2021 has been a hard year for most people. The pandemic has caused a major ripple in the economy, and many peoples’ lives have been turned inside out. Making it through a year like this is not easy, and at times it may have been hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. In an effort to spur some positive thinking and offer a brighter perspective, we decided to reflect on what it is that we are so grateful for about our home state and we encourage you to do the same.
South Carolina is one of the most beautiful states in the United States, and its people have a lot to be thankful for. As we write this post on Thanksgiving, we can’t help but reflect on all of the amazing things that our state of South Carolina offers us each and every day that truly make it one of the best places to live in the United States. In this post, we are just going to outline some of the things about South Carolina that have made us and our fellow South Carolinians grateful this year in 2021.
1. Beautiful Weather Throughout the Entire Year
As most Americans know, especially those on the East Coast, South Carolina has some of the best weather in the entire country. We do get all four seasons, but our winters don’t require a parka and our summers are pretty tolerable when it’s all said and done. Our average temperature over the course of the year tends to stay between 40 and 85 degrees over the course of the year, which is pretty fantastic when you consider states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey that see summers just as hot as ours but also have to deal with frigid winters! The weather that we get to experience every year enables us to spend time outside doing the things we love – barbecues, beaches, and fun – with the people we love, like friends and family.
Not every state is as lucky as us when it comes to getting such great weather. In fact, very few states can even come close! People talk about Southern California and how the weather is beautiful all year round, but they forget to mention that people there lose the benefit of having four distinct seasons. Some people like that, but others like to have a true winter, spring, summer, and fall. For people who want four seasons, it doesn’t get much better than here in South Carolina. Maybe this is what makes our state of South Carolina one of the most desired beach destinations on the East Coast. Either way, year after year South Carolina residents are grateful for their gorgeous weather.
2. Accessible Healthcare That is Some of the Best in the Nation to Keep us Healthy
Healthcare costs can be crazy. For most states, these costs are something more people probably complain about than are grateful for. In South Carolina, however, we have some of the lowest healthcare costs in the United States, and some of the top healthcare for those low costs as well. When it comes to healthcare, it suffices to say that South Carolina really gives you good bang for your buck. Typical procedures and protocols are significantly cheaper within the borders of South Carolina than in the states right next door and around the country.
On top of low out of pocket costs, South Carolina is also one of the states that averages the lowest annual employee contribution for health insurance. This means that on average, employees who receive health insurance benefits from their jobs pay a lot less for it than in many other states. The average person in South Carolina pays about $7100 a year for health insurance, when you add the monthly contributions and deductible together. That’s not too shabby to have top tier healthcare all over the state!
3. 187 Straight Miles of Gorgeous Atlantic Coastline For Relaxation After a Hard Week of Work
Working is fun for some people. However, for most people, this unfortunately is not the case. While some people love what they do and are blessed with the job of their dreams, others are a bit less pleased with their occupation. Regardless of which category you fall into, the point here is the same; South Carolina is lined with 187 miles of beautiful coastline, and there are few better ways to decompress than a weekend in your favorite South Carolina beach town!
A great benefit of having so much coastline is that you are never really that far from the beach. No matter where you live in South Carolina, a weekend trip to the beach is completely doable. The more difficult thing is just deciding which beach to visit! With so many excellent places like Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston, you may have a tough time deciding on which one to visit!
Due to the gorgeous weather that South Carolina sees for pretty much the entire year, these towns are great places to rest and recharge all year long. We ourselves are located in Myrtle Beach and can vouch for the relaxation that ocean waves can provide. From the sea breeze to the soothing sounds during a nap, R&R is at its best on the beach. If you want to avoid crowds, try to come in the spring or the fall, as these towns boom with tourism during the summer!
4. The Endless Supply of Delicious Calabash Seafood
If you haven’t heard of Calabash style seafood yet, you should pay attention. This Myrtle Beach area cuisine has made waves for its deliciousness, yet it is remarkably simple to make. Originally from the town of Calabash, which is located about an hour north of Myrtle Beach, Calabash style cooking has become more than just a local favorite. If you are in the area, visiting a Calabash style seafood buffet is an absolute must!
Now, what exactly is Calabash style seafood, anyway? Calabash food is basically extremely fresh seafood that is lightly battered in corn meal and deep fried to perfection. It is so good that we wrote an entire post about it a few weeks ago. You can read that post here. But honestly, visiting an all you can eat Calabash buffet is an absolute must – some people travel all the way to Myrtle Beach just for the buffets!
If that doesn’t sound like your thing, this might; South Carolina is also the original home of barbecue! The Native Americans in this area were slow-roasting their meat on coal pits for centuries, and the tale is that they taught the South Carolina colonists how to do it. Nowadays, barbecue is one of the most iconic American foods out there! While some other states may try to claim to be the home of barbecue, we in South Carolina will always know that it was truly here where it was invented. Step aside, Texas.
5. Some of the Lowest Gas Prices in the Country
Ok, there’s no way this belongs here. Can the gas prices really vary that much between states? Yes. Yes they can! They vary so much, that people who live in and around Charlotte, North Carolina often drive into South Carolina to fill up their tanks. I was in Charlotte one time with a friend, and he said he needed to fill up his tank before we could head out for the day. Little did I know he planned on driving 20 minutes to get into South Carolina to buy his gas!
The fact is, even the out of staters know it. South Carolina is simply the best place to be! The price difference between North Carolina and South Carolina is striking. At least at the time when we went to fill up, the difference was about 50 cents per gallon. That means that by driving his car with a 20 gallon tank into South Carolina for gas, he saved $10! This gap has decreased a good margin since then, but it still exists. Thanks to low gas taxes, South Carolina is almost as cheap as it gets to fill up your gas tank in the entire United States. Who wouldn’t be grateful for that?
6. One of the Fastest Growing Economies in the Entire United States
As the population makeup of the country shifts and different demographics move all over the country, some new states have popped up as the fastest growers in the United States. South Carolina is one of those states, due to its affordable cost of living, favorable legal environment for employers, and its attractive location. South Carolina’s most notable cities – Spartanburg, Greenville, Charleston, Columbia, and Myrtle Beach, to name a few – are absolutely booming, and the population influx is attracting more and more investment.
In the past, South Carolina hasn’t ever been known for its “big cities.” Even now, the biggest city in South Carolina is Charleston and it only has about 140,000 residents. However, as remote work becomes more common, people are moving to the places that they truly want to live and not just the places where they can get the best traditional job, which tends to be in big cities. Naturally, people want to move to a beautiful state with a great climate and 187 miles of coastline! South Carolina offers very similar things as a state like Florida but at a much lower cost. This population shift has caused South Carolina’s economy to skyrocket, and while some people don’t love the increasing traffic and population, the positive effects are undeniable. For those effects, we in South Carolina are grateful!
7. Some of the Lowest Unemployment Rates in the United States
This one stems from the point about the booming economy, but it is noteworthy enough that it deserves its own line. If you need a job, South Carolina is simply one of the best places to look. The unemployment rate in South Carolina is below 4 percent, which sets it cleanly below the national average. This number is only expected to further decrease as the booming cities create even more jobs. With so many people moving to South Carolina, the demand in the services industry is rapidly rising. Having more residents means more restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, and stores, and each of these things create countless jobs.
Especially coming out of the coronavirus pandemic, job security is extremely important. So many people are looking to get back on their feet after the negative effects of the pandemic and all of its shutdowns. Here in South Carolina, we’re grateful to live in a state with bountiful job opportunities and a promising future outlook.
8. An Endless Supply of Nature for Recharging and Exploring
Everyone needs some time to rest and recharge, and some people find the best place to do that is in the great outdoors. While the beach does count as nature, South Carolina has a lot more than just what is on the coasts. Many people fail to realize that South Carolina has a very diverse landscape filled with all kinds of terrains, and if you want to get outside for some fresh air it does not need to be at the beach. Fantastic natural parks are located all throughout the state, and are just a stone’s throw from any South Carolina resident’s house.
A few favorites among both travelers and South Carolina residents are Congaree National Park, Forty Acre Rock Heritage Preserve, the Foothills Trail, and Jones Gap. Whether you want tall mountains to climb or dense forests to hike in, South Carolina has what you are looking for. This is definitely something that we are grateful for this Thanksgiving!
9. A Few Great Football Teams to Watch
You can’t deny that South Carolina has some of the best football in the entire country! From the perennial powerhouse Clemson Tigers to Cam Newton’s Carolina Panthers, football at all levels is really high quality here. You would be able to tell, too, as the local team spirit is out of this world in South Carolina. You’re almost more likely to see a car with a sports team’s bumper sticker than one without!
While the football season only runs for a few months out of the year, there are other sports that fill the gap. There are minor league baseball and hockey teams around South Carolina, plus fantastic teams in almost every sport at the big universities in the state. If you want high quality sports at any time of the year, you can find them here!
10. A Fantastically Low Cost of Living to Make our Money go Further
This probably does not belong at the bottom of this list, but there were just so many things to fit above that it fell down to number ten. Trust us, we are grateful for this one! South Carolina is an extremely affordable state to live in, and the dollar goes a lot further here than it does in many other states. While we mentioned above that South Carolina has great, affordable healthcare and super cheap gas, we did not go into detail about the cost of living as a whole.
Really, across the board South Carolina is a much more affordable place to live than most states. Grocery bills are lower, gas prices are lower, utility bills are lower, and most importantly monthly rent and mortgage payments are typically lower! Living in South Carolina offers plenty of benefits, but one of the best ones is being able to spend or save more of your income each month.
Thanks for reading our post about the 10 things South Carolina residents are thankful for this year on Thanksgiving. We love the state that we live in, and we are sure that you will love it too. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, we’re here to help. We at The Boyd Team are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.
No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!
Written by Greg
