Living in Greenville, NC
Greenville is the 360th-largest city in the US, home to about 96,000 people in 2025. It is growing fast: up 8% since 2020. Prices across the metro area run well below the national average (88.4 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 96,443+8% since 2020
- Median home value
- $233,5004.7 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,007/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $49,748median, per year
- Price level
- 88.4US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 53° / 90°lows 33° / 71°
- Average commute
- 19 min13% work from home
- State income tax
- 3.99%top rate, flat
Been to Greenville?
Added to your city passport. See things to do
Added to the wishlist on your city passport.
County: Pitt County
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Elevation: about 59 ft
Metro area: Greenville, NC
Cost of living in Greenville
The median home in Greenville is worth $233,500 and the median household earns $49,748 a year, so a typical home costs about 4.7 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,007 a month, about 24% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Greenville, NC metro area at 88.4, with housing at 57.3 and goods at 96.6 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $66,300 here. North Carolina taxes wages at a top rate of 3.99% (a flat rate). The average combined state and local sales tax in North Carolina is 7.1%.
What would my salary be worth in Greenville?
Greenville weather
Average highs run from 53°F in January to 90°F in July, and January nights average 33°F. It gets 53 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 3 inches of snow. Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are April to May and October.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Greenville
People and work
The median resident is 27.3 years old, and 39% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 33% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 19 minutes; 13% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 27.315th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 39%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 33%of households
- People per sq mile
- 2,51638.3 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 1%3% walk, 0.2% bike
- Unemployment
- 9%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 24.6%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1996median year
Who moves to Greenville, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Greensboro (Guilford County), Charlotte (Mecklenburg County) and Wilmington (New Hanover County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Charlotte (Mecklenburg County), Greensboro (Guilford County) and Wilmington (New Hanover County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA rating for Pitt County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: winter weather, hurricane, tornado.
Home prices
+3% in a year
Up 45% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Greenville, NC area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
88% good days
0 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Greenville, NC area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Greenville
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- East Carolina University 2 miles
- Barton College 31 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Greenville
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Pitt-Greenville Airport PGV | 3 mi | 42,318 |
| Coastal Carolina Regional Airport EWN | 41 mi | 86,653 |
| Albert J. Ellis Airport OAJ | 54 mi | 145,901 |
| Raleigh-Durham International Airport RDU | 81 mi | 7,584,394 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Greenville
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Carolina University | 2 mi | 19,896 | $16,880 | 63% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Greenville
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before March 27, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around October 31 and the first frost comes around November 8.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Greenville, NC, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Greenville.
Wildfire smoke in Greenville
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Greenville on about 122 days a year, including about 16 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Greenville
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 40,783 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Greenville
Downtown Greenville is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitt County Schools | Pre-K to 13 | 24,470 | 40 | 15.3 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Greene County Schools (2,863 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Greenville's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Greenville's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Little Rock, AR88% matchCompare
- Tuscaloosa, AL83% matchCompare
- Jonesboro, AR81% matchCompare
- Chattanooga, TN81% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Greenville
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Pros and cons of living in Greenville
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 12% below the US average (BEA).
- Data Commutes are short: 19 minutes each way on average.
- Data The city is growing fast (+8% since 2020), a sign of jobs and new housing.
- Data Clean air: 321 of 365 days in 2025 had good air quality in the metro (EPA).
Cons
- Data Poverty is high: 24.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
Greenville report card from locals
0 of 5 reports so far. We show the Greenville report card once 5 residents have rated it, so one opinion never stands in for a whole city. Live here? Add yours.
Rate Greenville (2 minutes)
Lived here once? Map every city you have lived in and see how your homes compare.
Ask a local about Greenville
No questions yet. Thinking about a move? Ask about neighborhoods, schools, winters, traffic or anything else, and people who live in Greenville can answer.
Greenville through locals' eyes
No resident photos yet. Share the view from your street, your favorite park or the city on a good day.
Share a photo
Contributions are read by a person before they appear. We remove ads, links, personal attacks and anything about private people. See the most helpful locals.
Cities near Greenville
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 71 mi | 506,306 | $415,800 | 98.2 | Compare |
| Cary, NC | 80 mi | 183,582 | $580,200 | 98.2 | Compare |
| Apex, NC | 82 mi | 80,419 | $576,100 | 98.2 | Compare |
| Durham, NC | 89 mi | 305,561 | $392,800 | 97.6 | Compare |
| Fayetteville, NC | 93 mi | 209,120 | $188,000 | 92.0 | Compare |
| Wilmington, NC | 98 mi | 126,809 | $383,800 | 96.4 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Greenville with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Greenville a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show prices below the national average, a growing population, short commutes. Compare Greenville side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Greenville?
The Census Bureau estimates Greenville had 96,443 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 89,262 in April 2020 (+8%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Greenville?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $66,300 in the Greenville area. The median household here earns $49,748.
When is the best time to visit Greenville?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, April to May and October are the most comfortable months. July averages 90°F and January 53°F for daytime highs.
What county is Greenville in?
Greenville is in Pitt County, North Carolina. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Greenville in?
Greenville is on Eastern Time (UTC-5, or UTC-4 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Greenville?
About 59 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does North Carolina have a state income tax?
Yes. North Carolina has a flat income tax with a top rate of 3.99% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Greenville. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Greenville, NC metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Greenville, NC station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.