Affordable Places In The Carolinas
Today, everyone is very concerned about affordability, housing costs and low cost of living!
U.S. News and World Report magazine just published, "Americas Best Affordable Places To Retire".
However, these places are affordable whether you're looking to retire or just relocate to an affordable best place to live. Don't discount any articles that are written for retirees as that is where you may just find Your best place to live. They're writing about affordability remember!
Anyway, I'm glad to report that two best affordable places on the list were…you guested it, in the Carolinas.
If you're one of our members, you know I've told you about plenty more, but out of the whole country, it's pretty good two of them made it from the Carolinas.
Best Places were considered based on:
- low cost of living
- reasonable housing prices
- access to amenities and services
- high quality healthcare
- availability of educational and cultural events
These are all the qualities people tell me they're looking for in their best place to retire or relocate to in North Carolina or South Carolina.
A night out on the town shouldn't cost you a bundle, and it should be easy and affordable to use public transportation to get to places.
The two places that were picked in the Carolinas are:
Columbia, SC is an active capital city. It has an attractive riverfront esplanade, and the median home price is a bit over $147,000. Property taxes average only $1,000 per year. Columbia has a population of approximately 127,000.
There's a wide variety of housing available from beautiful Victorian homes on historic streets to modern apartments on the riverfront. You'll find art galleries in local neighborhoods, as well as quaint reasonably priced restaurants.
The University of South Carolina with a student body of 27,500 is located here, which keeps the area young and lively, and at the same time, it's a great asset for older people interested in lifelong learning.
Lake Murray provides people with a way to cool off during Columbia's hot, summer months. Although, it's still a bit too hot for me.
Asheville, North Carolina is a place I've been telling you about for quite some time now! It is my personal best place to live.
The population is approximately 74,000 people, and it too has a University although a lot smaller than the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
The University of North Carolina has a branch here in Asheville, with 3500 students.
Life in Asheville, NC is very eclectic. It's a city tolerant of many different lifestyles and many different types of people, which adds to its charm and keeps things very interesting.
It's a city with a great deal of culture and polish for its size, at a much more affordable price than other cities with its amenities.
The median home price is average at $195,000, and here too, taxes are affordable. The historic district is close to downtown located on Montford Avenue where you will find glorious old well maintained Victorian style houses.
And then again, within 10 minutes you could live in an upscale downtown condominium overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains.
You'll never lack for something to do in Asheville, and many activities are free. There are plays, shows, festivals, and live music. Even George Vanderbilt thought so highly of Asheville he built his 8,000 acre Biltmore Estate here…"the largest home in America".
It doesn't surprise me Columbia, SC and Asheville, NC made it on the list of Americas Affordable Best Places.
Check out Best Places North Carolina and Best Places South Carolina to find other Best Places To Live in the Carolinas.
About Bob Bencivenga
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Bob Bencivenga is a professional site locator and location analyst for major corporations and has been researching the growth of NC and SC to find the Best Places to Retire or Relocate that are still affordable. |
| Visit his blog The Carolina Report and sign up for FREE updates by email,his FREE Affordable Best Places To Live Report and, get FREE Expert Advice on how to find Your Best Place to Retire or Relocate to in North Carolina and South Carolina, additional resources, and a lot more.
Bob does not sell real estate. |
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Comments on Affordable Places In The Carolinas
Bob-I purchased your Places of Value and found it very helpful. I like Beaufort but think it's a bit pricey. I'm looking into Summerville,SC. Any suggestions? I would be semi-retired and am looking to buy a modest home around 125,000-coastal,low crime neighborhood. I live in NY on LI and visited Myrtle Beach two summers ago and loved it.
Hi Lois,
Yes, Beaufort is a little pricey, but well worth it due to its setting and location
between Charleston and Savannah!
I love Summerville and highly recommend it.
If you loved Myrtle Beach so much, are you looking there also?
Bob