Are you thinking of moving to the Charleston, SC area? If so, one choice to make is which area or neighborhood to focus on for house hunting. One popular choice is the Town of Mount Pleasant, which is part of Charleston County and a separate municipality from Charleston, as well as one of the fastest growing cities in the US. Here’s an introduction to Mount Pleasant and why it might be the right area for you and your family.
Just over the beautiful Ravenel Bridge to the east from the Charleston peninsula, Mount Pleasant is both part of Charleston and has an identity all its own. It’s bordered by the Wando River to the west, Francis Marion National Forest to the north, and the beach towns of the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island to the east.
Access to Mount Pleasant is great. Running through Mount Pleasant to Charleston and eventually on to Savannah, Highway 17 is the main thoroughfare here. The interstate spur I-526 is also important, connecting Mount Pleasant to Daniel Island, North Charleston, West Ashley, and I-26. Plus, the Charleston Water Taxi runs hourly from Mount Pleasant to Charleston, so you can skip the car altogether.
One big draw of the area is its location; it’s a short drive to many nearby destinations. From the middle of Mount Pleasant (where North Highway 17 and I-526 meet), average drive times are:
As a town in its own right and as part of Charleston County, Mount Pleasant has many facilities and amenities for residents as well as some nationally recognized attractions. Up Highway 17, Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, gives educational tours of the old plantation and sells produce from its working farm. On Charleston Harbor by the bridge, the decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Yorktown at Patriots Point is now a museum ship, open for tours.
Mount Pleasant has plenty of shopping, restaurants, and bars, too. One popular area is Shem Creek, which is lined with restaurants and bars on both sides. Residents and visitors alike come to eat or grab a drink outside and watch the working shrimp boats, paddle boarders, kayakers, and dolphins in the creek.
Families have many options when it comes to schools, with approximately two dozen public and private schools in Mount Pleasant. These include the elementary schools Mount Pleasant Academy and Belle Hall Elementary School; middle schools Moultrie Middle School and East Cooper Montessori Charter School; and high schools Wando High School and the newly built Lucy Garrett Beckham High School, which is scheduled to open in Fall 2020.
Two major hospitals serve Mount Pleasant: East Cooper Medical Center, close to the junction of Highway 17 and I-526, and Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital, which is further up Highway 17 beyond Highway 41.
Last but not least, Mount Pleasant has many recreational facilities for residents, including county parks, public piers for water sports, playgrounds, athletic facilities, and much more.
The price per square foot reflects how desirable a location Mount Pleasant is. Mount Pleasant’s real estate goes for $220 per square foot, compared to $211 for an average for the city of Charleston, according to Zillow.
Mount Pleasant’s long history combined with its recent population growth means that when it comes to houses, it’s all about choice. You’ll find a wide variety of homes available, from historic houses from the early 1800s to waterfront mansions to 1960s single-story ranches to just-built custom homes with the newest finishes and amenities. Some feature classical Charleston architectural elements like double porches but you can also find homes built in Greek Revival, Colonial, Italianate, and many other styles, too.
In general, the oldest homes are found closer to the bridge and the water, and hence closer to Charleston. This area, Mount Pleasant Historic District, is on the National Register of Historic Places for its historical importance and architectural styles, and has many well-maintained buildings that are hundreds of years old.
Newer homes are being built further north, with many new developments around and beyond Highway 41. If your dream is to design and build your own house, and you want to do that in Mount Pleasant, you have plenty of options to do that in northern Mount Pleasant.
In addition, Mount Pleasant also has many apartment complexes, townhome developments, and condo subdivisions that offer more options beyond single-family homes.
In short, no matter your preferences are in a home, you can surely find what you’re looking for in Mount Pleasant.
It boils down to the quality of life. Mount Pleasant has the great weather, spectacular natural beauty, delicious food, and Southern charm that draws many people to the Lowcountry. That, coupled with its excellent location and variety of homes, is why so many people want to live in Mount Pleasant. The lifestyle is suburban, with the benefit of being close to the beaches, the airport, and the charms of downtown Charleston.
If you’re interested in looking in Mount Pleasant for your new home, call me at 843-806-7222 or email me here. I would love to show you around the area and help you find your dream home in the beautiful Lowcountry.
4,176 people live in MOUNT PLEASANT, where the median age is 50.8 and the average individual income is $39,964. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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MOUNT PLEASANT has 1,590 households, with an average household size of 2.62. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in MOUNT PLEASANT do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 4,176 people call MOUNT PLEASANT home. The population density is 48.75 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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I know what it means to call the Lowcountry home. And it’s my mission to help you call it home too. It’s why we work so hard to make your real estate dreams come true. It’s why we build relationships, not databases. It’s why we treat everyone like a neighbor, because it’s our intention that one day you will be.
