Moving to Savannah

From one Texan to another...Savannah is a different culture from the west, but a place that I absolutely love.
When we were looking to move we were in the same boat, moving without visiting. I talked with several realtors adn let them know that my priorities were the schools, and a place where my kids could go out and play safely. they all directed me to Richmond Hill. This is the best place for us to be. it is a bit smaller than we planned on, but Savannah is small to us coming from a big city. we drive to Tybee or somewhere in Savannah during the weekends and enjoy time as a family and with friends during the week.
Savannah is broken up by water...there is a lot of water, so just about everywhere you are you are going to have to drive a bit for one thing or another.
Wish you the best of luck.
Also, Bryan county schools are the best as far as public schools go.

Hi S.,
Im sure you will have many opinions on this one.
Here is my opinion.
Savannah is like many little cities in one. The inner Chatham county schools are not so good, meaning, in the city. Def. stay away from those. Unfortunately, those are closest to SCAD. Im assuming you are meaning public schools? There are many private that way.
The outskirts are the best way to go. Wilmington Island would be a very easy commute to SCAD. You have two grocery stores, a Walmart, restaurants, hardware store ect.....there so no need to leave unless you have to. Its an easy route to downtown (8-10 min.)and also 10 miles from Tybee Island (the beach). Wilmington is a marsh island not a beached island.
Then you have Richmond Hill, which have the best schools around but it would be prob. a 45 min. or longer commute or so. There is Rincon, which wouldnt be so far from SCAD but not too much out there but some really nice houses for much cheaper. Not sure what is important to you?
Downtown is so gorgeous and the houses are great. I lived on 51st which is considered midtown and it was beautiful but not very safe. We just moved 3 months ago after being broken into. So the beauty wasnt worth it to me.
I live on Tybee Island now and my son goes to school at Marshpoint on Wilmington Island and I cant say enough good things about it there! There is also a public middle school there and the highschool is supposed to be built in the next few years.
As far as work. well, that is up in the air everywhere with the economy so I cant really tell you that. SCAD is a wonderful school and SAvannah is a really fun place! We love it here and will never leave. We have only been here 3 years. There are great parks, absolutely gorgeous trees with hanging moss, great restaurants, great beach, very interesting history and River Street is really beautiful, although we dont go down there as much as we used to when we first moved here. REally gorgeous!! But it is very very hot in the summer here. The humidity is stifling!!
Oh and the public school kindergarten is all day here.

All the mama's are pretty much accurate.

Everything that the first mom said sounded pretty right on. The actual city is gorgeous, but my husband and I opted to move out of there as well(thankfully we were just renters so it wasn't hard to do) we moved to port wentworth which by zip code is still savannah but we are actually our own little city I guess. Its about 10 minute drive to down town if that, and close to all your normal amenities close to 95 and the airport too. We loveit here. Richmond hill is also nice but a little further drive to get you downtown to SCAD. The Berwick area is also very popular there are several neighborhoods ranging from town homes to huge houses, most with nice playgrounds and pools for the community. port wnetworth and berwick both have good elementary schools but I think both end up in more urban and poorly rated high schools. There are several topnotch private schools in the area if that is an option for you. Islands areas are nice. I would say choose your home near better school, safer neighborhoods and then just commute into downtown. Traffic is not horrible, the worst I would say would be abercorn and 516. Especially around the southside and georgetown areas at rush hours.
All that said we love Savannah and I hope we never move the Summers are hot thats for sure but the beautiful mild temperatures the natural scenery and list of things to do with your family all make this an awesome city!

Hi S.! Congrats on going to SCAD! I have lived in Savannah most of my life and I know what is good and bad. I recommend living in Port Wentworth, which is outside of Savannah. The elementary school is great (my children go there) and they do have an all day Pre-K and up school. They also have "Pryme Tyme" which is a before/after school care at the school available. I live in Port Wentworth and I am happy living there. A new middle and high school is being built now to suite the growing population of the west side. If you have any further questions, please feel free to let me know. GOOD LUCK and WELCOME TO SAVANNAH!