Greenville, South Carolina, has become one of the most popular new living destinations in one of the country’s most popular states.
As people continue to move here, they find various pros and cons that influence how much they enjoy living in the city.
We carefully examined the following 25 pros and cons of living in Greenville to ensure that you know exactly what you’re getting into if you move here.
Pros of Living in Greenville
1. A Very Exciting Downtown
The most significant benefit of moving to Greenville, South Carolina, is the fantastic downtown experience.
Over the years, it has continually hit the Top 10 of various tourism lists, claiming it is one of the most fun and enjoyable places to visit in the whole state.
These benefits include different great shopping experiences and residential buildings that make it easier for you to feel comfortable visiting this city or moving here permanently.
2. Amazing Food Experiences
Greenville is a great place to move if you are a foodie or love experiencing high-quality meals at reasonable prices.
It’s historic downtown has a diverse array of unique local cafes, breweries, pizzerias, and boutique dining options.
This diverse array of options has made Greenville a popular destination for food fans.
It was on the top 10 list of the best foodie cities in America in one year, making it an excellent option for food-friendly individuals.
3. Very Streamlined Downtown Design
Downtown Greenville’s concentrated and carefully designed nature makes it one of the country’s most walkable cities.
As a result, you should find it easy to get anywhere you want to go downtown without having to rely on your car.
So, find a parking spot, pay the meter, and get walking.
You’ll not only see a lot of fun places but get a little exercise at the same time, providing many benefits.
4. Variety of Outdoor Downtown Events
Yes, Greenville’s downtown still has many other benefits that make it worth your time.
For example, it hosts various fairs, live concerts, festivals, and much more every year.
These concerts and festivals continually draw in a large number of tourists and entertain residents as well.
In this way, Greenville remains a popular place to visit for those who love music or outdoor fun in a unique environment.
5. Downtown Living Options
Greenville should have you covered if you love living downtown and experiencing the many joys a large city has to offer.
It has expanded the variety of different residential areas offered downtown, including inexpensive apartments for workers and upper-crust condos and homes.
By finding a place to live downtown, you give yourself the best chance to experience the best that Greenville has to offer you.
6. Rapidly Increasing Economy
Over the last 10 years, Greenville has become one of the most vibrant cities in the nation.
And the next 10 years are predicted to bring even more growth.
For instance, this city is anticipated to have a 40 percent growth in the job market over the next decade.
As a result, this makes Greenville an excellent option for those who are just finishing college and who want to find a high-quality job that will provide for them for years at a time.
7. Surprising Technology Focus
Although the world doesn’t yet think of Greenville as a technological hub the way they do Silicon Valley, it may soon.
That’s because this city has become a vital hub for various technology companies and is growing even more in this direction.
Therefore, it is a great idea to move here if you work in the technology field and want to get in on some of the biggest and most successful companies around right now.
8. High Concentration of Fortune 500 Companies
The large number of Fortune 500 companies in the area is another economic boon of moving to Greenville.
For example, companies like Michelin, 3M, Lockheed Martin, and GE operate in and around the city, creating various significant benefits.
Getting a job with one of these companies is often more stable than working for a startup and allows you to transition to other positions with relative ease.
9. Perfect for Millennial Workers
Millennials will continue to take more of the work environment in the next decade or so, and Greenville is very welcoming to these individuals.
It has been ranked as the best place for young professionals to start a career in South Carolina.
And it continually adds a variety of different new elements that make it an excellent option for millennial workers who want a place that feels comfortable for their needs.
10. Great Training Opportunities
When moving to this city, it is essential to know what kind of education and training opportunities are available.
Thankfully, multiple schools exist that can provide young children with a more vital education.
Just as importantly, these opportunities also exist for teens who may transition to a working career.
Various universities, colleges, and training facilities help make this a comfortable place to live for most people.
11. The Reedy River
Unlike other big cities that may have polluted rivers, the Reedy in Greenville is still reasonably clean and welcoming to many people.
For example, you can usually swim and even fish in the Reedy or tube right through downtown.
Many people enjoy this activity during the warmest months of the year and experience a diverse range of exciting possibilities that make this river a fun place to camp and hang out.
12. Startling Range of Park Options
Greenville is a unique option for you if you love spending time outdoors and struggle to feel comfortable in big cities.
This city includes many high-quality parks right throughout the city that help to make it more comfortable.
For instance, Falls Park on the Reedy provides a fun and entertaining outdoor experience in a downtown environment.
These parks help to make relaxation easier and minimize anxiety and other problems.
13. The Greenville Zoo
If you love animals, the Greenville Zoo is a great place to visit.
Though not incredibly large, this zoo contains many different animals that make it a great place to stay.
Its outdoorsy environment helps make it a fun place to relax if you’re struggling with anxiety or other challenging emotions.
Don’t forget to bring your family along to get the most fun out of this engaging experience.
14. Outdoor Experiences Around the Town
Greenville is unique because it is never too far from lakes, rivers, nature preserves, and other excellent outdoor areas.
For example, you are just a few hours away from the Blue Ridge Mountains when you live in and around this city.
These mountains are a fantastic place to visit and can provide many unique camping opportunities as well.
Try to find a comfortable position that works for your needs as an individual.
15. Amazing Weather Conditions
Those who do not enjoy the sometimes challenging environments caused by snow will likely love Greenville.
Although there’s often a slight chance of a bit of snow in this city, it very rarely drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter.
In this way, you can get away from the problematic freezing conditions that you may hate when you visit or live in cities farther north from Greenville and South Carolina in general.
16. The Gorgeous Downtown Waterfall
How many cities do you know of where you can visit a waterfall whenever you go downtown?
Probably not too many!
However, Greenville’s Reedy River is home to a gorgeous waterfall that includes a pedestrian bridge that makes viewing the waterfall even easier.
This waterfall allows for various picture-taking opportunities and other unique possibilities that make it a great place to visit.
17. May Be Affordable for Some People
Greenville is not yet the next big thing among cities in America but is on the cusp of becoming so.
As a result, it has yet to experience the kind of affordability hit that may make it harder to move here.
Thankfully, it should be pretty simple for most people to afford to live in and around the city, especially young professionals who are likely on the brink of a very successful career as an individual.
Most people find it costs about five percent lower than the national average to live here.
18. Decent Selection of Home Prices
No matter your current living situation, you should find it easy to get a house that works for you.
For example, Greenville has single-family homes, retirement houses, apartments, townhouses, condos, multiple-family dwellings, and much more.
These houses are all relatively reasonably priced compared to other cities throughout the area, ensuring that you don’t experience a problematic financial burden if you move here.
19. Sporting Events are Often Quite Popular
If you’re a big fan of college sports, then Greenville is a great place to live.
It is home to the Clemson Tigers, a popular college program that is often among the nation’s top football teams.
However, you can also attend sports like baseball, basketball, volleyball, track, cross-country, and even soccer.
Those who want to start a college career often move to Greenville to expand their possibilities as a player.
20. Centralized Location
Greenville is like South Carolina in general in that it often serves as a unique centralized hub for much of the South.
For example, you are not far from a variety of different cities and popular tourist destinations.
Are you interested in visiting Southern cities like Knoxville, Chattanooga, Myrtle Beach, Atlanta, Charlotte, and many others?
You’re no more than an hour or two away from most of these destinations in Greenville.
21. High-Quality Healthcare Experience
Taking care of your health needs is critical and is easy to handle in Greenville.
This city has two major healthcare systems that make it a great place to get healthcare.
These include Prisma Health and Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, a public and private healthcare provider, respectively.
The patient ratings at both of these facilities are among the highest in the nation, and their prices are also quite fair.
22. Very Friendly Residents
The South has a charm that other areas of the country lack.
And Greenville is no different in this way.
Visitors are usually warmly welcomed by residents, especially if they plan on settling in the area.
It usually doesn’t take too long to ingratiate yourself into a community when you move to Greenville.
Pretty soon, that hospitality will rub off, and you’ll find yourself enjoying more people in your life.
23. Relaxed Atmosphere in More Areas
Greenville also has the South’s love of a relaxed and low-stress lifestyle.
Many people often find that expectations are slightly different in this area and that the pace is usually slower.
That benefit is significant for those who have struggled to feel comfortable and who need to calm down their life.
Even people working in high-stress jobs usually find Greenville to have a more relaxing environment than expected.
24. Some Lower Taxes
South Carolina has a few surprisingly low taxes that make it a comfortable place to live.
For example, they have one of the lowest gas tax rates in the nation at just 20.75 cents per gallon.
This factor means that your gas costs will always be lower in this state than in its neighbors.
And property taxes are in the top five lowest in the nation, with just around $850 in year taxes being typical for most people.
25. Excellent Cultural and Historical Opportunities
When you live in Greenville, you’re not far from some of the most important historic sites in the South.
For example, you’re not far from places like Fort Sumter, various important Civil War museums and battle sites, and much more.
Greenville also has many theaters and performing teams, as South Carolina has some of the oldest and most respected performing groups throughout the nation.
Cons of Living in Greenville
1. Rising House Costs
Although Greenville hasn’t yet exploded in popularity and experienced the kind of home-value increase expected in many areas, house costs are rising.
For example, it was found that the average home value increased by almost 50 percent in the last five years.
And these home prices are likely to get higher as the area becomes most popular, forcing many people to consider alternative buying options or consider living near but not in the city.
2. Surprisingly Limited Diversity
Most people consider the South to have a very high level of diversity in its major cities.
However, Greenville has yet to catch up with other towns in the area.
You’ll mostly see a pretty consistent range of Caucasian and African American citizens, with a heavy emphasis on the former.
For those who want a diverse and culturally rich living environment, this may come as a disappointment.
3. Suburban Sprawl
Although downtown Greenville and the city are very cute and unique, the suburbs around it may not be appealing.
Many neighborhoods use a limited number of house designs to create a unified but potentially dull living environment.
And many people are likely to find that their housing options are more available in these areas, creating some difficulties for those trying to move into the area.
4. Not Much Public Transportation
We mentioned that the downtown is a very walkable and fun experience for tourists and residents alike.
However, this city doesn’t have a lot of public transportation options.
It earned just a 19 out of 100 for its transit system, meaning that you are either going to have to rely on your car, taxis, or Uber to get around.
And all of this adds up to extra costs that can increase the city’s cost of living index more than expected.
5. Intense Traffic at Certain Times
Yes, Greenville has a quaint and relaxing environment most of the time.
However, this atmosphere quickly changes around noon or between 3-5 PM.
During these times, the city’s downtown is often packed and backed up for minutes at a time.
The town’s traffic design was created with a much smaller population in mind, meaning that it is often hard for these knotty traffic situations to sort themselves out properly.
6. Lack of Walkability Outside of Downtown
While the downtown section of Greenville ranks as one of the best places to walk in the nation, the overall city gets a score of just 43 out of 100.
This surprisingly lower rank is due to the lack of walkability throughout the rest of the town.
Once you get outside downtown, expect to travel in your car for extensive miles and to experience long waits at various traffic congestion spots throughout the area.
7. Very Congested Commercial Areas
Although Greenville’s commercial district is very diverse and engaging, it can become quite congested during certain parts of the day.
This problem increases significantly in the summer when tourists show up.
Though many of these commercial areas rely on tourist dollars to stay afloat, the influx of these new visitors makes it very hard for residents to get to shops and enjoy the same experience they do in the winter.
8. High Levels of Heat
While mild winters are a great reason to move to Greenville, the intense summers may be brutal for some people to handle.
During the hottest days of the month (between June and August), you can expect temperatures to be minimally 80 degrees Fahrenheit and regularly over 100 degrees.
Make sure to prepare for this problem by packing warm-weather clothes and investing in air conditioning for your home.
9. Potent Levels of Humidity
If the heat wasn’t too hot to handle, the humidity will make it even worse.
While you won’t be suffering as you would in Alabama or Florida, you can anticipate high humidity levels that make the heat seem even more uncomfortable.
On some days, a 90-degree temperature may feel closer to 120 or more due to high humidity levels.
If you’re not able to handle that kind of problem, Greenville is not a good destination.
10. A Higher Crime Rate Problem
Greenville’s rapid expansion has created many pros and cons that must be considered.
For example, the city’s crime rate is about 84 percent higher than the national average.
This high rate is due to struggling police facilities that haven’t yet scaled up to meet the expanding population.
This problem is likely to linger for a while, so ensure that you fully understand the safest places to live before moving here.
11. Higher Costs of Living Compared to Some Southern States
While Greenville and South Carolina are relatively inexpensive compared to many areas, they are also more expensive than other Southern states.
For example, you can expect to pay 10-20 percent more for your utilities and healthcare access.
Your groceries are also going to cost a bit more, as well.
While the city has excellent utilities and healthcare options, they do come at a price that you must consider.
12. Food Adjustment May Be Tough
If you love spicy foods and integrate hot sauces into your daily meals, this con may be a pro.
However, many sensitive to hot sauces or various types of chili may find Greenville cuisine tough to stomach.
For example, you can anticipate ghost pepper used throughout many different dishes.
Though this change is not that serious and shouldn’t be hard to manage, it can be a deal-breaker for some individuals.
13. Sweet Foods May Take Some Adjustments
Do you have a sweet tooth that you regularly feed?
Then South Carolina and Greenville may be damaging to your oral health.
The South loves very sweet foods and cakes, and many bakeries throughout the city may tempt you.
And if you love sweet tea, Greenville will provide high-sugar drinks (as high as 23 grams of sugar per drink) that taste great but may threaten your oral health.
14. Language Confusion Issues
If you’re new to the South when you move to Greenville, you may find yourself struggling to understand others in the city.
The Southern accent is often quite intense in South Carolina residents and is very common throughout Greenville.
This may cause some confusion and even some conflict if you repeatedly ask someone to repeat themselves or end up struggling to communicate smoothly.
15. Cultural Changes
Many people throughout the South have particular beliefs and understandings that may differ from what you are expecting.
Even something as simple as calling all sodas “Coke” can be challenging for some people to understand.
Make sure that you research these different beliefs in the Greenville area and take the time to adjust your expectations to them to avoid conflicts here.
16. Extreme Weather is Not Uncommon
Yes, you won’t have to worry about winter storms or dangerous blizzards when you live in Greenville.
However, other types of extreme weather may impact you.
We’ve already discussed the high heat and humidity you’ll experience here.
However, you also have to consider the potential dangers of hurricanes. Just remember: storms have caused billions of dollars in damage throughout the state.
17. Higher Level of Dangerous Animals
Warmer temperatures have a way of making themselves less appealing, such as allowing a higher level of dangerous animals to thrive.
When you live in Greenville, you may find snakes in your home, various types of poisonous spiders, biting lizards, and even alligators in ponds or lakes near you.
You need to take this problem seriously and fully understand it when moving to any Southern city.
18. Floods are Not an Uncommon Problem
Even when hurricanes don’t hit the area, Greenville may still experience a high rain level at various times throughout the year.
Many people are surprised to find that much of the state floods throughout the rainy season, even areas that aren’t marked as flood zones.
These floods can cause severe damage to your home and vehicles and bring dangerous animals into your house or your general area.
19. Some Higher Taxes
Yes, gas and property taxes are reasonably low throughout the state, but other taxes are not.
For example, alcohol has a 15 percent tax, which may be complex for some people to handle.
And clothes are taxed at about 8.5 percent, and restaurant food at a 10.5 tax.
And an overall sales tax of six percent increases the cost of these purchases even higher.
You’ll also pay seven percent of your income to the state if you make over $15,000 per year.
20. An Extensive Amount of Construction
South Carolina’s rapidly expanding culture and economy are making it a familiar home to construction projects.
Greenville is particularly impacted by this issue, as more and more homes are built to provide for residents.
Expect a lot of residential developments, expansions to roads, and much more during the warmest times of the year.
And since Greenville has mostly warm winter temperatures, expect construction then, too.
21. Prepare for Regular Bug Invasions
Greenville’s Reedy River is a beautiful natural element that does have one downside: bug invasions.
You’re likely to find a large number of mosquitoes swarming near you throughout the year, even in the winter.
Large and ravenous mosquitoes are not uncommon in Greenville, as are various pests like termites, ticks, ants, and much more.
You’ll have to pay bug-control experts every year to manage this problem.
22. Politeness Expectations May Change
If you’re not used to be called “sir” or “ma’am,” you may find life in Greenville a little surprising.
It is not uncommon for everybody in the South to refer to most people by proper titles or polite names.
This factor is something that those from the North or West may not fully understand.
Thankfully, it shouldn’t be too hard to adjust to this minor problem, but it is something to consider before moving to Greenville.
23. Economy Disparity Troubles
While the top earners in Greenville can easily afford to live in this area, a growing income disparity is making it harder for others.
For example, the expanding downtown and increasing suburban sprawl are moving many people away from work areas by forcing them to buy less expensive housing.
And this, unfortunately, causes them to struggle to find work and may trigger other issues.
Unfortunately, this problem may be a tough one to manage in many different ways.
It also tends to become more intense as more Fortune 500 companies move to the area.
24. Surprising Amount of Poverty
Along with this economic disparity is a surprising amount of poverty.
Unfortunately, these individuals are often “lost in the system” or considered the “invisible” side of Greenville.
Many people throughout the city are working 10 hours a day to make their basic expenses.
And children born into these environments often find them hard to leave because of their inherent challenges.
While this problem is common in many big cities, it is particularly stark in some areas of Greenville.
While the city tries to do what it can to help those in challenging situations, this problem’s rapid growth matches that of the population boom.
25. Weak Homeless and Mental Health Support
Although there are many different mental health facilities and homeless centers throughout the city, the homeless population keeps expanding.
Unfortunately, these indivisible citizens are often marginalized, pushed to the side, and even dehumanized.
Although Greenville provides programs that help these individuals in many ways, the increasing costs of living and the rapid sprawl have made it more difficult for those in this situation to rise above its demands.
As a result, those concerned about this problem may find Greenville a tough place to enjoy.
A lot of the above is simply bull.