Charleston is nice, but it depends on the money you want to spend. You can live on the cheap 15-20 miles inland from the city, but the city itself is pretty expensive and the college kids are everywhere.
You might do better getting a state job in Columbia and living in Lexington county.
My niece and hubby are both physics professors at a college there
Dealing with the woke students is quite the challenge
I20 between Lexington and Columbia can be very slow going on good days.
Forest Acres has a fair amount to offer.