Woodside
Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken, South Carolina
What It Is Like to Retire in Aiken
If you like horses and an easy-going, warm weather climate you might want to think about making Aiken, South Carolina your retirement community. This town of almost 30,000 in western South Carolina’s Sand Hill country grew up as a healthy retreat where the wealthy could escape from hot weather. The “Winter Colony” as it is called has always been popular with the horsy set for fox hunting, steeplechase, and polo horses. Many people come here to either raise their horses or watch them race in steeple chases - the Imperial Cup each March and the Holiday Cup in October. Both of these steeplechase races are sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association. The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum is a local a tribute to the famous flat racing and steeplechase Thoroughbred horses that have trained here. The town’s infrastructure supports active adults 55+.There are restaurants and shopping nearby. The mountains and beaches are not far away and neither are Augusta and Atlanta. Aiken won the All-America City Award in 1997. For more information about how to retire in South Carolina or towns like Myrtle Beach , Charleston, or Orangeburg. Photo of downtown Aiken courtesy of Wikipedia and Festiva76 (public domain). Watch this short Youtube video presented by Visit Aiken SC
Where to Retire in Aiken and Home Prices
There are many active adult communities in the area with a wide variety of facilities, as well as areas within town in nice neighborhoods. According to Zillow, the median home value was $247,743 in late 2023. These prices can be deceptive as there are many homes and estates on the market for millions of dollars, whereas some condominium prices may be far less.
What Is Special about Aiken
Nice climate, horse country
What Is Not Special about Aiken
The very large (2100 acres) urban forest Hitchcock Woods is smack in the middle of Aiken. Traffic struggles daily as commuters, service vehicles and families back and forth to school and church are forced to circumnavigate the privately-owned forestland. There will never be roads through it. The 4.8-mile portion of limited-access Hitchcock Parkway (SC Hwy 118) directly adjacent along the western edge funnels more than 15,000 vehicle trips every day, thousands more than it was constructed to handle. The location of Hitchcock Woods proximate to all of and prominent in Aiken stifles this community's growth and residents' easy enjoyment of this region.
It is not considered a walkable community. Aiken's location in the countryside, away from the coast and near the Georgia border, might not be appealing to everyone.
Who Will Like Retirement in Aiken
People who like horses and who like to be active. Many active adults here live in developments built around golf or other activities.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Savannah River Site, tourism, mining, education, equestrian activities
Climate and Physical Environment
Aiken is located on the west-central edge of South Carolina. The average July high is 94 and the average January low is 33. June is the wettest month of the year.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
University of South Carolina, Aiken Academy for Lifelong Learning offers many full time classes, outdoor concerts, ballet and symphony, good amateur theatre
Crime
The crime rate in Aiken is above average.
Medical facilities
Aiken Regional Medical Center
Transportation
Augusta Regional Airport is 21 miles. It is not considered a walkable community - you have to drive for most errands. I20 is just to the north.
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