Possibly Relocating to Lexington/Columbia (Charleston, Chapin: homes, neighborhood, best schools)

[FriedmannA]

We're currently considering relocating to Lexington/Columbia area from Minneapolis, MN. What can you tell me about living in the Lake Murray area. I think our housing budget can support living close or on the lake. We have two kids that are in 5th & 7th grades, so schools are very important. We are very outdoorsy people, not really religious (is this an issue?), love the Minneapolis area (especially the lakes and boating), but not really the winters. We're a little nervous about moving to a smaller town. Does Columbia have some type of nightlife (bars & restaurants)? Are there other areas that are more desirable than Lexington, as my spouse would be working from home, therefore, commute time is not an issue. Any insight you can give would be welcome!

[gamecoxfan1]

Lexington is a wonderful city/town just outside Columbia. The schools are the best in the state. Columbia has a lot of nightlife and great restraunts. There is the wondeful Congaree Vista and the 5 points district in downtown. Along with the growing Main St. Not being religious is not a problem just the area tends to be more conservative in the long run. Columbia is a wonderful place for nature lovers! Lake Muarry is a great lake to live and play on also!

[Charlestondata]

Some say Lexington-Richland District 5 has the best schools in the state. Chapin is on the lake and is nicknamed the Capital of Lake Murray. It's 20 miles north-northeast of Columbia. There's an in-town "lake" or two where you would be zoned for Dreher High School, also among the state's best.

[waccamatt]

I think you'll find plenty of nightlife. If you look at city population figures then it might seem like a small city, but keep in mind that Columbia's metro population is almost 800,000. If you want to be within walking distance of good schools, restaurants and nightlife then the Shandon/Rosewood/Wales Garden/Melrose Heights/Heathwood area in town is zoned for Dreher High School and its feeder schools and close to both the Devine Street corridor and Five Points.

[ranger17]

we moved here from WI 2 winters ago and love it. Our neighborhood is on the lake, one thing we noticed ( in comparison to many of the lakes in WI anyhow ) is that it's not so much a matter of single homes on the lake but actually larger 'hoods. Many of which have their own boat access/launch ( a huge plus for us ). We actually are on the north side of the lake in the Chapin/Ballentine area, also known for their school districts. Drive time to the "mall" area is less then 20 mins and into Columbia maybe 30.
Coming from a suburb of Madison, we tried to find something similar down here; on or near a lake but close enough to the "city" for shopping/eating needs. We work from home so commuting is a non-issue, but we've both driven further in the past and the lack of winter makes any commute ( for a midwesterner ) much easier here; this was a relocation by choice for us.
Being near Cola gives us 2 big pluses we did not have in WI: that being the ocean is a 2 hr drive in one direction ( Charleston, also great for sightseeing ), and the mountains a couple hr drive in the other direction. If big city ammenities are needed that you can not find down here, then Charlotte is 2 hrs away as well. But this location has plenty to do for adults and kids, the zoo is great, there are some nice parks, the malls are nice ( hey, maybe they arent the MOA but what is! ), and being on the water in winter doesnt include drilling a hole thru 18" of ice to fish..


We came down for a week before our relocation, not only spent time with our realtor to learn more about the overall area, but we also did things we'd do if we were residents. That sold us.

Oh, and while last year had one storm with the 4th heaviest snowfall in history ( 8" +/- ) and this winter is one of the coldest ( along with a couple inches of snow from the 26th ), winter here is like fall in WI/MN. Just be ready for summer; long and hot. But with the lake close by, it is not a big deal.

Good luck with your search!

[cgwcola]

Check out saludariuverclub.com. We are minutes from the lake and have 1 mile of river frontage. We are a pedestrian and family friendly neighborhoos with numerous amenities. I would happy to provide additional information. Catherine [email]cwright@saludariverclub.com[/email]