Should I Retire To South Carolina?

Looking for a place where you can enjoy your retirement does not necessarily mean that you have to leave the U.S. You can retire and still keep your feet in North America by relocating to other states that offer better retirement options for you. Let’s look closely at South Carolina who has many vacation destinations that double as retirement haven as our focal point.

Basic Information Of The State

Carolina Living website claims around 110,000 settled into North Carolina in 2017, and about two-thirds of them are aged 50 or more. This state has a total land area of 82,931 square kilometers. Before the state was divided into two, it was formerly just named Carolina, and it is named in honor of King Charles I of England, whose name came from the Latin word Carolus.

Population

The state of South Carolina is home to some 5 million population with a population density of 157 per square meter. It is ranked 23rd most populated state in the U.S. and 19th in terms of population density. It has 46 counties under it with Charleston as the largest city and Columbia as its capital. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the population rate of South Carolina had grown 9.92 percent since 2010.

Major Cities

There are eight major metropolitan areas in South Carolina according to Wikipedia three of the most populated are the Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC MSA with 895,923 residents, Columbia, SC MSA with 825,033 residents, and Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville SC, MSA with 775,831 population. All population counts are based on the 2017 census data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The five largest cities of the state are Charleston (134,875), Columbia (133,114), North Charleston (110,861), Mount Pleasant (86,668), and Rock Hill (73,068). But don’t be fooled by the number of residents in each city. Suburban towns are the areas where retirees settle and live out their happy retirement stage.

Climate/Weather

As for the Köppen climate classification, South Carolina has mostly humid subtropical climate overall, with microclimates experienced in high elevation areas in the Upstate and on the Atlantic coastline.

During summer, when it is hot and humid, temperatures in most of the state range from 30 °C to 34 °C in the daytime and drops down to 21 °C to 24 °C at night near the coast and 19 °C to 23 °C further inland. Mild winters characterized the coastal region of the state with an average daytime temp of 16 °C and a lower 5 – 8 °C during the night. Going into the Inland areas, Columbia has an average temp of 0 °C during the night can be experienced in January while the upstate regions experience well below freezing temp.

Rains are part of the weather in this state and can be expected throughout the year, even in summer. The coastal regions do tend to have a wetter summer than most since they are close to the water. The inland region’s spring and autumn periods are when they are getting the most precipitation with winter as the driest time, most noticeably during November.

Highest temp recorded came from the city of Johnston and Columbia reaching 45 °C during the summer of 2012. The lowest recorded temp was seen in Caesars Head on January 21, 1985, at -28 °C.

It is uncommon for the majority of the state to experience snowfall, but the coastal areas have an average annual snowfall of less than an inch. However, the interior of the state has a higher amount of snowfall at 12 inches per year. Mountain areas in the farthest northeast region are the areas that have the most amount of annual snowfall accumulation. You will probably experience more freezing rain and ice rather than snow here.

A tropical cyclone does occasionally affect the state during the hurricane season of June 1 to November 30. The southeast Atlantic coast is no stranger to this occurrence, especially during the peak months of August up to early October. There is an average of 50 days per year when South Carolina experience thunderstorm activities, including hail, and an average of 14 tornadoes each year.

Other Factors To Consider

One more thing you need to know about South Carolina is that it is an earthquake-prone state. With most occurrences recorded along the central coastline. An average of 10 – 15 earthquakes per year, with below 3 magnitudes is recorded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The largest and strongest earthquake was recorded in Charleston back 1886. It registered as a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that rocked and killed 60 people and devastated most of the city.

Should I Retire to South Carolina? Cost Of Living

Housing is the biggest factor when computing the cost of living in a particular area. Here in South Carolina, the median home price is $159,700. This amount can buy you a one-story single family house property with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and parking space in an area where there is easy access to transportation. This median cost is $60,000 less than the national U.S. average.

Renting in South Carolina is also way cheaper than in the U.S. A typical studio apartment would cost only $670 per month, 1 bedroom unit at $756, 2 bedrooms at $891, 3 bedrooms at $1,183 and 4 bedroom unit at $1,438.

Best Places gave an index comparison of South Carolina cost of living versus the national average. Any score that is below 100 (national average index) means that South Carolina is cheaper compared to the U.S. average. Grocery expenditures were given an index score of 94.1, health index is at 100.3, housing is 84.7, utilities are rated 103.9, transportation is given an index score of 98.4 and miscellaneous expenses (movies, dining out, and repairs) was given a rating of 95.6.

After considering all the cost index plus the median average of housing in South Carolina, an overall cost of living index score of 94.1 was given to the country. It is 5.9 lower than the average U.S. cost of living index with healthcare and utility indexes scoring slightly higher than 100.

Should I Retire to South Carolina? Infrastructure and Internet

The overall state of infrastructure of the country is sadly rated D+ according to the 2017 Report Card and just like the rest of the country, South Carolina is facing the same crisis. But 2017, a bill regarding highway funding has been passed into law. Called the SC Infrastructure and Economic Development Act, it aims to increase road funds by about $600 per year. Projects under this include 465 new bridges, improvements in road capacity for 140 miles of interstate, increasing “good condition” rating of interstates from 65% to 92% and adding safety features to the rural road system.

Transportation

The state is actually the fourth state that houses a state-maintained road system. With 11 interstates, state highways numbered highways and secondary roads, the whole road system totals about 41,500 miles.

The demand for faster buses, more transit routes, and better technology is high in this state as the public transport system is in dire need of an upgrade. In 2011, a total of 12 million bus riders were reported, and this number will continue to increase each year with a forecasted number of 19 million by 2040. Communities are much more spread out here in South Carolina, therefore, making the road system more in-tune with private car owners rather than commuters. This translated to an increased number of vehicles in major cities where traffic has become a significant issue.

Another public transport system that South Carolina has is the railway system. Amtrak runs four passenger routes through the whole country. The Crescent serves the upstate cities, The Palmetto and Silver Meteor caters the low country cities, and the Silver Star is serving the Midlands.

There is a total of 53 public airports in this state and 7 of them are major. Among the seven major airports, Charleston International Airport is the busiest one in terms of passenger volume. The other six are Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, Columbia Metropolitan Airport, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Florence Regional Airport, Myrtle Beach International Airport, Hilton Head Airport, and Rock Hill/York County Airport.

The major changes in terms of infrastructure that South Carolina is facing are the 926 (9.91%) of the 9,341 structurally deficient bridges, 359 hazard dams, 18% (poor condition) of the 77,364 miles of road. It is estimated that a total of $833 million in funding is needed in the next 20 years for these problems to be addressed.

Water

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is the authority that regulates the state’s water quality following the standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Safe Drinking Water Act is a federal law that helps keep the quality of public drinking water on par with the EPA’s set standards.

It is a good thing that federal law is in place because more than 1,150 waterways in this country are not able to meet drinking quality standards. In fact, dating back to the year of 2011, there are a total of 41 water utilities serving South Carolina that tested positive in containing elevated amounts of lead in the water at least once.

Another cause of concern in the drinking water supply of South Carolina are PFAS (polyfluorinated substances). These are chemical pollutants that industries discharge into the municipal sewer lines. Water treatment facilities are not equipped to detect and filter out these pollutants before releasing the water.

It is strongly advised by many environmentalist not to drink or even cook with tap water from South Carolinas, especially in areas where power companies burn coal and dump their waste nearby. This coal burning produces a byproduct called coal ash that has been proven to contain low levels of arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and other metallic elements. A group of physicians have conducted a study regarding the effects of prolonged exposure to this coal byproduct and have concluded that it can cause cancer and other diseases.

Power

As of March 2019, it is still the Nuclear Power source that tops the generation of electricity for the state. This sector of the electricity department generates 5,000 MWh per month of electricity. Besides, the four major nuclear plants in South Carolina provides 58% of the total electricity generation of the state back in 2017. In the same year, renewable energy sources were recorded to account for only 6% of South Carolina’s net electricity consumption.

The state has four major investor-owned electric utilities, and they are Duke Energy, Duke Energy Progress, South Carolina Electric and Gas Co., and Lockhart Power Co. There are also 21 member0owned electric cooperatives and 14 municipally or publicly-owned electric systems that serve the whole of the state.

Unfortunately, even with a large number of electric utilities in the state, it still does not have a restructured electricity industry until this day, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

However, expect to see many changes in the coming years as the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff – Energy Office has laid out a plan to answer the growing problems of the power and electricity industry. It tackles advances in renewable energy sources and more importantly, possible actions for the energy industry to take in order to make responsible electric companies answer for their shortcomings and failure to meet state standards.

Internet

South Carolina boasts a 90% broadband coverage, with 18% of the population underserved. It ranked 28th most connected state out of the 50, with an average speed of 41.3 Mbps all over the state.

There is a total of 117 internet service providers (ISP) serving the state. An estimated 430,000 citizens still have no access to wired connections of 25 Mbps download speed capacity. A larger number of 690,000 suffers from having no choice because they only have access to only one wired connection provider and 177,000 remains without access to any form of wired connection where they are located.

The good news is that since 2010 a total of almost $4 million in federal funding has been granted to improve the broadband service of the state as detailed in South Carolina’s Broadband Initiative, through Connect South Carolina – a subsidiary of Connected Nation. It was commissioned by the South Carolina Office of the Governor, to be a non-profit organization tasked to work closely with each state’s broadband connection providers to map out the existing broadband coverage and to fully assess the state of the broadband integration on a community by community basis. In addition to the federal grants, $9.6 million of funding was allocated to the development of the broadband infrastructure of the state.

Based on data gathered from a 2011 survey up to now, wired connection with a minimum speed of 10 Mbps has jumped from 85.9% to 94.8% for the whole of South Carolina. The major providers of internet in this state are Charter Spectrum with an average download speed of 44.6 Mbps, AT&T Internet with an average download speed of 43 Mbps, next is XFINITY from Comcast having an average download speed of 42.3 Mbps, Windstream having a lower average download speed of 16.4 Mbps and lastly Frontier Communication with the slowest average download speed of 8.3 Mbps.

Should I Retire to South Carolina? Possible Places To Settle In

South Carolina has made it to the top list of retirement destinations of Forbes, Southern Living Making, U.S. News and World Report, WalletHub and Kiplinger because of it’s nice weather, lower cost of living, favorable tax to seniors and opportunities for a more active lifestyle.

Coast Areas

A prime vacation hotspot for the young and old, the coastal region is also seeing an increase of retirees and pre-retirees settling in the place. Among the places that are popular for the young and able are Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, and Hilton Head Island. These are locations where people enjoy a wide variety of entertainment, history, and nature.

However, it is the retirees and pre-retirees that are our main concern in this article, and the places that have topped the list are described in detail below.

Pawleys Island

A small town in Georgetown County, located on the majestic Grand Strand. This island has a total area of 2.6 square kilometers.1.8 square kilometers island, and 0.08 square kilometers is water. It is an alternative to Myrtle Beach for those who are looking for a more laid black and quiet setting. According to the official page of the town “Pawleys continues to be known for its shoeless, carefree, laid-back lifestyle”.

You can visit the longest wooden pier – Apache Pier – on the East Coast here. The pier is open all year round, and families can enjoy walking the length of the pier, or you can start your fishing hobby here. Rods, reels, and baits are available for sale and rent to anyone willing to learn.

Georgetown

A haven where historical remnants can be seen, Georgetown is the 3rd oldest city of South Carolina. It is also the birthplace of former first lady, Michelle Obama’s grandfather and where many of the first lady’s relatives still reside. Its port handles roughly 960,000 tons of material annually which made it the second largest seaport of the state.

Retirees would appreciate the historic district of this state as it showcases homes, public buildings, and churches dating way back before the American Civil War. The oldest home under the historical records of this state was built during the year of 1737.

With a population of 9,163, according to a 2010 census, Georgetown offers many the chance to immerse themselves and experience the life of Americans during the civil war. Plantations in this state are among the historical buildings that you will often see and the Old Market Building which is now converted into a Rice Museum will let you brush up on your South Carolinian history.

Seneca

Smart Asset named this town as one of the best places to retire because of the chance for an active retirement life it offers. Surrounded by mountains and lakes, these townhouses a rate of 20.6 seniors in their population. Among the many activities that can be enjoyed in this town are kayaking, hiking, and boating. The healthcare facility is also something to boast about with an index rating of 5.74 medical facilities per 1,000 people.

For those who are just looking for a laidback activity, the town offers tours and accepts walk-ins at the World of Energy Museum located at the Oconee Nuclear Station. You can also see the Bertha Lee Strickland Cultural Museum to enjoy the African-American themed surroundings. Both the young and young at heart can head over to the Escape Zones where you are given a set of clues in order to escape a locked room.

Hilton Head Island

With a seniors rate of 33.4% of the population, this town is, by far, houses the largest number of retirees among the other towns mentioned. This can be attributed to the maritime atmosphere that this town exudes. It is laid back, uncomplicated and straightforward. It is, after all, a town that serves as a barrier island in Beaufort County.

Named after Captain William Hilton – the person who identified the island, this place contains that vibrant vibe most coastal towns in major metropolitans have. The most recognizable symbol of this town is the Harbour Town Lighthouse. Opened back in 1969, this tower serves as a beacon and guide to sailors until this day. What really made the lighthouse famous is the Harbour Town Golf Links where both the PGA Tour and Masters Tournaments are hosted.

Visit the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge if you prefer to spend some time surrounded by nature. This place can be traversed via on foot or a bike. Most people that come here are after the numerous bird species that can be seen in this refuge. A total of 4,053 acres of land serves as a home to a number of wildlife that visitors can observe.

Anderson

Dubbed as “The Electric City, it is considered as the smallest of the three prime cities of the Upstate region. Also known as “The Friendliest City in South Carolina”, Anderson is home to a large number of seniors – around 33% of the total population and is an excellent place for retirees because of the high concentration of medical facilities and the chance to apply for the Anderson County Senior Program.

With this city’s nationalistic vibe and great quality of life, it was named as an “All-American City” back in 2000 by the National Civil League. Offering both historical districts and parks to be enjoyed by anyone, it has gained the attention of many retirees for the past few years. Some of the famous destinations in this town are the Anderson historic district, Denver Downs Farmstead, and Kennedy Street School.

Should I Retire to South Carolina? Is it Safe?

An article by The Post and Courier stating that South Carolina is the 5th dangerous state to be in was published back in July of 2017. It also mentioned that the government of the city lags in enacting and enforcing safety laws towards preventable deaths on the road, at home and in workplaces. However, it highlighted the fact that over half of the state’s budget is allocated to emergency services, police, fire, and other public safety programs too. This means that the government is working full-time to provide the good citizens of the state towards improving their safety status.

A more recent article showcasing the safest cities of the state has given South Carolina a thumbs up for the significant decrease in crime rate. A total of 85% of the cities have reported less than 75 counts of violent crimes recorded in the past year. We believe that the enforcement of SB 1154, the Omnibus Crime Reduction and Sentencing Reform Act, that made a significant contribution to this reduction of the crime rate.

If you count back 25 years before this law was enacted, the total prison population of the state almost tripled in numbers, and the spending rate increased from $64 million to $394 million. Fast forward to six years after the law was enforced, the prison population decreased by 14% while the violent and property crime by 16%. The state even canceled existing construction plans of new prison because of the significant decrease in the inmate population. Also, South Carolina closed a total of six prison facilities as of today.

Citizens are happy to have seen this improvement because this translates to a safer state for them. There are areas where crime rates are always low and the top three that made the list of Safe Wise website are the following:

Isle of Palms

With a total population of only 4,439, this town reported 0/1,000 people crime rate and a property crime rate of 15.54/1,000.

Tega Cay

Having a much bigger population of 10,367, compared to Isle of Palms, this town reported a 0.48/1,000 people crime rate and 21.12/1,000 property crime rate.

Clemson

The most populated town of the three, with a total number of residents of 16,442, has a reported 0.49/1,000 people crime rate and a lower 19.15/1,000 property crime rate if compared to Tega Cay.

Should I Retire to South Carolina? Homes and Real Estate

The housing market of South Carolina as of 2019 is found to be very favorable with a median property cost of $323,612, a much lower median price compared to the national average. Even the ROI for traditional for the traditional and Airbnb investors are facing positive projections.

Places that are ideal for the traditional investors are Gadsden, Hephzibah, and New Zion while for the Airbnb investors the cities of Florence, Easly and Forest Acres topped the list of Mashvisor.

In Gadsend, expect to find properties listed for less than $60,000 while rental costs are around 1,320 per month. Hephzibah is slightly expensive compared to with a median cost of $83,000 but renting here is cheaper at 1,240 per month. New Zion is on par with Gadsend in terms of the median cost of $60,000, but this is where rent is the cheapest when compared to the first two locations at only $915 per month.

The overall state of South Carolina’s real estate market can be characterized by low prices and high returns for both the traditional rental and Airbnb hosting potential buyers. Now is the right time to set your eyes on this country for future investment, especially if you are planning on retiring to this state.

Should I Retire to South Carolina? Healthcare

Ranked 33rd in terms of access, out of the 50 states according to Commonwealth Fund – a private health organization that aims to improve the healthcare system. It is also ranked 8th of the worst state in terms of healthcare, with a 15% rate of uninsured.

Life expectancy in this state (76.6) is 2 full years shorter than the national average (78.6). This shorter life span says a lot, in terms of the healthcare system and overall health of the citizens in the state. With a ratio of 2.6 physicians per 1,000 citizens, lower than the U.S. average of 3.2, it is no wonder why it is ranked among the top 10 states with the worst healthcare system.

Upon further reading about the healthcare programs of South Carolina, this writer also found that the state spends $5,114 per capita of health expenditure. Even if this is just a rough estimate, it is still quite lower than the U.S. average of $5,283 per capita. This only translates to less funding allocation towards healthcare.

South Carolina is currently facing major issues with regards to their healthcare system and programs, but the recent amendments the Obama presidency made gave way to a more extensive coverage for the citizens. According to the United Health Foundation – a non-profit group that gathers relevant data to aid the government in making helpful decisions towards the overall healthcare system – the Obama administration signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) on March 23, 2010 gave the citizens of South Carolina hope towards the betterment of their healthcare status.

The act, which is also called the Affordable Care Act (ACA), is more popularly termed by the U.S. citizens as Obamacare, aims to provide cheaper health insurance cost nationwide by broadening the scope of both Medicaid and Medicare health programs. It also restructured the private health insurance sector to better provide the citizens with quality service for less than the current cost.

You have to keep in mind that private health insurance will cost more than state-provided ones. However, combining public and private healthcare systems is a move that most retirees do to enjoy the best of both worlds. As of 2013, 46% of the total insured population in South Carolina are covered through their employers. Medicaid still is the primary government insurance for the low-income bracket of the population with a stipulation for disabled persons and Medicare caters to the elderly and senior sector of the population (over 65 years old).

The top 5 South Carolina Hospitals, according to U.S. News & World Report are the following:

MUSC Health University and Medical Center – Charleston
McLeod Regional Medical Center – Florence
Spartanburg Medical Center – Spartanburg
Roper St. Francis Hospital – Charleston
Bon Secours St. Francis Health System – Greenville

Should I Retire to South Carolina? People, Culture and Entertainment

People in South Carolina are just innately extra-friendly. They literally can and will “kill you with kindness”. However, don’t be fooled by this kindness because these people are notorious for statements that are somewhere between a compliment and “go to hell” declaration. If you find yourself confused as you talk to a local, don’t fret, most visitors eventually learn how to read between the lines soon enough.

In addition to being friendly, South Carolinians are rather conservative when it comes to government beliefs and laws. Here, addressing someone senior to you as “Sir” or “Ma’am” is deeply practiced as it is a sign of respect.

Get ready to hear “Praise Jesus” almost every time you talk to a local as Christianity is the main religion in this state. In fact, 93% of the population are Christians, and this religion is so ingrained into the state that it has evolved into a way of life as well. Monolithic churches of three-story-high with orchestra seating and auditorium architecture are the best testament on how deep Christianity roots are here.

People that come here are always mentioning shrimp and grits because apparently this is a staple food in the state and they claim that they make the best grits nationwide. One local even stated, “You’ll find no better tasting grits than here in South Carolina.” Another food that is a must try is the hushpuppies. This is a deep-fried corn batter that is served as a side dish for seafood and other main course meal. However, this is nothing to hush about because once you try it, you’ll rave about it. As you end your day in this state, you can wind down and walk along the beach or you can party hard and drink the famous South Carolinian whiskey named Fireball – a cinnamon-flavor infused, spicy drink that is a local favorite no matter what the occasion is.

Should I Retire to South Carolina? Attractions and Tourist Destinations

Knowing where to go as you settle in this state is something that you will surely need to plan for. As a retiree, you either want a simple walk at the beach to wind down as you end your day. However, the beach can only offer you so much. Once you get your fill of the salty air, sand, and sun, you will probably be looking for other places to visit.

South Carolina State Museum In Columbia

Start your tour of the historical sites of the state by visiting the largest museum South Carolina have. Here in South Carolina State Museum, you will enjoy four floors of South Carolinian rich history in arts, culture and technology. Kids are attracted by the science theater and planetarium this museum features, but who says that kids are the only ones that can enjoy the marvel it offers?

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia

For a more nature-themed tour, this is a perfect place to visit. Home to 350 diverse species of animals with around a total number of animal population of more than 2,000, this 2-acre land features a botanical garden and zipline. The Ndoki Forest in this location also serves also as a sanctuary to a number of animal species.

Fort Sumter & Charleston Harbor in Charleston

The well-preserved ruins of the fort can be enjoyed via a boat tour or through a walking tour in this National Park. The Rangers have done a great job in rendering an image of how the fort used to look like during the American Civil War.

Should I Retire to South Carolina? Overall Thoughts

South Carolina is a good place to retire and for various reasons. Great weather, numerous locations that are quiet and peaceful, and tourist destinations to keep you entertained. The people are conservative and nice as long as you don’t critic their biscuits and the real estate market projections are all pointing in the positive direction. However, major setbacks are the cost and accessibility of healthcare and drinking water quality. If you can live with both issues, then you’ll be able to enjoy your retirement here in this state as it offers superb beaches, mountain scenery and nature parks for both young and old.

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