Columbia, SC area?

[pozey]

Does anyone here live in or around the Columbia, South Carolina area?

I was contacted by a headhunter for a possible job in Columbia and was wondering about the area.

 

[SC Minnie]

It is a very nice area. Columbia is the state capital and is a fairly large city with many nice suburbs. University of S Carolina is located there and there are several good hospital too. Richland county schools have some of the best scores in the state--Richland and Fort Mill are neck and neck there.

It is only about a 7 hour drive to WDW!!!! And less than a 2 hour drive to the coast.

Anything in particular you want to know?

 

[pozey]

Thanks for the reply.

No, nothing really specific. Just general questions like: Are the schools good? What are the best areas? Suburbs? Housing costs? General commute time?

Myrtle Beach is one of my family's favorite destinations. And on our last trip there, we were discussing the possibilty of moving closer. As it turns out, one of the places my DW could transfer with her job would be to Columbia, SC. (Tampa, Fl is another that we would consider)

Then, the other day, a headhunter contacted me about a job opportunity with Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Columbia, SC.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

My sister lives in Lexington...he husband works for USC

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Tampa is WAY more than SC...
I can hook you up with a realtor

 

[SC Minnie]

Cost of housing in Cola would be about what it is here. You can get a nice home anywhere from $150,000 - $300,000 depending on what you want.


I am sure there are schools that are better than others but I don't know which ones.

Like anywhere the commute would depend on where you were coming from and going to.

Hopefully someone closer to Cola can answer your more specific questions.

 

[pozey]

DisneyDmbNut - Lexington is one of the places I have heard was a good area. Irmo was another.

Tampa is WAY more than SC...

And Tampa is WAY more what than SC??

I would LOVE to get more comparisons between Tampa and Columbia. I realize that would be like comparing apples to oranges, but I would like to get opinions on both places.

Like I said earlier, my DW could transfer to either place. And both places have pros and cons to me and my family.

My in-laws love the Myrtle Beach, SC area, and are contemplating moving to that area when they retire. They have considered the Tampa area for retirement, but aren't too keen on it.

One of the major areas of concern to me about the Tampa area is the cost of housing. I've bumped around on realtor.com trying to find prices of houses that are comparable to our current house. And it is difficult to find a house that is less than $600,000!!!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

That is what I meant by WAY more...My other sister is a teacher for Hillsbourgh Cty Schools (Tampa) and my best friend lives in Tampa. You will get way more house in South Carolina. If you PM my your info, I can hook you up with my friend who is a realtor..she can give you WAY more info about Columbia as far as schools, housing prices, etc...and there is no obligation

 

[stm61]

I remember there was a post, maybe on the military bd, about someone who's dh was being transferred to Shaw AFB, outside Columbia. I called my old base down there and, while I don't remember specifics, they said to stay out of downtown Columbia and away from Ft Jackson. They said the schools and crime rates were fine except for those areas. If you have specific area's or questions post and I can make another call.

 

[Buckalew11]

My sister lives in Sumter SC where Shaw AFB is located. It has grown on her in the last 18/19 years but I know it wouldn't be her choice of places to live. They aren't AF but DBIL has a super job as athletic trainer there that has been very good to him.

Good luck with your search!

 

[lynetteSC]

Another good area is Blythewood. It is on the outskirts of Columbia, but the area is nice and not as commercial (yet!).