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Retire in Isle of Palms, South Carolina?
Overview: This mellow, affluent barrier island town is just 15 miles east of Charleston on the mid-South Carolina coast. It is best known for its clean beaches, colorful, open-air eateries and beautiful homes.
Bodysurfing, shrimping, and crabbing are popular pastimes. The Wild Dunes Beach and Racquet Club - on the island's northern end - has golf courses, tennis courts, and swimming pools. The Windjammer Beach Club sponsors beach volleyball tournaments and live concerts, while the oceanfront Isle of Palms County Park has a designated swimming area with lifeguards. Residents also enjoy a dog park, baseball fields, and tennis courts. The marina has a double-wide public boat ramp, 50 slips, secure floating docks, and fuel. City events include a beach run, a sea turtle release, an oyster roast, and Island Gras. Classes for seniors range from line dancing to writing and yoga. Isle of Palms is just across the bridge from Mount Pleasant (population 68,000) and its amenities.
Home styles include plantation, cottage, ranch rambler, new urbanism and stilt. Neighborhoods have an understated Southern coastal charm, and lots are lushly landscaped with palm trees, oak trees and flowering gardens. Condos are plentiful, too.
Population: 4,500 (city proper)
Age 45 or Better: 57%
Cost of Living: 80% above the national average
Median Home Price: $810,000
Climate: Summer temperatures are in the 80s and 90s, and winter temperatures are in the 30s, 40s and 50s. On average, the area receives 47 inches of rain per year.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? No, but East Cooper Medical Center in Mt. Pleasant is five miles away and accepts Medicare patients.
At Least One Hospital Accredited By Joint Commission? No, but East Cooper Medical Center in Mt. Pleasant is five miles away and is accredited.
Public Transit: No
Crime Rate: Below the national average
Public Library: Yes
Political Leanings: Liberal
College Educated: 70%
Is South Carolina Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Yes
Cons: Hurricanes are always a possibility. In 2018, Hurricane Florence caused some damage.
Notes: Isle of Palms has a sizeable part-time population and is very quiet in the winter. It has grown by 3% in the last decade.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes
South Carolina:
South Carolina is nicknamed the Palmetto State and its motto is "Dum spiro spero," which is Latin for "While I Breath, I Hope." It is 40th in size in the United States and was the eighth state to be admitted to the Union on May 23, 1788. The largest city and state capital is Columbia.
Formerly known as the Province of South Carolina, the area was also one of the 13 Colonies that declared its independence during the American Revolution. The state was the first to secede from the Union and was the first and founding state of the Confederate States of America.
South Carolina is in what is considered the Deep South and is bordered by the states of Georgia on the south and North Carolina on the north.
The state does not host any major professional sport franchises. However, the Carolina Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes actually represent both North Carolina and South Carolina.
Stats:
Population - 4,961,018
Persons 65 years old and over - 16%
High school graduates, persons age 25+ - 85%
Bachelor's degree or higher, age 25+ - 25%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin - 5%
White persons, not Hispanic - 64%
Median household income - $45,483
Social Security taxed? No
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
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