If I could do it over again, I'd vote southern border of North Carolina (Hendersonville, Brevard, etc). Nice and rural, gorgeous views, and best of all- if anyone is texting and driving, they run off the side of a cliff since there aren't guard-rails! Natural idiot-deterrents.
I'm not happy living in SC for many, many reasons. I'm here for a paycheck but there are no roots.
I like the area in NC around Oriental and New Bern.