Discovering South Carolina

Welcome back to a whole new adventure in finding the best small city or town living for your relocation or retirement, in South Carolina or North Carolina.

If you’ve been with us from the beginning of our journey this spring, you know we’ve hit the North Carolina Piedmont region, the North Carolina coastal region, and the South Carolina coastal region.

This week our journey in search of the best small towns and cities with populations of 30,000 or less, takes us into the heart of the South Carolina Piedmont region.

If you’re not familiar with this part of South Carolina, you should know it’s the middle third of the state between the Blue Ridge Mountains rising to the west and the drop off to the coast in the east.

It’s the part of the state that's hot and humid in the summer and mild in the winter.

The middle of South Carolina is a place of rolling rocky landscapes where the red clay soil made the transition from hardscrabble farming to manufacturing happen sooner rather than later.

Manufacturing in the Piedmont area of South Carolina is not only the main economic engine of the state, but it also built the towns and cities that made it the place where much of the state’s population settled down.

What I think of when I hear “South Carolina Piedmont” is…

• smaller towns
• low cost of living
• state capital
• prestigious educational institutions
• diverse economy
• large peaceful lakes
• fast moving streams
• historic battlefields and;
• people who value community while striving for a high quality of life

I think as we move along, you’ll see what I’m talking about so why don’t we make our first stop in the northern Piedmont region not far from the North Carolina border.

Located almost equidistant between South Carolina’s two major western thoroughfares, I-95 and I-77, and just outside the Charlotte, NC metropolitan area sits the city of York, SC, population 7,969.

York, SC, also known as the “White Rose City” (the symbol of the English House of York) is a recent favorite of people looking to retire or relocate to the Charlotte, North Carolina area who want an affordable small-town lifestyle with access to all the big city has to offer.

Having taken the extensive self-guided walking-tour of downtown York, SC , I can attest to the city’s impressive history and rich heritage but more than that the people are friendly, the atmosphere calm, and strolling along the tree-lined streets I really felt at home here.

Besides having hundreds of historic homes, the downtown has great shopping and I love to hit either the Garden Café or Cotton Gin come lunch or dinnertime.

And talk about affordable… York, South Carolina is in one of the fastest growing areas of the state but your median housing cost is only about $80,900. Wow!

Head an hour and half south from York, SC to the southern edge of the Sumter National Forest, and you’ll find Newberry, SC, population 10, 907.

Newberry, SC has won awards as one of the best small towns in the country, but in my mind its more.

I like to call Newberry, SC a complete town with a mild climate, beautiful natural environment, numerous outdoor recreation opportunities, great access to the interstate, low housing costs, art and cultural outlets, and a progressive business climate all wrapped up in a small town package.

And if you can’t find it in Newberry then the cities of Columbia,SC, Greenville, SC, Spartanburg, SC and even Augusta, GA aren’t far away.

The median housing cost is a low $113,000 and the median rent in Newberry starts at around $340, so why wouldn’t you check it out?

Walterboro, SC, population 5, 780, is actually further south closer to Beaufort, SC and Charleston, SC.

Whether it’s the lure of the outdoors or the slow pace and close knit sense of community, Walterboro, SC is the quiet retreat that feels like home.

Explore all types of outdoor festivals, floating down the Edisto River, or take in all the wonderful local history, but most of all you’ll be impressed by the friendly people and surroundings.

Did I mention the median housing cost in Walterboro, SC is only $70,000?

Anyway, come back next week for more South Carolina Piedmont fun and remember to check out our SC Best Places section for more information on the places we stopped today and more.

About Bob Bencivenga

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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