Back in the mid-1700s the area we now know as Downtown Greenville was once a wide-open hunting ground for nearby Cherokee tribes. When a Virginian settler named Richard Pearis arrived around 1754, he ended up marrying a Cherokee woman and was given about 100,000 acres as a gift. The origins of Greenville began when he built a plantation along the Reedy River.
Since it was incorporated in 1831, Greenville it has grown into the largest city in Greenville County and currently stands as the county seat.
Wondering if Downtown Greenville is a good place to live? We’ve put together this all-inclusive guide to share everything you need to know about living there.
1. People and Population in Downtown Greenville
What started off as a quiet, uninteresting town of a few thousand people has since blossomed into a popular community with a thriving population of 64,060 in Downtown Greenville. The award-winning city boasts your typical southern hospitality and great people wherever you go around town.
Greenville has been home to a number of well-known celebrities who were either born here or grew up here. One such example is Kevin Garnett, the former NBA basketball player who earned the league MVP Award in 2004. Another name you might recognize from this city is Edwin McCain, the singer/musician who is famous for songs like “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask for More”. A more classic name in sports from Greenville is the former MLB star baseball player, “Shoeless Joe” Jackson.
2. A City Made for Top-Rated Lists
Over the last few years, Downtown Greenville has joined a variety of other great U.S. cities on top-rated lists in a variety of unique categories. A few of the most interesting Downtown Greenville accolades include:
- Ranked 3rd on Condé Nast, Best Small Cities in the U.S.
- Ranked 7th on Southern Living, Best Cities in the South 2019
- Ranked 5th on U.S. News Travel, Best Places to Visit in the Carolinas
- Ranked 12th on New York Times, 52 Places to Go (IN THE WORLD)
- Ranked 10th on National Geographic, 29 U.S. Cities on the Rise
- Ranked 22nd on U.S. News, Best Places to Live in the U.S.
The lists go on and on, but with a lineup like this, living in Downtown Greenville sounds like a pretty good choice, right?
3. Things to Do and Places to Eat in Downtown Greenville
While South Carolina has fun activities all across the state, you’ll find many of them right here in Downtown Greenville. The Falls Park on the Reedy is a popular spot known for its waterfalls and lush local gardens. If you’re looking for things to do with kids in Downtown Greenville take a trip to the Children’s Museum of the Upstate offers them hands-on activities, featured exhibits, a large climbing playground, and more.
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Falls Park on the Reedy, 601 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate
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The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, 300 College St, Greenville, SC 29601
And whenever you and the family get hungry, we already made a list for you of the best places to eat in Downtown Greenville. Head over to Smoke on the Water for grilled burgers, sandwiches, steaks, and other American-style favorites. While those in the mood for some good old-fashioned southern cooking should head over to Tupelo Honey. Or if all you want are a vast assortment of tacos, Willy Taco – Feed & Seed is the place for you.
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Smoke on the Water, 1 Augusta St #202, Greenville, SC 29601
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Tupelo Honey, Ste T, 1 N Main St Ste T, Greenville, SC 29601
Willy Taco – Feed & Seed
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Willy Taco – Feed & Seed, 217 Laurens Rd, Greenville, SC 29607
4. Downtown Greenville Cost of Living
With the exception of housing costs, you’ll find the cost of living in Downtown Greenville is more affordable than average South Carolina living expenses. So if you’re wondering “can I afford to live in Downtown Greenville” you’ll also discover most prices around town are below national averages for costs as well. Everything from healthcare, utilities, and even transportation are lower than United States numbers.
Interested in purchasing a house in this hot market? The average cost of a home in Downtown Greenville is currently $186,200, which will typically get you a good-sized lot and square footage space. This price has risen by about 6.2% in the last 12 months and is expected to rise another 1.8% over the next year.
And for those looking at joining about one-third of the local population as renters, the average price of rent is between $906 per month and $1,825 per month. This is a typical split between a one bedroom location and a home with up to four bedrooms.
5. Best Places to Live in Downtown Greenville
Along with the giant list of ratings mentioned back in Section 2 above, neighborhoods in Downtown Greenville have recently been ranked 10th among the top 100 places to live in the United States. Some of the most popular communities around town include Arcadia Hills, Nicholtown, Payne-Logan, Pleasant Valley, and Sterling.
Greenville metro covers the following zip codes: 29601, 29605, 29607, 29609, 29611, 29614, 29615. The main area code in the city is 864.
If you’re on the hunt for an apartment, we’ve listed some great options below to get you started:
The Greene (In the Payne-Logan neighborhood)
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The Greene, 1108 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601
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Link Apartments West End, 25 River St, Greenville, SC 29601
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District West, 101 Reedy View Dr, Greenville, SC 29601
6. Great Local Schools
Whether you have young students or you’re planning to attend college here, there are a variety of great schools in Downtown Greenville. Primary-age kids can attend locations such as Powdersville Elementary or Pelham Road Elementary, while junior highs in the area include options like Greenville Middle Academy and Sterling School.
The city also plays host to a number of highly rated high schools around town like Wade Hampton High ranked 11th in the state, J.L. Mann High Academy ranked 17th, and Powdersville High ranked 22nd.
College students can attend any of the six local colleges, but the two most sought after schools in the area are Bob Jones University and Furman University.
7. Growing Job Market in Downtown Greenville
Over recent months, the unemployment rate here has dropped to less than 3%. The area’s top employer is the Greenville Health System, hosting nearly 15,000 employees across multiple hospitals and specialty healthcare offices in town. Next in line is the School District of Greenville County, with their 9,800 teachers, administrators, and office staff. More great Downtown Greenville jobs can be found at well-known companies in town like Michelin’s North America headquarters and the GE Power headquarters.
8. Comfortable Southern Weather
When it comes to the local climate, you’ll be able to enjoy each of the four seasons. Winters normally offer highs in the 50s and while nights can get chilly, temperatures rarely ever dip below 30°F. Because of that, you can expect limited snow averaging less than 5 inches per year, though you can also anticipate around 51 inches of rain annually.
Summers in Downtown Greenville are warm and humid reaching the low 90s, with comfortable evenings down in the 60s and 70s. Spring and Fall offer everything in between, including colorful autumn colors.
Tips for Moving to Downtown Greenville
To sum it all up, there are four things you should know about living in Downtown Greenville:
- More than one or two major publications have listed it as a great city to both live and visit.
- There are lots of fun local activities for all ages.
- You’ll find quiet and comfortable neighborhoods all over town.
- The city offers great job opportunities.
If you are looking at moving to Downtown Greenville, our team has the experience necessary to help! HD Auston Moving has been providing top-notch moving services for nearly 75 years now. Give us a call today at (864) 269-0073 to learn more or request a free moving estimate by filling out the form at the top of this page.
