Ten Reasons to Move to South Carolina (And Why It’s Better than the Other East Coast States)
Here at the Boyd Team, we are experts in real estate all over the Grand Strand and its surrounding area. While we truly love Myrtle Beach, there are so many other places in South Carolina that deserve a spot on your list of places to consider for your next home. We recommend making a trip through the entire area surrounding Myrtle Beach in order to find the area that is best for you. So, before making that trip, why should you move to South Carolina, anyway? This post is going to highlight the top ten reasons why to move to South Carolina, and hopefully give you a push to check out our beautiful Palmetto State.
1. South Carolina has Great Job Opportunities
If you are looking for a place to retire in South Carolina, this point probably won’t matter much to you. However, if you are hoping to find a new job opportunity while changing scenery, South Carolina is an incredible choice. The economy of South Carolina is very robust and seems to always be growing. This is largely because of its cities which are steadily developing into regional powerhouses. Cities like Columbia, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach have begun to spearhead growth in the state, and because of other reasons that we will discuss later in this post, new companies and industries have been migrating into the state as well.
While most people think of Columbia and Charleston when they think of the major cities in South Carolina, nowadays it is impossible to exclude our once little town of Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach has developed into a prospering city of its own, and as the city grows, so do the job opportunities. Another city that is a great place to consider to live is actually not in South Carolina at all; it’s north of the state border in North Carolina. Charlotte, North Carolina has also become one of the best places to live in the United States as a whole, and its proximity to the border makes living in high-quality, affordable South Carolina suburbs a reality. The commute from many South Carolina towns to uptown Charlotte is less than 20 minutes!
2. The Cost of Living in South Carolina is Very Low
Remember in the previous point how I mentioned that “because of other reasons, companies have started to move to South Carolina?” This is because, frankly, people are flocking there and the companies are following the crowds. One of the biggest reasons that people are moving to South Carolina and the ecosystem is ripe for new businesses to enter is because of the very low cost of living and the low taxes. People in South Carolina pay less in taxes than their friends in surrounding states, and companies know that they can take advantage of those lower costs, too.
One of my personal favorite things to mention about the low cost of living and low taxes in South Carolina is actually really relevant now that gas prices are back on the rise. Gas in South Carolina is significantly cheaper than it is in North Carolina – like sometimes 30 cents per gallon cheaper just by crossing the state line. So, many people that live or work in Charlotte, North Carolina actually cross the state border into South Carolina to fill up their gas tanks. While the lower gas tax and subsequent lower gas prices is just one example, things like this can be seen all across the state. Through and through, South Carolina is just a much cheaper place to live!
3. South Carolina is filled with Natural Beauty of All Kinds
If you have read any of our other posts, you know that we rave about the beauty of Myrtle Beach all of the time. The city and its surrounding area are just absolutely beautiful, and the area is a great example of the beauty that South Carolina offers. However, South Carolina has a lot more natural beauty than just at the beach! Our state is filled with beautiful waterfalls, tall and stunning mountains, unique wildlife, breathtaking coastlines, and more. On a drive through South Carolina, you will see the full gamut of beauty on display and may just fall in love!
Many people fail to realize that South Carolina and its northern neighbor are actually two of the most beautiful states in the country. While neither one has a Grand Canyon or a Zion National Park, they are both thoroughly beautiful and offer endless nature activities for you to get further in touch with the great outdoors. If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself! From
South Carolina’s tallest peak, Sassafras Mountain, to the beautiful shores of places like Hilton Head Island, South Carolina offers up a diverse landscape bursting with beauty that is begging to be explored. If you move to South Carolina, all of this will be right at your fingertips.
4. The Weather in South Carolina is Fantastic Year Round
There are some places in the world dubbed “cities of eternal spring,” because of their springtime weather that remains throughout the entire year. Well, South Carolina is not that. Sorry folks. Arguably, for most people, the weather in South Carolina is better. Are you someone that lives in a place where there are all four seasons and you love it…except for the snow? Anyone who lives in a place where there is snow is not a fan of snow, while people who live in a place without snow always wish to see snow. The grass is always greener on the other side, right?
Well, in South Carolina, you do still get four seasons, just like you do in any of the snowy states. However, each of those seasons is slightly warmer, getting rid of the snow problem in December and January. The spring and fall in South Carolina are beautiful and are my personal favorite seasons, but the summer and winter are extremely popular seasons here, too. The gorgeous weather in South Carolina means that going outside during any time of the year is possible and comfortable. There are very few Miami-like toaster over days in the summer and there are zero Chicago-like subzero freezer days in the winter. It is about as good as it gets.
5. South Carolina Makes it Easy to Stay Healthy
This one stems from several things that we have already talked about in this post. Firstly, the state is home to many amazing healthcare systems. Much of this is because of the influx of young, promising talent. Countless doctors and nurses are moving here to staff brand new hospitals that are being built. The cost of care is cheap because of the cheap cost of living, and the quality of care is high because of the general appeal that the state offers to its workforce, which includes its healthcare professionals. No matter where you are in the state, you will have access to great healthcare.
Another component of staying healthy is what you do when you are away from the doctor, right? The great weather in South Carolina mixed with its natural beauty and its landscape provide countless outdoor activities to keep yourself healthy and vital throughout the year. From biking in the major cities or the Blue Mountains to hiking through the countless state parks, there are enough physical activities in South Carolina to keep you busy all throughout the year.
6. Southern Hospitality is a Real Thing in South Carolina
By Southern Hospitality, we mean to describe the extremely friendly and hospitable nature of the people in our state. South Carolinians are honestly just very friendly and welcoming. We love welcoming people into our home state, and frankly, we make the best neighbors! Part of the culture of the south is to welcome every new person as if they’re a part of the family, and that is what we seek to do here in the Palmetto State.
Whether this means having great new neighbors that are looking to help out when you move in, friendly and helpful coworkers helping you to find your way around your new office, or drivers that give you a friendly wave as you come up to a four-way stop sign, South Carolinians are friendly people looking to make sure you have a smooth transition into the state that they call home. Furthermore, people in our state really care about getting to know you and aren’t just looking to scrape the surface level. In South Carolina, when you make a friend, that person wants to truly be your friend; not just a smiling face in the neighborhood that you see when you take Fido out for a walk.
7. South Carolina Offers a Great Education (Especially at the College Level)
Don’t get me wrong. Our elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools are top notch. Your children will be in good hands going through the educational system in South Carolina, whether you opt for private or public school. However, where South Carolina really sets itself apart is at the college level, both for undergraduate and graduate school. The University of South Carolina is the biggest and most popular university in the state due to its sheer size, and it is a very fine academic institution. It is ranked in the top 100 universities in the country every year, and the range of major and minor options is very extensive.
While the University of South Carolina is the largest university in the state, there are many others that should be mentioned, too. Clemson University, for example, is located here, as well as Wofford College, Coastal Carolina University, the College of Charleston, and Furman University. Between these great schools and more, you are bound to find the perfect school and educational program to match your goals and budget.
8. There are Plenty of Sports Teams Nearby Too
If you’re a college sports fan at all, there’s no way that three of those universities I just named snuck by you without your mind thinking of sports. The University of South Carolina Gamecocks, the Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers, and the Clemson Tigers all have extremely robust athletic programs and compete at the NCAA Division I level, and both provide incredible sporting event environments. Clemson has been a national championship contender in football almost every year over the past decade, and the environment in their stadium for a game is unreal. If you like college sports, South Carolina is one of the best places to live and be a fan!
Some people prefer professional sports over college sports. If that is you, don’t worry; you’ll love South Carolina, too. While South Carolina does not have any major league professional sports teams to call its own, it is represented by the Carolina Hurricanes (NHL), Carolina Panthers (NFL) and Charlotte Hornets (NBA) all in North Carolina. While this is true, there are actually rumors that the Panthers will be heading to South Carolina within a few years, as they are opening a brand new training facility in our state as we write this. Additionally, South Carolina has many AHL and MiLB minor league hockey and baseball teams scattered throughout the state, like our own Myrtle Beach Pelicans, which provide an awesome night of entertainment at an extremely affordable price.
9. South Carolina Moves at a Slower Pace
If you are considering moving to South Carolina and currently live further up the east coast in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, or especially, New York, you will probably love the slow pace that our state offers. Up north everything moves so quickly. People often work very long hours, commute very long distances, and put an emphasis on doing things as quickly as possible. Maybe this is because their jobs suck up so much of their time that they need to maximize what is left.
In our state, this is not the case. Things move more slowly, working 70 hours per week is never the expectation, and people truly take the time to sit down, relax, and soak in the fresh air and friendly company around them. This is not a bad thing, either. In South Carolina, you simply have the time to relax and unwind in ways that you don’t have it in other states. The commutes here tend to be shorter, the working hours are much more reasonable, and the people, like we said earlier, really care about having true and valuable conversations with you. Doesn’t that sound great?
10. Endless Historical Sites and Landmarks to Visit and Learn About
South Carolina is jam-packed with history, as it was one of the original thirteen colonies. Because of its colonial history, there are over 450 years of American history to explore here. From churches that are over four centuries old, to Fort Sumpter, the site of the first battle of the American Civil War, there are endless things from hundreds of years ago see and learn about. In fact, at one point during the colonial period the British decided that South Carolina was so much more important to them than North Carolina that they left North Carolina to go reclaim South Carolina. Even the British knew centuries ago that South Carolina was the better of the two Carolinas!
History doesn’t always have to be about hundreds of years ago, either. Many of the most historically significant places in South Carolina have more to do with the last century than they do the three centuries of colonial history preceding it. From huge architectural wonders like the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in Charleston to culturally popular attractions like the lighthouse in Hilton Head, South Carolina offers up a bucket list of places to check out that you will never fully complete.
Hopefully this post helped you to see why South Carolina really is the best place to live on the East Coast for many people, and what exactly sets it apart from its neighbors. If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, reach out to us for help. We at The Boyd Team are always here to help you figure out whether Myrtle Beach is your next home or not, and we 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!