Greenville 77 Exceptional
Greenville Livability #30 ranked city in North Carolina#2,970 ranked city in the USARanks better than 89% of areas
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Greenville, NC - The Emerald City

Living in Greenville, NC offers a vibrant and dynamic lifestyle in the heart of Eastern North Carolina. Known as the 'Emerald City,' Greenville is a hub of education, healthcare, and culture. The city’s welcoming community, excellent schools, and abundant recreational opportunities make it an attractive place to live.

Greenville’s vibrant downtown area is a center of activity, featuring a variety of shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions. The city hosts numerous annual events, such as the PirateFest and Freeboot Friday, which celebrate local culture and foster a strong sense of community. The nearby Tar River provides ample opportunities for outdoor recreation, including kayaking, fishing, and hiking.

The dining scene in Greenville is diverse and exciting, offering everything from Southern comfort food to international cuisine. The city’s farmers markets and local events emphasize fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Greenville is also home to East Carolina University, adding to the city’s youthful and energetic atmosphere.

Greenville’s location offers convenient access to both the coast and the Research Triangle, making it ideal for commuters and adventurers. The city is well-connected by major highways and public transportation options, ensuring easy travel. Additionally, the cost of living in Greenville is relatively affordable, providing a high quality of life without the high price tag.

For those considering a move to North Carolina, Greenville stands out as a top choice. Its blend of cultural vibrancy, excellent amenities, and strong community spirit make living in Greenville, NC a truly rewarding experience. Whether you’re drawn by its educational opportunities, recreational activities, or convenient location, Greenville offers a fantastic place to call home.

Pros and Cons of Living in Greenville

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    A high commute score suggests convenient, easy access to public transportation, with shorter-than-average work commute times to work.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The cost of living in this region is notably lower than the national average, encompassing everyday goods, housing, utilities, transportation and health care expenses.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Achieving a high health and safety score relies on factors including great air quality and convenient access to vital health facilities such as hospitals, doctors, clinics and police stations.

CONS
  • Crime Crime

    This area exhibits elevated crime rates per 100,000 residents, which may suggest it's a potentially unsafe place to reside. These rates encompass both property and violent crimes.

  • Employment Employment

    Low income levels and high unemployment rates results in a low score in the employment category. It could prove difficult to find well-paying employment in this area.

What's it like Living in Greenville?

Greenville is a medium-sized city located in the state of North Carolina. The city has a population of 95,299 people. Individuals of White (53%) and Black or African American (39%) backgrounds make up a significant portion of the population of the city. If you are a young adult or student, you might be pleased to know that the average age of all Greenville residents is 27. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Greenville, only 35% of the population is married. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Greenville. With an average one way commute time of only 18 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.

If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very daunting task. However, it could also be a great experience if you are willing to get to know the area before actually living in Greenville, North Carolina. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. To help you find the best places to live in and around Greenville, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like cost of living, commute, health & safety, education, employment and more.

Using data and statistics Greenville has received a livability score of 76 out of 100. This score is ranked in the 89th percentile when compared to all other cities. Compared to the US average, Greenville ranks among some of the best places to live in the country! If we consider each of the categories on their own, we see that Greenville ranks well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A). The bad news for Greenville, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: crime (F) and employment (F).

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Greenville can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Assuming that Greenville meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Greenville. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Greenville are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Greenville come in at $279,007, which is 3.6% lower than the North Carolina average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Greenville, the home price to income ratio is 4.3, which is 4.9% higher than the North Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Greenville

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      Greenville transportation information

      Statistic Greenville North Carolina National
      Average one way commute18min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work78.7%81.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.0%9.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit1.8%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.3%0.2%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.6%1.8%2.8%
      Working from home6.7%4.8%4.6%
      Source: The Greenville, NC data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.