The Town FilesGreenville, South Carolina
City in Greenville County · population 70,720 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $487,500
- Household income
- $71,472
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 34.7
Greenville is a city of 70,720 people in Greenville County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $487,500, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 99% of South Carolina towns, hipper than 98% of South Carolina towns.
How Greenville ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Greenville is worth $487,500, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 6.8 times the median household income of $71,472, which is more affordable than 4% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,312 a month. 41.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Greenville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $487,500 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,312 | $937 |
| Median household income | $71,472 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 41.1% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Greenville
| People | Greenville | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.5% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.0% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.9% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Greenville
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 30.0°F. About 50.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.9 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 73 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Greenville since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 27, 1973 about 1.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 17, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 134 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 21, 2017.
Severe weather in Greenville County since 1996
Greenville County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4908: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 23, 2025 | Fire | FM-5576: Table Rock Fire Complex |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
Jobs and pay in Greenville County
Greenville County had 296,981 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,216 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Greenville itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Greenville
55 public schools with 38,465 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| J. L. Mann High Academy | 9-12 | 2,062 | 18.2 |
| Greenville Senior High Academy | 9-12 | 1,791 | 19.5 |
| Wade Hampton High | 9-12 | 1,780 | 18.7 |
| Legacy Early College (charter) | PK-12 | 1,583 | 13.4 |
| Berea High | 9-12 | 1,296 | 18.5 |
| Southside High | 9-12 | 1,132 | 16.9 |
| Powdersville High | 9-12 | 1,037 | 19.2 |
| GREEN Charter School (charter) | K-8 | 1,029 | 14.1 |
| Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle | 6-8 | 992 | 16.3 |
| Hughes Academy of Science and Technology | 6-8 | 988 | 15.7 |
| Carolina Academy (High) | 9-12 | 983 | 16.9 |
| Robert E. Cashion Elementary | PK-5 | 934 | 15.1 |
Towns near Greenville
- Dunean, SC3.6 mi · 3,740 people · home $203,000
- Wade Hampton, SC3.6 mi · 21,482 people · home $339,000
- Gantt, SC4.4 mi · 15,006 people · home $184,400
- Sans Souci, SC5.0 mi · 8,581 people · home $226,500
- Mauldin, SC5.1 mi · 24,724 people · home $258,500
- Parker, SC5.2 mi · 13,407 people · home $150,400
- Taylors, SC6.0 mi · 23,222 people · home $257,500
- Welcome, SC6.4 mi · 7,298 people · home $206,300
Greenville questions
Is Greenville, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Greenville scores better for retirees than 44% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 7%. 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Greenville?
The median owner-occupied home in Greenville is valued at $487,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,472, so homes cost about 6.8 times income. Median rent is $1,312 a month.
What is the weather like in Greenville?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 30.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.7 inches of precipitation a year and 3.9 inches of snow.
Does Greenville get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Greenville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 27, 1973. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)