Below Average CostHigher than AverageGreenville 01
Greenvillenightskyline · Carolinaliving at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.02024-4-12-Falls Park Waterfall Greenville South Carolina by Yousef AbdulHusain · CantoV / CC BY-SA 4.0Greenville County Museum of Art building · Ser Amantio di Nicolao / CC BY-SA 3.0Peace Concert Hall Exterior Dusk · Peace Center Greenville / CC BY-SA 4.0
Greenville is a mid-sized city of 70,838 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $65,519
and a 3.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Greenville stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include high home prices, a higher-than-average crime index. 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: 92.8
Greenville's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Greenville costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Greenville, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$403,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,173
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
41.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$65,519
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Greenville's violent crime rate is 644.4 per 100,000 residents
— 70% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
644.4 /100k
Property Crime
3468.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Greenville is served primarily by Greenville 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Greenville, SC
National Avg
School District
Greenville 01
—
Elementary Schools
51
—
Middle Schools
19
—
High Schools
20
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
53.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Greenville sees average highs of 51.5°F in January
and 86.7°F in July,
with 50.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 3.9 inches of snow per year.
Greenville's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Greenville roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $403,300 and median rent is $1,173/month.
Greenville's violent crime rate is 644.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3468.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Greenville are operated by Greenville 01.
The district has 51 elementary, 19 middle, and 20 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1. 53.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Greenville, SC has a population of 70,838, a median household income of $65,519, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%.
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 51.5°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.7 inches
with about 3.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Greenville, SC is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 29607, 29601, 29609, 29614.
The population of Greenville, South Carolina is 70,838 with a median age of 33.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Greenville: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $403,300, median household income $65,519, crime index 168 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. 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.
