The best cities for families in South Carolina
When you first think of South Carolina, naturally, you imagine long beaches and fun. But, it is also a good state for raising a family. We present you the list of the best cities for families in South Carolina. If you are considering moving to the Palmetto State, this may help you decide where to live.
Why would anyone look for the best cities for families in South Carolina?
South Carolina is a state with a rich culture and heritage. And not to mention its natural beauty. Whoever comes to visit, immediately wants to stay there forever. We will give you only a couple of reasons for hiring long distance movers South Carolina and relocating:
- A slower pace of life
- Low cost of living
- The beach
- Southern hospitality
- Natural beauty (as we already mentioned)
- Warm weather
- Plenty of parks
- Rich history
What criteria did we use to make a list of the best cities for families in South Carolina?
Tourists can come to South Carolina for southern cooking, fresh food and ocean views. But families stay for more. With this in mind, we focused on the following issues in our analysis of cities and towns across the state:
- Are there any good public schools in the city? We analyzed the academic performance of schools with ratings from GreatSchools. This non-profit organization compares standardized school scores with a state average to get a rating on a scale of 1 to 10. Higher ratings led to a higher overall score.
- Can you afford to live there? We considered both the average household values in each city. And the current monthly internal costs, including mortgage payments, real estate taxes, insurance costs, utilities, fuel and other bills. Lower costs led to a higher place on the list of the best cities for families in South Carolina.
- The city is growing and flourishing? We estimated the city’s economy by looking at the average household income and income growth over the past decade. Higher incomes and higher growth led to a higher overall estimate.
So, the best cities in South Carolina for families:
10. Lexington
Lexington is located near Columbia and a few miles south of Lake Murray, where residents fish and boat. The best employers in the city include the county government and the local school district. Midway Elementary won the Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards for 11 consecutive years. These awards recognize the successes of students and teachers, and they are even evaluated through personal visits. If you want to become a resident of this city, cross country movers Columbia can help you with your move.
9. Charleston
The historic center of Charleston is one of the most elegant in the country. It supports the architecture of the city’s leading end and shows cobbled streets pierced by horse-drawn carriages. The economy, by contrast, is completely modern, and it adds jobs to the city with great speed from starting positions. In particular, engineering is witnessing the growth with such companies as Boeing, which has been building offices here in the last few years.
8. Simpsonville
Simpsonville is along the I-385, just a few miles southeast of Greenville. And, as we already know, that area is also among the best places to start a business in South Carolina. The local primary school, Oakview, was repeatedly recognized for its excellence. It won the National Blue Ribbon twice, and the staff employs 14 teachers who received national certificates.
7. Goose Creek
In terms of education, Goose Creek has many opportunities to boast about. Howe Hall AIMS, primary and magnet school, serves students with a poverty level of 46%. No matter that some lack the financial support, the school is still outstanding. In 2010 it received the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award from the US Department of Education.
6. Hanahan
Hanahan offers easy access to downtown Charleston and excellent schools. For example, Hanahan Elementary earned Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards several years in a row. Fifteen teachers of the school are certified by the National Council. Teachers can get this designation after an intensive review process, which asks them to present a video about their teaching in the classroom.
5. Summerville
Ashley Ridge High School is regularly among the top five in the state. It received the Palmetto’s Finest Award. Summerville has plenty of parks, which can be pretty helpful if you are moving with a pet. Your furry friends will surely appreciate all the greenery.
4. Greer
Greer is a great place for nature lovers. It is located two hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains, and in the north – Lake Robinson and Lake Cunningham. City Park boasts an open amphitheater, picnic areas, trails and a fountain.
3. Mount Pleasant
Over the past few years, Mount Pleasant has seen tremendous development. It has the most expensive homes on the list. But it also has the highest income among the best cities for families in South Carolina. The schools here are also first-class. Wando High School sees around 90% of its students go to college.
2. Clemson
Clemson is a great university town. And it is home to Clemson Tigers, whose football team has often been the ACC Champion for the last six decades. The University maintains relations with a larger community, sending its students to a local primary school for a professional development program. This school, the Clemson Elementary, was rated “Excellent” by the state for improvement and efficiency in general.
1. Fort Mill – first among the best cities for families in South Carolina
Fort Mill is located near the I-77, connecting the city with both the banking sector in Charlotte in the north and with Rock Hill to the south. In addition to its access to industry, Fort Mill boasts excellent recreational areas for families. In particular, Anne Springs Close Greenway offers more than 2,100 acres of green space. And the best way to prepare your children for the long move is to tell them they will have many places to play.