South Carolina Piedmont Best Places
This is our last week in South Carolina’s Piedmont region and while I’m sorry to be moving on, there's still lots to discover in the Carolinas.
Before we move on, let’s take a little time and do a short recap of where we've been during our visit to the South Carolina Heartland – Piedmont region.
Among our best small towns and cities with populations under 30,000 in South Carolina’s northern Piedmont region were:
All five of these best places we've visited in the Piedmont region of South Carolina had…
- Low cost of living
- History
- Art
- Cultural outlets
- Natural beauty
- Outdoor recreation
- Affordable housing
These small cities/towns all have in common the benefits of being close to the economic growth of the Charlotte, NC metropolitan area just across the North Carolina – South Carolina border.
In the central Piedmont region of South Carolina, known also as the "areas around the state capital of Columbia, SC", we looked at best places to retire or relocate
In discussing these best places to live in South Carolina, we talked about a lot of the same things that made the northern towns and cities so special (history, great natural beauty, culture, etc.).
However, during our visits we also looked at how their location near most of South Carolinas large cities and major transportation routes combined with overall affordability and wonderful small town setting, give these best places to live in South Carolina the intangibles that are attracting both young and old for relocation and retirement.
Walterboro, SC was the only town in the south Piedmont area that we’ve looked.
However, even Walterboro, had a lot of the same special qualities young people and retirees are looking for with the added advantage of being that much closer to the beach.
Located near the Georgia border only about 15 minutes from Augusta, GA sits Aiken, SC, population 29, 434.
Flat out…
Aiken, SC is one of my favorite best small cities in South Carolina.
Much like Camden, SC, Aiken has long been an equestrian center and it’s not uncommon to pass horses grazing in yards with beautiful old antebellum homes set in the background.
Downtown Aiken can be busy with tourist traffic but you’ll find a lot of interesting shops, restaurants, museums and art galleries and the people are warm and welcoming.
Aiken, SC is one of those places in South Carolina that started out as a winter colony for people from the Northeast.
It's easy to see the influence of the Northeast in the local architecture from the fountains and arches to the amazing old brickwork that really transports you back in time.
If you enjoy doing things outdoors, Aiken’s subtropical climate lets you do that pretty much all year round.
Best of all Aiken is still quite an affordable place to live; the median home value is only $148,500 and average rental costs start around $575 a month.
Irmo, SC, population 11,684, only 15 minutes northwest of Columbia, SC used to be a sleepy little town of 500 not more than a few decades ago.
Today, Irmo has become one of the hottest places to live in South Carolina’s central Piedmont area.
Right next to Lake Murray, Irmo, SC combines outdoor fun and small town contentedness with a young, highly educated professional population to boot.
When not taking in the outdoors you’ll love the quaint shops, galleries and restaurants downtown.
And just wait, in the Fall you’ll definitely get caught up in the annual Okra Strut festival.
If all that isn't appealing enough for your relocation or retirement, housing is also quite affordable in Irmo with a median housing value of $93,800 in one of the faster growing places in the state!
Our last stop is Santee, SC, population 718, which sits on the banks of Lake Marion east of Orangeburg, SC.
Santee and is one of the best places for outdoor lovers in the state.
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Golfing
- Hiking and more
Simply put, if you can do it outside… Santee’s the place.
The town itself is small and very walkable and the people are laid-back and friendly.
Moreover, it is incredibly inexpensive to live here with the median home value of $68,500 and average rental costs starting as low as $111 a month. However, you have to love small town living.
Well, that's it for this week and our journey through the South Carolina Piedmont Region.
Thanks again for hanging out with me and come back next week for more of the best small cities and towns with populations under 30,000 in the Carolinas.
Remember if you want more information about the places we’ve visited and more, check out our SC Best Places and NC Best Places sections.
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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