Not a bad place to live. Housing market isn't very cheap though. Nice number of restaurants downtown with it having the state capitol and USC campus. Not too far from Charlotte, Charleston, Savannah, Greenville, and Asheville. Depending on where you would be working, but with kids I'd look in Lexington/Gilbert, Blythewood, or Chapin/Ballentine area. I'm in the last and pretty happy with the schools. House in my neighborhood is for sale right now actually.