Is Greenville, SC A Good Place To Live?

Greenville SC and the Upstate are often rated as the best place to live in South Carolina! U.S. News ranks the Greenville Area as the #1 Place to Live in SC. But what makes this area of South Carolina so enjoyable to live in? How did this one-time small textile town become the Gem of South Carolina? Well, thanks to a lot of city development and a surge of businesses moving to the area, Greenville SC has become one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States! Greenville, with its mixture of southern charm and Cosmopolitan living, has a bright future ahead of it.

Geographically

Sitting near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, many adventures flock to Greenville to be close to the natural wonders that the area boasts. But outside of the mountains, the Upstate also has numerous lakes within its borders. To the west of Greenville, you will find Lake Jocassee and Lake Keowee, they are some of the most popular boating and swimming spots in the area during the summer! The weather is fairly mild throughout the year, averaging in the mid-80s during the summer and low 40s during the winter; the temperate weather draws many retirees to the area.

Things to Do in the Area

Downtown Greenville SC is the biggest attraction in Upstate SC. Visitors around the globe come to this small-big city for the dozens of festivals and live events the city hosts. Falls Park on the Reedy has been voted by many to be one of the best parks in the nation!

The Upstate is a hot spot for Foodies, Greenville County alone has over 1,000 restaurants. If coffee is your thing, there are dozens of coffee shops spread throughout the area.

If you enjoy going to sporting events, Greenville has three professional teams: Swamp Rabbits, Greenville Drive, and Greenville Triumph. Nearby Clemson and Furman University often draw large crowds with their sports programs. 

As mentioned above, there are lots of things to do out in nature in the Upstate. Read our blog on the Best Hiking Spots in the Upstate. 

Cost of Living

When looking to move to an area, one of the biggest questions people have is “is it expensive to live in the area?” Greenville SC has a significantly lower cost of living than the national average. Currently, housing expenses are 22% lower than the national average. The median home price in the city is $269,000 while the average rent for the area is $843, both of which are much lower than the average of the rest of the USA. But you may pay a small bit more on your utilities, it’s 3% higher than the national average. 

Job Market

The Upstate is centrally located between Atlanta and Charlotte, making it an ideal location for many manufacturing and transportation companies to locate. The Upstate has a population of almost 1.5 Million residents and the unemployment rate for the area is significantly lower than the national average. Niche.com ranks Greenville as the number one place for young professionals in South Carolina.

Greenville’s dramatic growth over the last couple of decades is thanks to the local governments and business development organizations. The Upstate SC Alliance has helped bring in many large companies to the area. They work with BMW, Michelin, Fuji, GE Power, and other businesses to bring in new talent and businesses to the Upstate. Manufacturing is the largest industry in the area, but the largest employer in Greenville is actually the Greenville Health System. The low corporate income tax rates encourage many start-ups and small businesses to find a home here in Greenville.

Schools

Greenville, Anderson, and Spartanburg have some of the best school districts in the state. Outside of the public schools, the Upstate boasts a multitude of private schools.

Greenville is a college town, the area is home to seven colleges and universities, including Furman University, Bob Jones University, North Greenville University, and Greenville Technical College.

If you are looking to make a move, there is no better place to live than Greenville, South Carolina! Interested in buying a home? Check out all local Greenville SC listings here. When you are ready to talk to a Real Estate Agent, click here to find the best Realtors in Upstate SC!