Places › North Carolina › Greensboro

Living in Greensboro, NC

Big city in North Carolina

Greensboro is a big city in North Carolina, home to about 299,000 people, with 1.0 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is Greensboro a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $254k and rents for $1,700 a month
  • Low natural disaster risk: 7 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Easy flying: GSO is 6 mi away
  • Highly educated: 40% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3 research universities are within 31 mi

👎 Cons

  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Few dog parks: 6 within 9 mi
  • Higher crime: violent crime is 2.2× the US rate (FBI 2019)

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Greensboro ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
299,000
1.0 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
52°F / 87°F
Average daily highs · 7″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$254k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,700/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
93
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,615
State income tax per resident · 0.97% property tax
Safety
2.2× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
7 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding
Top-rated hospitals
4
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
40%
3 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
GSO
6 mi away

Living in Greensboro: common questions

What is the cost of living in Greensboro?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $254k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,700 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 93, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Greensboro?

North Carolina collects about $1,615 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.97% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Greensboro safe?

Violent crime is well above the national rate (2.2× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Greensboro?

Greensboro has cool winters: winter days average around 52°F and summer days around 87°F, with roughly 7″ of snow a year.

Does Greensboro get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding: 7 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.22 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Greensboro?

The nearest major airport is GSO, about 6 mi away.

How Greensboro scores

Each bar compares Greensboro with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Mid-size Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Strong culture scene Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cool winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Moderate pace Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Anonymous AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Mostly apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Good
💼Job market Below average
🏥Healthcare Good
🎓Education Good
🧸Kids & family Below average
🐕Dog-friendly Below average
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Average
🛡️Safety Higher crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Excellent
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Good
✈️Airport Good

Places like Greensboro

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

Nearby

See all the best places to live in North Carolina.

Is Greensboro right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.