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Greenville County, SC

RANK #880 / 996 NAT  ·  #24 / 24 SC  ·  POP 528,251

1YR FORECAST: -0.2%

5YR OUTLOOK: +13%

Our model projects Greenville County's housing market at -0.2% over the next year, underperforming most U.S. counties.

[01] Why Greenville County?

Greenville County, South Carolina, is known for Falls Park on the Reedy, a downtown landmark featuring a waterfall and pedestrian bridge. Located in the Upstate region and nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the county seat, Greenville, is approximately two hours from both Atlanta and Charlotte. Commuting within the county is primarily car-dependent, though Greenlink bus services and a downtown trolley are available. The area offers extensive outdoor recreation, including over 55 parks and facilities, three waterparks, and the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail, a popular route for hiking and biking.

Life in Greenville County attracts families, with the Greenville County School District being the largest in South Carolina and offering various programs, including magnet academies. The economy is expanding, driven by investments in advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and professional and technology services. Recent developments include new commercial and residential projects, and continued growth in sectors like automotive and healthcare. The region's economic activity supports a diverse job market.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
3.5x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+4.2%

Well above national median

Home Prices
+1.9%

Above national median

Climate & Terrain
1.8

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
13x

Below national median (13x)

Housing looks undervalued at 3.5x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    Prisma Health Healthcare
    10,000+
  2. 2
    Greenville County Schools Education
  3. 3
    Michelin North America Manufacturing
    5,000+
  4. 4
    Bon Secours St. Francis Health System Healthcare
  5. 5
    Duke Energy Energy
    2,500+
  6. 6
    Greenville County Government Government
  7. 7
    State of South Carolina (Greenville-area agencies) Government
  8. 8
    GE Vernova Manufacturing
  9. 9
    Fluor Corporation Other
  10. 10
    TD SYNNEX Technology

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Greenville County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
528,251
+1.75% YoY
Median Household Income
$71,328
Median Home Value
$248,900
+1.88% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,122
Average Annual Pay
$63,216
+4.6% YoY
Employment
296,981
+1.8% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2866
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
2.71%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
39.3%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$370,000
Days on Market
92
Slower market
Months of Supply
4.7
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
97.9%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
13.0%
Listings w/ Price Drops
25.2%
Building Permits (2024)
5,575
Single-Family Permits
4,993

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Crime & Safety

C
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
7.1
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
16.7
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
108.5
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Near national avg
based on homicide rate

Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →

[06] Air Quality

C+
AIR QUALITY
GRADE
Median AQI (3yr)
51.3
Moderate
Good Air Days
48%
526 of 1,095 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
3
Sensitive groups affected
Primary Pollutant
PM2.5
Fine particulate matter
Yearly Trend
2021
51
2022
51
2023
52
Median AQI · lower is better

Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →

[07] Capital Investment

$1,180M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
EnerSys Lithium-ion Cell Manufacturing Facility
EnerSys
$500M Planned
Isuzu North America Corp. Production Base
Isuzu North America Corp.
$280M Planned
GE Vernova Factory Expansion
GE Vernova
$160M Planned
DartPoints Greenville Data Center Expansion
DartPoints
$125M Under Construction
United Community Bank Corporate Headquarters
United Community Bank (UCB)
$65M Operating
Greenville County Renewable Energy Services Solar Farm
Bolt Solar (Renewable Energy Services LLC)
$50M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[08] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +4.2% 75 percentile
Population Growth +1.8% 87 percentile
Income Growth +8.9% 61 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.4% 24 percentile
Home Price Change +1.9% 58 percentile
Rent Growth -0.4% 9 percentile
Price/Rent 13x 52 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Greenville County, SC a good place to move to?

The data is not encouraging — Greenville County scores just 11/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #880 of 996 counties. Job growth at +1.8% and median household income of $71,328 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.

Is Greenville County affordable?

Housing in Greenville County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $248,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.29, with rents averaging $1,122/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.

Is Greenville County growing or shrinking?

Greenville County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.8% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.8% clip. Home values shifted +1.9% in the past year.

Are people moving to Greenville County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.71% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Greenville County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Lancaster County, SC 11 York County, SC 13 Beaufort County, SC 14 Berkeley County, SC 18 Horry County, SC 23 Charleston County, SC 24 San Luis Obispo County, CA 11 Stanislaus County, CA 10