South Carolina Coastline – Best Places To Live
People ask me what makes the South Carolina Coast such a special place and it’s really hard to know where to start.
The South Carolina coast has pretty much everything I like about the Carolinas; history, culture, amazing natural beauty, outdoor fun, friendliness and hospitality and best of all a slower paced lifestyle that I really find refreshing.
Sure tourist season can be a little chaotic but in general people are really laid back and welcoming which makes finding your best place to relocate or retire in South Carolina that much easier.
Speaking of best places, the South Carolina coastal region has just about every type of living situation you might be looking for whether you are relocating or retiring.
How about taking it easy in a sleepy low country coastal village or exercising your mind and body at the many planned retirement communities popping up near the resorts on the Grand Strand to the north?
Are you looking for big city amenities and services in places like Charleston, SC or are you more suited to the many charming small cities and towns found in the rolling farmland of South Carolina’s inner coastal plain? As you can see what’s not to like?
The South Carolina coast is a great area for smaller towns and cities and this week we’re going to continue our search for best places of 30,000 people or less.
Our first stop is Conway, SC, population, 15,894.
One of the things I really like about Conway, SC is that being 15 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach, SC you’re close to the beach but there isn’t the all the congestion and commercial hustle and bustle of the resort areas.
Conway, SC prides itself on its small town values and close-knit community.
This shows in Conway’s revitalized downtown with new shops and restaurants, beautiful tree lined streets, numerous historic buildings and the boardwalk along the river winding through town is a nice touch.
Moreover, Conway, SC is also home to a few institutions of higher learning, Coastal Carolina University being the most prominent.
Cost of living in Conway is low and housing quite affordable.
The median home value in Conway, SC is around $105,000 and for those who are interested in renting, the average monthly rent is only $406. Is it any wonder Conway, SC is attracting both retirees and young families?
Next lets move southward to one of my favorite best places in the South Carolina. The 
historic seaport of Georgetown, SC, population, 8,501 .
Georgetown, SC is one of South Carolina’s oldest cities with a look and feel that make some refer to it as a “little Charleston”.
Front Street, running parallel to the waterfront downtown, is the center of everything; a very eclectic place to shop and dine with a lot of fashionable stores, sidewalk cafes and restaurants.
Moreover, the local economy is diverse and being situated half way between Myrtle Beach, SC and Charleston, SC gives you easy access to big city amenities.
You can expect a median home value of only $140,000 and your average monthly rent is around $400.
If you want a laid-back coastal lifestyle and a low cost of living and without the swarms of tourists then Georgetown is the place to be.
Last but not least is probably the smallest community on our list of best places but by far the one with the most character, Pawleys Island, SC, population 141.
A small barrier island northeast of Georgetown, SC, Pawleys Island exudes a very low-key, unencumbered existence; the kind of place the term “arrogantly shabby” was coined to describe.
Although the local population surges during tourist season you’ll find the island definitely attracts a different, mellower, crowd that blends in well with the locals.
You may not have all the restaurants and clubs you’ll find on the mainland but beautiful beaches, wildlife reserves and a few hours lounging in a famous Pawleys Island hammock definitely makes up for it.
Housing costs are still quite reasonable with the median home value on Pawleys Island at around $185,000 while you can expect to pay a little less than $900 a month to rent.
Well, that's it for this week! Come back next week as we continue to work our way down the coast of South Carolina.
If you’re interested in more information about the towns and cities we’ve covered please check out SC Best Places to live.
See you next week!
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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