When it comes to travel destinations, Charleston takes the top rank. After all, it has received the title of the best city in the United States for the past 12 years running. However, another South Carolinian gem has recently garnered headlines for its high quality of life.
Greenville, nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwest region of the Palmetto State, was recently rated the fourth best city to live in the US by U.S. News, trailing only Naples, Florida, Boise, Idaho, and Colorado Springs.
According to the website, the city, which has over 72,000 residents, has evolved “from a blip on the national map to a bustling metropolis” as a result of an increase in industrial jobs.
“The reinvigorated downtown serves as the focal point of the region, attracting new business, hosting an emerging culinary scene, and housing what some call the crown jewel of Greenville: Falls Park on the Reedy,” according to the study.
The town’s most well-known park opened in downtown Greenville ten years ago. It is a curved 345-foot-long suspended cable bridge that provides panoramic views of the picturesque park and the Reedy River falls.
While Greenville has a lot to offer tourists, the combination of its inexpensive cost of living, favorable property market, moderate weather, good outdoor activity, and low unemployment rate has earned it a spot among the top five cities in America.
According to US News, despite rising demand in recent years, Greenville’s median property value is lower than the national average. According to Zillow, the current worth is $312,298—$50,000 less than the national average.
“More than 60 percent of residents here own a home, and development downtown has resulted in many new condominiums and apartment complexes,” according to U.S. News.
Regular expenses like transportation, groceries, and utilities are 10% lower than the national average cost of living, and the unemployment rate in June 2024 was 4.4%.
Greenville is home to approximately 40 Fortune 500 firms and over 240 foreign companies, with Prisma Health and Michelin North America among the largest employers.
Niche.com rates the town’s public schools as A-, ranking it as the greatest place to live in South Carolina for young professionals. Seniors are also drawn to Greenville, which, in addition to boundless mountain views and recreation, includes 37 parks, over 1,000 churches of various denominations, and two health care systems.
