Thinking of moving to Columbia, SC? South Carolina’s capital city is a fast-growing metro that offers a small town feel and affordable cost of living plus a friendly culture, incredible art scene, and fantastic restaurants, it’s no wonder this “Soda City” was named as one of the top 100 best places to live in the U.S. Check out these terrific reasons to move to Columbia SC.
Affordable Place To Live
Columbia SC is the sixth in the top 25 most affordable places to live and work. The cost of living in Columbia is 4% lower than the national average, and the cost of housing is 11% lower than the national average. The capital city of South Carolina also offers major employers like Prisma Health, BlueCross BlueShield, AT&T, and the University of South Carolina. There are also plenty of job opportunities in Columbia for those who want to work in the healthcare, technology, and education industries.
A College Town
To say that the city of Columbia is a college town is a massive understatement! In fact, Columbia has dozens of colleges and universities, so it’s very easy for students seeking higher education to find a program that suits their interests and goals here. The University of South Carolina has been named America’s 44th best public college and offers over 80 distinct undergraduate programs and 250 graduate programs, ranging from anthropology to visual communications. Experience a thriving student life and individual-focused education at Columbia College, one of the best colleges for veterans and best value schools. Or apply to the private Christian institution Columbia International University, which offers online degrees for non-traditional students and on-campus classes for a variety of majors.
Warm Weather
If you’re thinking of moving to Columbia SC, you might need to retire your snow boots and dawn some shades. Columbia has an average of 217 sunny days each year, which is nearly two weeks more than the national average! Columbia is known for its humid, subtropical climate but still the city receives an average of 0.8 inches of snowfall in January. That’s certainly better than the several feet you’ll have farther North.
Outdoor Activities
Outdoor recreation in Columbia will give you tons of opportunities to explore the natural wonders in and around South Carolina’s capital city! Hike through the Southeastern United States’ largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest via footpaths like the River Trail and Boardwalk Loop Trail at Congaree National Park. Set up camp at Sesquicentennial State Park and spend an evening under the stars amid 1,400 acres of pines. Get up close and personal with stunning botanical exhibits and animal life from across the globe at Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens. Take a day trip to Lake Murray—the city’s largest manmade lake—and kayak around 50,000 acres of tranquil water. Or for a more laid-back excursion, pack a picnic and dine by the riverbank at Columbia Canal & Riverfront Park.
Great Restaurants
If you are considering moving to Columbia SC, you’ll be happy to hear we have great eats! Start your day with a Breakfast Quesadilla or Cinnamon Pancakes from Cafe Strudel. Savor Southern comfort food in the form of elevated dishes like BBQ Glazed Salmon at Cola’s Restaurant. Get your hands on some of the South’s best BBQ with sandwiches like the Wookie or Southern Belly Dipper from Southern Belly BBQ. Try a new take on ramen with the Miso Ramen at Menkoi Ramen House. Crush your hunger with a Triple Decker Corned Beef Reuben from Di Prato’s Delicatessen. Or reserve a table at Saludas for Filet Mignon, Seared Scallops, and other delicious dishes from the farm-to-table menu.
This and many more reasons for moving to Columbia SC should have you at least considering it. If you’d like to speak with someone about building a home in or near Columbia SC, call on Lady Street Builders. We have a terrific array of plans to inspire you, we could build from your existing plans, or we can build your home from the bottom up. We’ll build on your existing land or we have properties that you may like. Contact us today.
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