Did you know that Charleston metro neighborhoods are growing in leaps and bounds? In fact, Charleston and the surrounding suburbs are growing three times faster than the national average.
With a population of over 800,000 people, this dazzling city’s cards are out on the table. You can live in tidy marshland suburbs with plenty of water views or you can opt for downtown living with its cobblestone charm and glistening beauty.
You’ll have a hard time honing in on one neighborhood because, in truth, they all have something to offer. Still, let’s put on our walking shoes and stroll through some of the most promising neighborhoods in the alluring Lowcountry.
Mount Pleasant
This pleasant neighborhood is aptly named. In fact, it’s one of the best Charleston neighborhoods. Located just over the Ravenel Bridge (from the Charleston metro area), it has spades of charm.
First, there’s its proximity to downtown. But, if you turn around and travel in the other direction, you’re also quite close to Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms. Each sandy shoreline is a charming oasis.
In Mount Pleasant, you’re nestled between the bright lights of downtown life and the calm, cool tranquility of the Atlantic Ocean.
On the weekends that you want to stay home, you won’t be disappointed. There’s a range of old and new subdivisions that are packed full of charm. The grocery stores are clean and well-stocked.
Pack a picnic basket because Mount Pleasant is also loaded with walking trails, including those within Nelson Park, Deerfield Nature Park, and Yost Park.
As for the kiddos, you’ll know they’re well tended to throughout the day because the school system in Mount Pleasant is top-rated and award-winning.
The French Quarter
If you’re looking for Charleston neighborhoods with a little more pizazz, then you’ll be among your peers in the French Quarter.
Better stated, it’s one of the most romantic Lowcountry neighborhoods. It’s dazzling with its art galleries, eclectic boutiques, and superb dining options.
The whole of Charleston comes to town once a year to enjoy the Charleston Art Walk here in the French Quarter.
Being a year-round resident, however, puts you a step ahead. With historic churches and neighborhood parks dotting this lovely slice to Lowcountry living, going out for a Sunday stroll will be the highlight of your week.
Stiles Point
Stiles Point is actually part of the greater James Island neighborhood. But, it’s easy to see why this has always been one of the most cherished neighborhoods in Charleston.
Many of the homes here come with marsh and harbor views. Residents never have to travel to take in some of the finest sunrises and evening tides.
The homes here are truly show stopping. Many of them fall into the antebellum-style (with massive, state-of-the-art upgrades inside and out). Residents can often be found sipping their morning tea or evening nightcap from their wraparound porches.
Here, you’ll be moments from downtown Charleston in one direction and Folly Beach in the other. There’s a five-acre recreation area with a children’s playground, picnic tables, tennis courts, and more.
Of course, all the finest restaurants, golf courses, and boat landings are within reach, too. Much like Mount Pleasant, Stiles Point is nestled between two diamond destinations.
Grimball Gates
Let’s move over from James Island to Johns Island. Everyone living in Charleston knows this: Gramball Gates is the crème de la crème.
It is, to no surprise, a gated community 12 miles south of the Charleston Peninsula. Here, residents enjoy nearly 100 acres of nature preserves to explore, a private pavilion to entertain guests, and a community dock to launch out of.
Life is centered around the water and residents lap it up. It’s a tight-knit community. So, if you like bumping into your neighbors at school drop-offs and pick-ups, then you’ll love it here. People are friendly; they zip around in golf carts; and everyone manages to do well together, from young families to settled-in retirees.
Downtown Charleston
Of course, we can never preclude the charming streets of Charleston itself. If you’d like to live in an elegant web of cobblestone streets, dazzling rooftop bars, art galleries, boutiques, and historic homes, then this is where you belong.
You won’t have the freedom to spread out the way you might in a delightful suburb like Mount Pleasant, but there’s plenty of appeal to this charming downtown.
It’s a walkable city. So, you might be one of the lucky ones who can breeze out of their historic home in the morning, stroll through one of the pretty-as-a-postcard parks, and arrive at the office feeling rejuvenated because you live in one of the most unique cities in the world.
Then, on your lunch break, you’d do well to stroll the South of Broad neighborhood. It’s loaded with historic homes, secret alleyways, fine gardens, and magnificent mansions.
Whether you’re just starting out in life or shifting into your Golden Years, you’ll find your comrades here in downtown Charleston because there’s a little bit of everything for everyone under the warm coastal sun.
The Best Charleston Metro Neighborhoods
If it sounds a bit like living in a glittering snow globe, that’s because it is!
While these are the best Charleston metro neighborhoods for many reasons, there are still plenty of other jewels in the crown, including Summerville, West Ashley, and Kiawah Island.
When you find your own historical home, we hope you’ll give us a call. Here at Smooth Move, we specialize in effortless, smooth moves so each of our clients can start their Charleston chapters with minimal stress.
Secure a free moving quote today and, together, we’ll help you settle in whether you’ve selected a waterfront property, an old historic home, or a chic apartment in the heart of downtown Charleston.