustling suburb of Columbia over the years. Lexington Medical Center is a great hospital, but there is lots of competition between LMC and the downtown Columbia hospitals (Palmetto Baptist, Richland and Providence). Lexington has a very high nurse retention rate so they don't have to work to recruit nurses. It's not easy to obtain a job there as a new grad. All 4 of my children graduated from Lexington High School with excellent grades and went onto Furman, Clemson, and the Citadel, where they have done well. This has been a wonderful community for a growing family, but I really preferred the days when traffic wasn't so congested and schools not so crowded.
Our daughter (Furman grad) and husband (Wofford grad)recently moved to the Greenville area (Greer). They actually live in Spartanburg county and near the new medical facilities Spartanburg Regional Hospital is building. Spartanburg Regional is SC's only Magnet hospital and is becoming fiercely competitive with the Greenville hospital system. When I go visit her, the area where she lives reminds me of Lexington 10-15 years ago... before it got so congested. If I could convince my husband to move, I'd find it more attractive than the Midlands area these days. I think Spartanburg Regional might have a lot to offer nurses and would be worth checking into. In fact, I've been thinking about looking into a part time job there, and staying overnight at my daughter's house.. since she's due with our first grandchild this summer!
The upstate is a beautiful area.

You have me second guessing where we want to move This area sounds wonderful and we have plenty of time to come to a decision. My sister lives just north of Chattanooga, TN and we thought when we go visit her this summer, we might drive on over and check out some of the cities and what they have to offer. Thank you for such a detailed description and all the helpful hints!!!

Traci

momof4ndocswife · Mar 9, 2007

Traci,

We have good friends (former pastor and wife) who live on Lookout Mountain.. near Chatt, TN and some old freinds from my husband's med school days who is a pediatric surgeon in Chattanooga. They all love it there and we think that is also a beautiful area. I don't know much about the schools, but I do know Chattanooga has totally re-vitalized the downtown area and really invested in their community. Our friend is a wonderful preacher at Lookout Pres. PCA church and they've had to go to triple services and have also planted several downtown churches.

Our daughter and her hubby purchased a beautiful 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bath home (~2600 sq feet) in a nice family neighborhood on the growing East side of Greenville/Greer (good schools) for $189,000. There were homes in the area that were under construction, but this one was in "move-in" condition with lots of extras. The Simpsonville-Greer-East Side of Greenville would be the area I'd choose to raise a family.... off of Highways 385 and I-85.. towards Spartanburg and Simpsonville-Mauldin. WHen she was looking, we always checked out the school district web sites to look at "school district report cards."

Greenvile has always been a beautiful area because it's in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but is still only a few hours (~4+) from the SC Coast. I's hilly, with lots of hardwoods, unlike the sandy/clay soil around Columbia. They have re-vamped downtown Greenville since my childhood days and with the Peace Center for the Arts, the BILO Covention Center and the beautiful area along the Reedy River (walkways, lights, trees, restuarants, etc.), it draws a lot of cultural night-life that is a safe place to hang out with families in the evenings.

If you head towards the middle of the State, i.e. the Midlands/Columbia area, the growing and better school districts are those out in the suburbs. The school district that doesn't have a good reputation is Richland District I, because it covers the inner city schools. The public schools out in the suburbs, however can compete academically on a national level. The areas I'd encourage you to look at include: Lexington-Richland District 5 (Dutch Fork, Chapin area...up I-26 West.. above Columbia.. towards Newberry.. and also Irmo... except that Irmo's growth has declined and reputation has dropped since the growth of newer Dutch Fork area); Lexington District 1 (includes downtown Lexington, and areas off of I-20 West towards Augusta, Ga). The Northeast side of Columbia is another area that is exploding with new growth and great schools. Richland District 2 covers the schools on the Northeast side that include SPring Valley, RIdgeview, RIchland Northeast. The newest browth area on that side of COlumbia includes the Blythewood area. THere is a brand new shopping village and housing development... almost like a whole new city out near where I-77 and I-20 come together called the Village of Sandhills. It's an amazing place and exciting place. If I was young and starting over again, I'd be tempted to land there.

A lot of young professionals without children and older retirees are now moving downtown to Columbia... buying old homes and renovating them, taking old department stores and making them into condominiums, etc. The city leaders have a vision of re-building downtown Columbia, similar to what has happened in Greenville... to attract upscale businesses/shops/etc... and build more "green places" for families to hang out, etc." We have the University of SC sprawled out in downtown Cola, along with lots of government buildings.. so there's a lot more space to cover. They've torn down the old state prison along the river and are building condominiums and re-developing some nice areas there along "The Vista." THe University of SC is also involved in a lot of reconstruction with big plans. THe vision is huge, but one day it will be a beautiful place. Our 26 yr old son and his wife purchased an old house they gutted and restored downtown. They live on the same street as his office.

Change is always a little scarey, but if you have a love for adventure, the challenges can be fun... with the right attitude. My husband and I moved often during the early years of our marriage. We were students together for the first 3 years and in the military for the next 7 years. I think it's easier to move into a neighborhood where everyone is new than to move into an established neighborhood or out into an isolated area. When you're in a new neighborhood of people new to the area, everyone is looking to meet people. I also think it's wise to move during warm weather when people are outside, and it's easier to meet the neighbors.

Enough of my 2 cents worth. Feel free to PM me and I'll give you my private email, if I can offer any other info about these areas... or places to stay if you head this way for a visit.

By the way... I know the Charleston area also has some great schools, as well, but I haven't lived there. Rock Hill/Ft. Mill is another area of SC I like because it's near Charlotte and also has good schools. My 4 children were very active in school and we made the rounds all over the state for various academic competitions, "all-state" performances, athletic games & play-offs, etc. so I saw the best and (worst) of some schools situations.

Best of luck to you. You're in an exciting time of life.. despite the uncertainties. 'Just look at it as an exciting roller coaster ride. You might not always know what is coming; there will be curves, twists, times you'll be scared, times you'll be thrilled...but as long as you hang in there, you're in for the ride of your life!

live4rachael · Mar 12, 2007

If you want more specifics to Charleston, I can speak to those. :) Dorchester County schools in the Charleston area are among the best in the state... So the Summerville area is growing INCREDIBLY fast with all the families wanting Dorchester schools.

jansailsea · Mar 21, 2007

http://www.sciway.net

South Carolina Information Highway (internet) site

Lots of links & ways to view & research SC cities & counties.

Greenville, Spartanburg, Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach most popular for either their lifestyle, job prospects, or amenities.

Just call me a Sandlapper - SC native, Hampton county.

cookie102 · Apr 10, 2007

HI all, hoping someone out there can help,,,,looking to relocate to the myrtle beach/north myrtle beach area, tho hubby will be able to retire, i still have a few years to go, have spent the last 20 out of 31 years doing home health, i would like to stay in that area as it is most comfortable to me....can any one direct me, ? how is the pay?? are there any staffing agencies that staff HH??

thanks in advance