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West Haven

West Haven

Neighborhood in Florence, South Carolina

Florence County 29501

$148,024 Average Value
$109 Average Price per Sq Ft
4 Homes For Sale

Residential neighborhood walking distance to downtown

West Haven is a residential neighborhood along West Palmetto Street that stands out for its affordability and being within walking distance to Downtown Florence, about a mile away. Downtown is the hub of restaurants and retail and is home to several jobs, including McLeod Regional Hospital, the area's largest employer. This growth and vibrancy were not overnight successes and started several decades ago. "Florence metamorphosized over time and is one of the fastest growing areas in the state," says Jerry Keith Jr., a lifelong Florence resident and local entrepreneur. Keith's father was the first African American elected to the Florence County City Council in 1972 and helped plan the downtown area. "It took us 40 years to get where we are now, and over the next 40 years, it'll move exponentially faster," Keith says. The city and the state recognize his father's work, naming a section of East Cheves Street as Jerry M. Keith Boulevard in his honor.

Locals in West Haven can enjoy multiple outdoor dining options around the neighborhood.
Locals in West Haven can enjoy multiple outdoor dining options around the neighborhood.
Creative sculpture can be found in downtown Florence near West Haven.
Creative sculpture can be found in downtown Florence near West Haven.
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Mid-century ranches and cottages

Mid-century ranch-style houses and cottages positioned close to their neighbors line the streets of West Haven. Most of the homes are older but have seen some updates and revamping. "Back when COVID hit, everyone decided they were going to do some home renovations," says Crystal White Stroud, a Realtor with My Real Estate Group who has around 20 years of experience and was born and raised in Florence. "Being creative with a few tools, people were really able to transform their space." Prices in the area typically range from $96,000 for an investment property to $280,000 for a newer Stucco home with a carport and sizeable fenced backyard. "Affordability is a big thing in Florence and even more so in West Haven, since there aren't as many new constructions there," Stroud says. The streets are older and have just enough room for vehicles to pass each other and limit street parking and walking options since there are few sidewalks. Tall oak trees sit in clusters throughout the neighborhood, with some homes getting a canopy around the property.

Tudor style homes are quite common in West Haven.
Tudor style homes are quite common in West Haven.
Large estates sit on large tracts of land in the West Haven neighborhood.
Large estates sit on large tracts of land in the West Haven neighborhood.
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Tacos and sushi at King Jefes

With downtown only 1 mile away, West Haven residents don't need to go far to find dozens of local shops and restaurants. "You can't go wrong, whatever the food you want, there is a restaurant here you can get it from," says Florence Mayor Theresa Myers Irvin, a lifelong Florence resident. Among the standout eateries is LilJazZi's Café, a breakfast and lunch stop where patrons give high marks for its omelets and grits. Down the street is Town Hall, a highly regarded restaurant serving farm-to-table Southern favorites. Diners offer strong praise for the pork chops and cornbread. Town Hall also has a rooftop bar and happy hour with views overlooking downtown. The Loft Downtown Bar and Grill is a popular place to stop on a Friday after work for a few drinks or to grab some pub food like chicken wings and fries. King Jefe Taco and Sushi Bar offers Mexican food and drinks and a sushi bar. "It's thee best sushi in town," says Cameron Campbell, a Florence resident. "It's a Mexican food taco place so that you wouldn't think it, but it's a modern twist." Harris Teeter and Star Bazaar grocery stores are within a few blocks west of the neighborhood, along with the Florence Mall and several big-box retailers, like T.J. Maxx and Ross.

For sushi, West Haven residents can head to the King Jefe restaurant.
For sushi, West Haven residents can head to the King Jefe restaurant.
The Loft offers delicious pub styled food at a reasonable price near West Haven.
The Loft offers delicious pub styled food at a reasonable price near West Haven.
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STEM-certified classes at West Florence High

West Haven students may start school at Royall Elementary. Royall was voted Best of the Pee Dee: Best Public School by SCNow Morning the last two years and received a National Blue Ribbon Award in 2014. The Blue Ribbon program recognizes schools nationwide based on academic and overall excellence. Moore Middle School is a STEM-certified school through AdvancED. The school calls its program STEAM, which provides education in science, technology, engineering, art and math. West Florence is also known for its STEM program. All three schools are graded a B-plus from Niche. "We were ranked third in the state in graduation rates, and the two districts ahead of us were suburbs with more resources," says Stephanie Grosick, the Vice President of Business Development for Florence County Economic Development Partnership. "Our test scores were comparable to very wealthy school districts."

Baseball and tennis at the Florence Sports Complex

West Haven's nearest outdoor space is Maple Park, which has a colorful playground with covered picnic tables and baseball fields. Children at play signs dot the streets near the park. Outside of just parks, Florence is a community known for outdoors and sports recreation. Athletes appreciate the Florence Sports Complex for its several baseball fields, running track and the dozen tennis courts. Florence's most revered outdoor space is the Rail Trail, an old railroad track that is now a 5-mile paved pathway through the woods with several connections. One of the popular trail entrances is near a hub off of Palmetto Street, which includes a brewery, a coffee shop, food trucks and a few restaurants. "If I have a friend who is visiting Florence, we are going to get a coffee at Bean Bar, and we are going to walk the Rail Trail, then get a burger at Buddy's Burgers, and show off the community," Grosick says.

Parks around West Haven offer many sporting options for the locals to enjoy.
Parks around West Haven offer many sporting options for the locals to enjoy.
Residents from West Haven enjoy going on morning walks at the Rail Trail Park.
Residents from West Haven enjoy going on morning walks at the Rail Trail Park.
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Pee Dee RTA stops a mile from downtown

While Florence is primarily a driver-centric area, West Haven is one of the more walkable areas and offers access to public transportation. The Pee Dee RTA has a few bus stops along Evans Street that go into downtown, roughly one mile away. "We have walking trails all over, and our plan is to connect those trails into the downtown area, and that would offer connectivity for all of our citizens," says Mayor Ervin. The McLeod Regional Medical Center is one of the community's leading employers and sits slightly over a mile away. Also in Downtown Florence is an Amtrak train station, with trains that run up and down the East Coast. "We are halfway between NYC and Miami. If you are going to live here, we are perfectly positioned," Mayor Ervin says.

The Florence Station offers transportation via the Amtrak rail near West Haven.
The Florence Station offers transportation via the Amtrak rail near West Haven.
The McLeod Regional Medical Center is the largest hospital near West Haven.
The McLeod Regional Medical Center is the largest hospital near West Haven.
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Winter wonderland for Downtown Christmas Magic

Downtown Florence hosts annual events and festivals year-round, including holiday celebrations like the Lucky Shamrock Festival and Downtown Christmas Magic, including tree lighting. "The city staff is brilliant with their ideas. One year, they brought in a snow machine downtown so the kids could do snow angels," Mayor Ervin says. On the last Friday of every month from May through September is Florence After 5, where a few blocks of downtown are blocked off with vendors and activities for children. Food enthusiasts appreciate the Kickin' Chicken Wing and Chili Festival every October, featuring local cookers competing for awards and the coveted Peoples Choice Award.

Crime

West Haven receives a 6 out of 10 on the CAP Index crime score, slightly higher than the national average of 4. The community has several neighborhood watch signs and homes with surveillance cameras throughout the area to help curb potential crime.

DJ Stewart
Written By
DJ Stewart
Viktor Zagorevskiy
Photography Contributed By
Viktor Zagorevskiy
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Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

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Parks in this Area

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime West Haven US
Homicide 7 4
Sexual Assault 5 4
Assault with Weapon 6 4
Robbery 5 4
Burglary 7 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 5 4
Larceny 7 4
Crime Score 6 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$130,000
Median Single Family Price
$145,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$109
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Last 12 months Home Sales
7
Months of Supply
6.90
Median List Price
$149,900
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-16%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
320
Median Year Built
1945
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,289
Significantly below the national average
1,936
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,447
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
9,583

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Robricco Porter, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
696
Median Age
35
Population under 18
27%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
14.1%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$30,278
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$57,275

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
92.7%
On par with the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
48.1%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
15.5%
% Population in Labor Force
68.1%

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

41 / 100

Somewhat Walkable

Walk Score®

56 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
West Haven