FORT MILL NAMED 10th MOST AFFORDABLE IN COUNTRY

BUSINESS WEEK NAMED FORT MILL, SC THE 10TH MOST AFFORDABLE TOWN IN THE COUNTRY

Even during the national recession, Fort Mill retains its appeal for being in the top list for "Best Affordable Suburb 2009″. Fort Mill is a former mill town that is now considered a suburban hot spot.

The magazine considered the affordability of suburbs around the country and chose one from each state that met their criteria for affordability. Suburbs located within 25 miles of a major city with populations of 5,000 to 60,000 people and median incomes of $51,000 to $120,000 were considered.

The quality of education, crime rates, ease of commuting and the availability of green space were all considered. Locales were penalized for poor weather, high divorce rates and lack of racial diversity. BusinessWeek studied suburbs near the biggest city in each state to find where the best quality of life for your money is.

The CEO of the Piedmont Regional Association of Realtors, which covers Fort Mill, says that the good schools, good economy, lower taxes, good housing prices, (in many cases less than in other areas), bring many people to the area. He also says that our housing prices are only down about three percent.

The magazine listed the No. 1 most affordable suburb as Pewaukee, Wis., a community of about 12,000 located about 20 minutes outside Milwaukee. Another Charlotte-area suburb, Cornelius, N.C., came in at No. 7.

I personally live in Fort Mill and love it for many reasons. I, too, moved across the state line to live here because of the schools and the tax structure. It is a great place to make memories and raise a family!