Median Income
$47,485
household / year
Median Home Value
$192,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$933
gross / month
Cost of Living
92
national avg = 100

Is Greenville, NC a Good Place to Live?

Greenville is a mid-sized city of 87,894 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $47,485 and a 8.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Greenville stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Greenville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Greenville city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 91.6

Greenville's overall cost of living index is 91.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Greenville costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric Greenville, NC National Avg
Median Home Value $192,900 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $933 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 32.9% 65.9%
Median Household Income $47,485 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Greenville's violent crime rate is 453.4 per 100,000 residents — 19% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
453.4 /100k
Property Crime
2914.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Greenville is served primarily by Pitt County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Greenville, NC National Avg
School District Pitt County Schools
Elementary Schools 23
Middle Schools 7
High Schools 8
Student/Teacher Ratio 15.3:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 39.3% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 93.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Greenville sees average highs of 53.2°F in January and 90.4°F in July, with 51.1 inches of annual precipitation and 3.3 inches of snow per year.

MetricGreenville, NC
Average High — January53.2°F
Average High — July90.4°F
Annual Precipitation51.1"
Annual Snowfall3.3"

Demographics

MetricGreenville, NCNational Avg
Population87,894
Median Age26.938.9
Unemployment Rate8.7%3.7%
Avg Commute Time17.9 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)50.3%59.3%
Black or African American40.1%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino3.1%18.9%
Asian2.9%6.3%
Under 1819.1%22.2%
65 and over10.0%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Greenville

Greenville, NC is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

Greenville vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Greenville's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Greenville roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $192,900 and median rent is $933/month.
Greenville's violent crime rate is 453.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2914.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Greenville are operated by Pitt County Schools. The district has 23 elementary, 7 middle, and 8 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 39.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Greenville, NC has a population of 87,894, a median household income of $47,485, and an unemployment rate of 8.7%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Greenville averages 53.2°F in January and 90.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.1 inches with about 3.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Greenville, NC is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 27834, 27858.
The population of Greenville, North Carolina is 87,894 with a median age of 26.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Greenville: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $192,900, median household income $47,485, crime index 127 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Greenville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.