Places › South Carolina › Greenville

Living in Greenville, SC

Small city in South Carolina

Greenville is a small city in South Carolina, home to about 72,000 people, with 616,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

In short: A charming walkable downtown, mountains nearby, manufacturing jobs and low costs.

Is Greenville a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 9 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Low taxes: about $1,296 state income tax per resident, 0.54% property tax
  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $311k and rents for $1,610 a month
  • Low natural disaster risk: 9 federally declared disasters since 2000

👎 Cons

  • Fewer outdoor escapes: few parks and no water close by
  • Smaller job market: about 616,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby

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

Key facts

Population
72,000
616,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
54°F / 85°F
Average daily highs · 4″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$311k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,610/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
93
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,296
State income tax per resident · 0.54% property tax
Safety
1.5× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
9 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, tornadoes
Top-rated hospitals
9
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
55%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
CLT
84 mi away

Living in Greenville: common questions

What is the cost of living in Greenville?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $311k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,610 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 93, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Greenville?

South Carolina collects about $1,296 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.54% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Greenville safe?

Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.5× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Greenville?

Greenville has cool winters: winter days average around 54°F and summer days around 85°F, with roughly 4″ of snow a year.

Does Greenville get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and tornadoes: 9 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.58 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Greenville?

The nearest major airport is CLT, about 84 mi away.

How Greenville scores

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

Places like Greenville

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

Nearby

See all the best places to live in South Carolina.

Is Greenville 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.