What is the city of Charleston SC like, and the metro area?

Hello Guys,

I am interested in taking a vacation there and maybe going to school. I have looked online and it looks like a really cool town, kind of like a smaller version of New Orleans. The houses have that really cool southern style to them, and it looks like there are a lot of nice houses, but is a crime serious issue there? I know that every large city has it is fair share of crime, but I read that the city of north Charleston has some bad areas. Is it a big concern or just something to keep in mind?

Thank You
Michael Earl