Move to south North Carolina or north South Carolina (Charlotte: insurance, how much)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Would it be cheaper on average to live in south Charlotte area like Matthews, Pineville, Ballantyne etc in the south part of Charlotte right along the NC/SC state border lines or are the SC locations like Fort Mill, Clover, Lancaster etc cheaper? I mean with utilities, groceries, medical care, rent, housing, taxes etc. I know gas is cheaper in SC due to lower gas taxes. NC seems to have lower state income tax. And what if you work say in NC but live in SC or vise verse? How do taxes work with that?
Much of it depends on how many hours a week stuck in bumper to bumper traffic you feel comfortable with.How much is your time worth and how much can you afford to pay for gasoline.
Short answer is probably upper SC in a more rural area, however I totally agree it's dependent on where you work. You quality of life (stuck in traffic) and cost of gas could play into your decision.
With regards to housing on a price per square foot basis:
Fort Mill will be more expensive than Pineville due to schools / family friendly reputation. The northern tip of Lancaster is probably similar in price per square foot to Pineville and cheaper than Matthews and Ballantyne. Clover and southern Lancaster should be cheaper than all of the North Carolina locations you mentioned and Fort Mill on a price per square foot basis.
For medical care, many facilities in the area than are top rated are affiliated with Atrium Health or Novant Health. You would likely be going to facilities in Mecklenburg (or branches of Mecklenburg based practices) for healthcare. I.E. Orthocarolina, Charlotte Asthma and Allergy, Carolina Neurosurgery, Charlotte Ear Nose and Throat, etc... are examples of the top specialist in those fields. Cost will thus likely be a wash and depend on your insurance. Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill has a pretty bad reputation and most residents across the border head to Emergency Rooms at Atrium Pineville, Atrium CMC Main, etc.
South Carolina recently increased their gas tax so the gap with North Carolina is a little smaller now. Charlotte gas stations vs. Fort Mill gas stations now only have about a 10 cent per gallon difference. If you fill up at Costco or Sam's Club on the North Carolina side, the price is the same or cheaper than the Fort Mill gas stations. I.E. $2.34 per gal at Sam's Club in Pineville, NC today versus $2.45 per gal at the gas stations clustered around Carowinds Boulevard in South Carolina.
Property tax is cheaper in SC. But Union County property taxes aren't too far behind (maybe someone here knows the percentages of the tax rate, and I know it is dependent on the town/city as well.)
We looked at living across the border (we even were looking at a neighborhood that had homes on. both sides of the border!) but I have two kids in NC state colleges, and it didn't make sense to change states for us.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,814 posts, read 34,693,648 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by floridarebel
Would it be cheaper on average to live in south Charlotte area like Matthews, Pineville, Ballantyne etc in the south part of Charlotte right along the NC/SC state border lines or are the SC locations like Fort Mill, Clover, Lancaster etc cheaper? I mean with utilities, groceries, medical care, rent, housing, taxes etc. I know gas is cheaper in SC due to lower gas taxes. NC seems to have lower state income tax. And what if you work say in NC but live in SC or vise verse? How do taxes work with that?
It can depend on where you work, as well as what your commute tolerance is. Do you have a job lined up?
Don't know if this will last but over the last couple months we've noticed a consistent and exactly .45 cent difference in gas between Belmont and the Lake Wylie area.
If you live in a community without water and sewer services you will pay for those yourself and be responsible for maintenance and repair and replacement. Occasionally a water softener is necessary for such a supply. Trash collection is also your $$$ responsibility. Same for volunteer fire department and your insurance will be higher if in a VFD coverage area and with no hydrant nearby. More driving costs money. Lower tax is a good thing until it is not.
Don't know if this will last but over the last couple months we've noticed a consistent and exactly .45 cent difference in gas between Belmont and the Lake Wylie area.
Current price difference is smaller.
As of today Lake Wylie's stations are priced between $2.43 and $2.45.
Belmont's stations are priced between $2.55 and $2.59
10 - 16 cent difference
Assuming the average American fuel consumption per year of 656 gallons of fuel, that 10 cent difference is a marginal savings of $65.60 per year for living on the South Carolina side of the border.
Now if somebody lived closer to their job (say 5 miles away instead of 20 miles away) and cut their annual fuel consumption 30%, they would be purchasing 459 gallons of fuel per year instead of 656, saving approximately $483 in fuel per year at $2.45 per gallon.
Last edited by CLT4; 07-16-2019 at 03:14 PM..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
