MOUNT PLEASANT SC

I’ll make this easy. If it's in your price range, Mt Pleasant should be the top area you look at. Schools are A+ rated, they’re more like college campuses than schools. Whatever your lifestyle is, Mt Pleasant has it.

MOUNT PLEASANT SC
Shem Creek, Mt Pleasant. Photo by Morgan Bastian

Mount Pleasant Real Estate Price 2024

Single Family Homes : Median Price: $990,000. Range is : $600k - $10M


Pros of Living in Mt Pleasant

  • It’s Mt Pleasant. By far, the most wanted area for newcomers.
  • Schools. A+ rated, they’re more like college campuses than schools.
  • It’s clean, well-maintained, lots of green & water.
  • Whatever your lifestyle is, Mt Pleasant has it.
  • Close to beaches and the city.

Cons of Living in Mt Pleasant

  • It’s not cheap. You get what you pay for
  • There’s traffic, but it’s not too bad.

Mount Pleasant Residents Say.....

Here are ten comments from a Reddit thread written by people who live in Mt Pleasant SC. Both good and bad.

  1. "Living in Mount Pleasant is pretty sweet. It's close enough to Charleston to enjoy the city buzz but far enough to have its own suburban charm."
  2. "The schools here are top-notch, which is a big plus for families. Plus, there are plenty of parks and green spaces for outdoor activities."
  3. "Shopping and dining options are on point. You've got everything from local boutiques to big-name stores and great restaurants."
  4. "Traffic can be a headache, especially during rush hour. It's something you learn to navigate, though."
  5. "The neighborhoods are well-kept, and there’s a sense of pride in the community. It feels safe and friendly."
  6. "Housing costs have been going up, though. It's becoming more upscale, which means higher prices."
  7. "There's a good mix of newer developments and older, more established areas. Something for everyone."
  8. "It’s a family-friendly place with lots of events and activities. Perfect if you've got kids."
  9. "The beach is just a short drive away, which is a major perk. Weekend trips to the coast are easy."
  10. "Overall, Mount Pleasant is a great blend of suburban comforts and easy access to Charleston. It’s no wonder it’s growing so fast."

Where is Mt Pleasant

Mt Pleasant is just over the big Ravenel Bridge from Downtown Charleston. It’s connected to two barrier islands, Isle of PalmsSullivan’s Island


What is Mount Pleasant Like?

I’ll make this easy. If you can afford it, Mt Pleasant should be the top area you look at.

Life in Mt Pleasant is very good. Wealthy people live here and wealthy people usually get what they want. So the schools in Mount Pleasant are some of the best in the area. Wando High School & the new Lucy Beckham High School would put many universities to shame with their facilities. This is what draws so many families here.

Work, the family, walk the neighborhood, get your groceries at the Farmers Market, hit the beach at the weekend. go to happy hour, hit some golf balls, stretch at yoga, go out on a boat, lay on the beach. That’s Mt Pleasant life.

The subdivisions have all the amenities that you could ever want. The newer ones are more like vacation resorts than residential neighborhoods. There are more traditional neighborhoods like the Old Village if you prefer big trees and big lots.

Want to live on the water? Mount Pleasant is surrounded by water on three of its sides. There are nine public boat ramps in Mt Pleasant.

Like to golf? There’s a golf course for every day of the week here. Take the golf cart from your house to the course.

You have a choice of two beaches very close, Isle of Palms & Sullivan’s Island. Shem Creek is a favorite happy hour spot on the water.

This is the easiest of these guides to write because there’s so much in Mt Pleasant. I lived in Mt Pleasant for years and never got bored exploring it.


Who Lives in Mount Pleasant?

People with enough money to afford the property prices here. It’s rare to find a Charleston native here because so many people who move to Charleston from other parts of the country all know about Mt Pleasant, want to live here, and have the money to buy here. But there are still some older school Charleston folks who’ve lived here for a long time. Retirees who moved here for the quality of life.


Mt Pleasant Restaurants & Bars

Chefs go where there’s money, so there are new restaurants always opening in Mt Pleasant. There are classic long-time places mixed in there too. Don’t overlook the little ethnic places hidden in the strip malls. I love a good meal on Shem Creek, watching the sun set over the boats. Coleman Boulevard is the social scene of Mt Pleasant, you can go from spot to spot easily. Sullivan’s Island is popular too for its beach atmosphere.

There's a market on Tuesday afternoons at Moultrie Middle School for buy fresh produce direct from the suppliers.


Shopping in Mount Pleasant

For the shoppers, Whole Foods opened its first store in South Carolina here. You know they do their research before opening stores. Name a US chain and they have a store in Mount Pleasant.


Mt Pleasant Parks & Recreation

This could be a very long list, so I’ll make it simple. Whatever your kid is into, there are excellent facilities for in Mt Pleasant. And for adult sports too. There’s a water park, and dog parks galore. Go kayaking or SUP from Shem Creek. Launch your boat at any of the boat ramps. If you don’t have a boat, ten of your friends will.

Mt Pleasant Waterfront Park has fishing, movies, and dancing on the pier. Shem Creek Pier will get you up close to the marsh life and some dolphins. The Pitt Street Bridge will bring you nowhere, but you’ll love the view.


How Far is Mt Pleasant From

Airport: 25 minutes. Beach: 15 minutes


Best Neighborhoods in Mt Pleasant SC

This is a tough one. There are so many excellent neighborhoods in Mt Pleasant. It took me a while to narrow down to my Top Ten. In no order, here are some of the best neighborhoods in Mt Pleasant.

Top Ten Neighborhoods in Mt Pleasant SC

1. Old Village

Maybe the most naturally beautiful neighborhood in Mt Pleasant. This used the center of town many years ago. It has that classic large lot neighborhood feel with huge oak lining the streets. Many older brick ranches have been replaced by large houses. There are some architecturally gorgeous Southern homes here. Houses on the waterfront go for millions. The location is perfect. Ten minutes to both downtown and the beaches. Schools are a short cycle away.

2. I’On

I’On is a master-planned community that has won national awards. It’s a unique neighborhood. Parts of it feel like you live in a European city, parts of it are unquestionably classic Lowcountry Charleston and then there’s a Greek Orthodox church in the middle of it all.

Lots are small and houses are packed tightly in. And you pay very high prices for land and homes. People who live in I’On will let you know they live in I’On. That may not sound like an appealing combination but it is. You have to visit I’On to appreciate just how nice it is.

3. Hamlin Plantation

Hamlin, ok I’m biased here. I’ve owned several homes in Hamlin. I just love it. It’s got that classic southern feel and it’sbig enough to support its many amenities, but it’s not as big as some other developments that take you 15 minutes of driving just to get out of the neighborhood.

Of all the big subdivisions, I think the developers did the best job at the very start of planning here. They had a clear vision for it and executed it perfectly.

The Sound is their high-end subsection, gorgeous marsh-front homes with views for miles. Other neighborhoods make you drive past much lower-cost housing on the way to your mansion. That makes me come across as snobby. It shouldn’t. If I’m spending a few million on a house, I want that exclusive feel. Hamlin pulls it off.

I also like that it’s off Rifle Range Road, so you can take the back roads and avoid Highway 17.

4. Park West

Park West is massive. It has 2,500 homes. Its nearly 20 subsections have everything from your first one-bed apartment to your senior living. You spend your entire life in Park West!

It does take you 15 minutes to get out of it from its deepest point. But in return, you get everything on your doorstep. Elementary and middle schools are in Park West. Wando HS is around the corner. If you have an accident, Roper St Francis Hospital is close enough to limp too.

It’s got every recreational amenity you could ever want, including a boat ramp.

5. Dunes West

Dunes West is a gated golf community. Some houses have 1-2 acres. The land is so expensive in MtP that it’s very rare to have lots this big. Dunes West has 1500 houses on its 1500 acres, so if you want space, this could be the right place for you. Seeing deer in your yard is common.

The Dunes West Golf Club is the hub of the community. Miles of walking paths. Dunes West has all types of homes fromlow-maintenance townhomes up to marsh-front houses.

6. Rivertowne

Just across Highway 41 from Dunes West & Park West is Rivertowne. Rivertowne has 1,000 homes. Rivertowne Country Club and golf course are within the subdivision. Some of the homes in Rivertowne are waterfront with docks giving you access to the Wando River. There’s also a community dock, along with multiple pools, and walking trails.

7. Carolina Park

Carolina Park is a master development that started building just as the last crash hit, so for many years, there were only 4 houses on its 1500 acres.

But from that inauspicious start in life, it has bloomed into one of the nicest and most popular developments in all ofCharleston. There are now 1500 homes here. I like that they brought in some different builders here. So there’s not just the same plans repeated. Each builder brought their style, but they all mesh well together.

Wando High School is at the entrance to Carolina Park which makes it very popular for folks with school-aged kids. Families tend to settle and stay here.

8. Oyster Point

Oyster Point has probably the nicest pool in the area. It is next to the Isle of Palms Connector, so it’s closer to downtown than some of the other large amenity-filled subdivisions. I like it a lot.

It’s a newer development, so it has modern floor plans and you shouldn’t have to remodel or do too much maintenance for a while. It has single-story senior sections, townhomes, regular homes, and then some large homes right on the marsh.

It’s on 600 acres and they didn’t try to squeeze in as many houses as possible. The builders left a lot of green space and water. So it’s got a more spacious open feel than some other developments.

9. Snee Farm

Snee Farm is an older, 70s-era neighborhood. It’s more traditional in styling, the landscaping is mature. Some houses have been renovated already and others haven't, so if you want to put your own taste into a renovation, this could be an opportunity for you.

It’s centrally located, right at the IOP Connector. Close to Boone Hall and the Mt Pleasant Towne Center. It has a highly-rated swim club and golf course.

10. Belle Hall

Again, I’m a little biased here. I bought my first house here. I won’t upset you by telling you little I paid for it! Belle Hall is well maintained. I love the feel in there. There's smaller starter homes, while the custom builds on the marsh have fabulous views.

The location is excellent. Belle Hall is very popular with people who want to be closer to downtown than some of the other subdivisions in Mt Pleasant. If you need to get to the north area since the ramp to I-526 is at the entrance to Belle Hall.


Want To See Some Mt Pleasant Houses?

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Other Areas Like Mt Pleasant

If you want another upscale suburban area, Daniel Island is the closest both in similarity and location. Parts of West Ashley & James Island have family friendly neighborhoods and waterfront houses. Both of these areas will be more affordable too.