Charleston might be the most romantic of all Southern cities, and has been attracting people from all over the U.S. and beyond for quite some time now. The catch with Charleston is that it doesn’t need nostalgia or the allure of its history to bring people in, though the legacy doesn’t hurt. People relocate to Charleston because it has a solid economy, a strong real estate market, great schools, and great weather. If you’re looking for homes for sale in South Carolina and trying to find that dream city, take a long look at Charleston.
1. Charleston Has A Great Economy
Charleston’s economy is highly diversified, and the city supports a wide variety of businesses in trades. Whether you’re a teacher or an aerospace engineer, you’ll find there’s a job for you somewhere in Charleston. Don’t believe us, the proof is in the pudding: Charleston’s unemployment rate is 2.2% and nearing a thirty year low. If Charleston’s metropolitan area were its own country, with a GDP of nearly $45 billion it would be wealthier than well over half of all other countries on Earth. To really show you just how diverse its economy is, take a look at some of the top employers in Charleston, SC.
- Joint Base Charleston
- Boeing
- Medical University of South Carolina
- College of Charleston
2. Charleston has a Strong Real Estate market
Recently the National Association of Realtors put Charleston on its list of the top 10 performing real estate markets in a post-covid world. This is reflected by Charleston’s valuable real estate with single-family homes listing for a little over $480k, about $100k over the national average. If you’ve just finished paying off the mortgage on your first home and you’re looking to sell and reinvest that money in a new house, Charleston real estate market is probably one of your best options.
Charleston sees more property development and construction than the national average, which helps keep inventory higher than in most other parts of the county. The strength of the local economy is another sign that Charleston’s real estate market can stand on its own and sustain itself.
Home values have been appreciating steadily, nearly 5% annually on average since 2000. If you relocate to Charleston, not only will you enjoy living in a strong, growing real estate market, but you’ll also rest easy thanks to the high quality schools nearby.
3. Charleston Has Fantastic Schools.
It should come as no surprise that Charleston’s school district, the Charleston County School District, is ranked among the best in the whole state of South Carolina. With over fifty thousand kids and nearly 100 K-12 public schools, parents have plenty of schools to choose from. To help you with that school search, Mt. Pleasant and James Island are typically thought to be the best areas in Charleston for schools.
Besides public schools, Charleston is also home to several Montessori schools, magnet schools, and language immersion schools, giving parents and students plenty of flexibility through twelve or more years of education.
4. Charleston Has A More Relaxed Pace of Life
Folks relocating to Charleston from places like Boston or Northern Virginia who are used to twelve hour days and work coming first might just be in for a pleasant surprise when they come down to the Palmetto State. Charleston companies, by and large, operate on a more relaxed schedule, with family time being a major priority above almost all else. If you’re feeling rushed and harried working in your city and you want to make a change, Charleston might be the place for you.
5. Charleston Has Warm Weather Year Round.
Yes, it’s hot in the south, what of it? In the summer it’ll be sunny, hot, and humid, but almost without fail you can expect an afternoon thunderstorm to roll in and cool everything down with a good amount of rain. You might as well forget your winter wardrobe if you’re moving from up north. Winter comes and goes in a flash down in Charleston where the temperature only drops in the low forties and rises through the fifties during the day. Remember that you’re right on the ocean, which has a moderating effect on the coast, as well as opening you up to the occasional hurricane.
6. Charleston Is Surrounded by a Unique Environment.
Flanked by two rivers and sitting by the sea, there’s water everywhere in Charleston. Join a boating club and work on your sea legs, or do some fishing on the Ashley River. You can also explore some walking trails through the marshland habitats that surround Charleston. We highly recommend the Marsh View Trail over in Mt. Pleasant and Fort Lamar Heritage Preserve on James Island.
7. Charleston has easy access to some of the best beaches on the Atlantic Coast
This ties in with our last point, but we thought the beaches deserved special attention. From Charleston, SC you are within 70 miles of Hilton Head, widely beloved by beachgoers of the east coast. Myrtle Beach is less than 100 miles up the coast if you’re looking for a fun summer weekend trip with friends. But you don’t have to go far to enjoy a quality coastal experience in Charleston. Just head over to Folly Beach and Sullivan’s Island, or Kiawah Island, which are all within an hour of the city.
Reasons to Relocate to Charleston
As you can see, there’s a lot to love about Charleston, and there’s even more to discover once you dig beneath the surface. To do that, though, you’re going to have to live there. If you’re ready to think seriously about relocating, get in touch with an agent to start looking for homes for sale in Charleston, SC.
If you prefer living in North Carolina, check out Raleigh and reasons to relocate there.
