Top Things to Know Before Moving to South Carolina

If you’re thinking of moving to South Carolina, you’re not alone. In fact, the state’s growing population surpassed 5 million in 2019. Here’s the information you need to know before relocating to South Carolina.

The Palmetto State is a southeastern state boasting an expansive 187-miles of coastline with subtropical beaches and marshes. The state’s biggest cities are found in the capital of Columbia, historic Charleston, vacation central Myrtle Beach, and the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area. If you’re looking for a small hometown, try Smyrna, Tatum, or Jenkinsville which each has under 50 people in their populations!

First home to Native American tribes such as the Cherokee, Creek, and Santee, South Carolina was established as an English settlement in 1670. After the American Revolution, South Carolina became a state in 1788. The first state to secede in the years leading up to the Civil War, South Carolina rejoined the Union in 1868.

Today, South Carolina has a steady job market. Its 2.6% unemployment rate was below the national average of 3.6%. Top industries include aerospace and aviation, automotive, agriculture, manufacturing, distribution, and logistics, as well as biotech and life sciences. In fact, the Children’s Hospital in Charleston has the highest number of employees in the state, followed by Medical University of South Carolina. BMW and Boeing Co are also major employers.

Moving to South Carolina Facts

When it comes to the cost of living in South Carolina, the prices can vary dramatically. Zillow reports the typical home value for the state is $203,707. Yet in Charleston, the median home value is $361,356, according to Smart Asset. Nearby Mount Pleasant’s homes are a median of $493,786.

South Carolina is a state with a majority of homeowners (70%). If they’ve been in state awhile they have likely been enjoying the rising equity as the market has increased in value by 79.44% since 2000. This is also a state where 70% of available real estate is single family homes.

The state’s income tax system is progressive, but it does have some of the lowest property taxes in the country.

Your friends and family may ask, “why move to South Carolina?” Another of the many reasons is the mild winter weather. If you’re tired of digging out of snowy drifts several months a year, the move to South Carolina will pay off. However, you may want to plan on visiting your old stomping grounds in the high heat and humidity of South Carolina summers.

All year round you’ll be able to enjoy many public park areas. South Carolina State Parks together comprise up to 80,000 acres of protected land.

More Things to Know about South Carolina

When moving to South Carolina there are a few things you need to know from the outset:

• The barbecue is mustard-based unlike the darker barbecues sauces of neighboring North Carolina
• There are some keen sports rivalries in the state, especially between Clemson’s Tigers and the University of South Carolina’s Gamecocks
• Don’t dis Palmetto peaches; South Carolina produces more peaches per year than Georgia
• If you’re looking to have your fortune told you’ll need to find a psychic with a special permit from the state
• You don’t have to worry too much about how Kermit would feel about you eating Frogmore stew — this traditional Southern fare isn’t actually a stew and no frogs are involved
• The state has no major professional sports teams. Yet it was the state where the first game of golf was played in the U.S. and still boasts many beautiful courses today
• You may associate South Carolina with beaches, but forests cover more than 67% of the state
• You may see some alligators — don’t feed or get close to them

More Things to Know Before Moving to South Carolina

Another top industry in South Carolina? Tourism. South Carolina is always going to be a big draw for tourists. Top destinations include:

• Greenville — named one of America’s best downtowns by Forbes Magazine
• Charleston, for its charming history, culinary scene, horse-drawn carriage rides, and Spoleto festival (to name just a few)
• Angel Oak on John’s Island, thought to be more than 1,500 years old
• Congaree National Park, which boasts the largest old-growth floodplain on the continent
• Morgan Island an uninhabited island where 3,500 free-ranging rhesus macaque monkeys live
• Summerville, which has a Sweet Tea Trail you can enjoy as it is the birthplace of this cool, sugary concoction
• Aiken, which is home to the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum and annual steeplechase racing events

Still trying to decide where to live in South Carolina? Niche reports that the Top 5 Best Places to Live in South Carolina are Forest Acres and Irmo, both suburbs of Columbia, Fort Mill and Tega Cay, both of which could be considered distant suburbs of Charlotte, NC, and Five Forks, a suburb of Greenville.

Finally, if you’re thinking of retiring to South Carolina, you may be happy to know that the state doesn’t take Social Security retirement benefits. There’s also a $15,000 deduction for seniors receiving any other type of retirement income.

Now, instead of asking yourself, “should I move to South Carolina?” You’re likely saying, “I want to move to South Carolina.” Saussy Burbank is here to help.

Saussy Burbank offers more than three decades of experience developing and building quality new homes in the Carolinas. Our more than 8,000 new homes and townhomes have earned regional and national awards, including six Best in American Living® awards. Find out more about our South Carolina properties.