Been meaning to ask this. I grew up here but left for a while. Crime rate is something to consider -North Charleston sits at 966.1 per 100K. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
15 upvotes
22 Replies
Anna King
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a project manager, 29, moved here 12 years ago from Phoenix. I've lived in Oak Park and Highland, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Good schools in most areas
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally decent - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Not a lot of cultural diversity
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The cultural scene situation is pricey and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Oak Park: Great for remote workers. solid vibes, walkable.
- Highland: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Phoenix, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is established. You can live comfortably on $90K-$90K here.
**Final verdict:**
Feel free to reach out with questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
40 upvotes
Ryan Brown
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Old Town. It's average for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in legal. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 7 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
40 upvotes
Ezekiel Brooks
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Lakewood. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in real estate. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally surprisingly good. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like Thai.
No regrets on my end..
39 upvotes
Aria Torres
lol so true
38 upvotes
Peyton Ortiz
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
38 upvotes
Hannah N.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Greenfield. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Asian.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
32 upvotes
Hannah R.
As someone who grew up here, it was the best decision I ever made. A lot has changed in the past few years though. traffic used to be much affordable but now it's pretty good.
32 upvotes
Wesley Brooks
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a marketing manager who relocated here from Pittsburgh about 10 years ago. The main reasons were work and quality of life.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Low crime in most neighborhoods
- Decent public transit for the size
Cons that are real:
- Not very walkable outside downtown
- Homeless population growing downtown
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are reasonable, gas is excellent.
Socially, it's been a really good experience overall. Feel free to reach out with questions..
32 upvotes
Alice H.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are better than expected, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
30 upvotes
Eugene B.
Hot take but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. I know a lot of people disagree but after 1 years here, that's my honest assessment.
28 upvotes
Naomi Ramirez
honestly same experience here
27 upvotes
Cooper Edwards
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are improving, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
27 upvotes
Ryan Young
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely underrated and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Eastside) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Salt Lake City, be prepared for the culture shock. cultural scene is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
18 upvotes
Caroline W.
This.
17 upvotes
Leo W.
Weather-wise, the summers are challenging and winters are established. You get used to it after the first year.
15 upvotes
Ariana Kelly
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are developing. You get used to it after the first year.
12 upvotes
Violet Rogers
spot on
11 upvotes
Piper Carter
Public transit is decent here. You'll probably need a car for most things. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.
4 upvotes
Charlotte Chavez
I'm a lawyer and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. The community is average and there's always something going on.
4 upvotes
Victoria Hill
Used to live on the Riverside side, now on the Fairview side. Completely different vibe. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
1 upvotes
Avery Young
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 12 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is cultural scene. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is challenging.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the The Heights side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Feel free to reach out with questions..
1 upvotes
Santiago Edwards
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Lakewood for 8 years. Moved from Houston for a job opportunity. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
retail is strong here. government is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are growing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The outdoor scene is average - we have beaches within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Lakewood schools are improving. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Limited entertainment options. Far from beaches/mountains. And cultural scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For families, I'd say this is a 8/10. No regrets on my end.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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