One of the most commonly googled phrases associated with Greenville is “what are the pros and cons of living in Greenville, South Carolina”. This is a very natural question for anyone looking to potentially move to this area, so we took it upon ourselves as locals to come up with our own pros and cons list so you can get the truth about life as a native of Greenville. We did our very best to be unbiased, but you will notice we had to grasp at straws to come up with cons of living in Greenville because it is nothing short of an amazing place to live.
Cons
Traffic
Whether or not you think the traffic here is bad will actually depend on where you’re from. I’m from a bigger city, so naturally I really don’t think the traffic is too bad. But locals will tell you that traffic has steadily gotten worse over time, particularly on Woodruff Road and Five Forks. You might find yourself sitting in a traffic light line for several minutes before you actually get through it yourself. But again this is all relative.
Everything Closes at 8:00 During The Week
Another thing you may find frustrating if you’re from a bigger city is that most restaurants and businesses close at 8:00 pm or even earlier on weeknights. This is not always the case for fast food chains, but if you’re needing to do a late night run for food you’re pretty much limited to the major chains rather than any local restaurants.
Seasonal allergies
Our glorious green spaces and proximity to the mountains does come with a price: an intense allergy season. Greenville is known for having lush greenery but this comes with the consequences of many different varieties of pollen that falls so thick in the spring, your car will likely have a yellow glow about it for most of the spring months. Of course this can be remedied with over the counter medicine, but if you’re not used to large amounts of pollen and allergens, this will be a shock to your system
Hot summers
It will come as no surprise that summers in South Carolina are HOT. And I’m sure some of you think that you’ve dealt with heat before, but lots of people forget about our friend humidity that really swoops in and makes any hot summer day go from manageable to unbearable. If you’re from up north this will definitely be an adjustment for you, however, we aren’t the hottest southern state by any means, so if you’re moving here from another southern state you really shouldn’t be too worried.
Road Construction
As Greenville tries to adjust to the major influx of new residents, they are having to update roads and develop neighborhoods and businesses to accommodate new life in the area. The downside of this is that we are seeing more construction on or near major roadways, which does temporarily impede the beautiful views you might normally get on your drive, and does exacerbate the traffic problem.
Pros
Downtown Greenville
Downtown Greenville is truly a gem in the crown of the United States. There is nowhere in the nation like it, with beautiful sights like Falls Park as well as a very walkable downtown with trees that always contain fairy lights, you’re sure to have a magical experience anytime you’re in the downtown area. There are so many amazing local eateries and coffee shops that are definitely worth visiting and enjoying. You really couldn’t ask for a better metropolitan area.
Green Space
Greenville is notorious for providing both an awesome downtown and many areas where people can enjoy their green space. Though the crowning jewel of this is no doubt falls park, there are also other amazing green spaces and parks scattered throughout the Greenville area. From Legacy Park to Paris Mountain to Furman University’s campus, there is no shortage of gorgeous green spaces to enjoy and recharge in.
Quality of Life
Quality of Life is actually the number one reason why people say they move to the Greenville area. Greenville is beautiful, spacious, artistic, green, and affordable, making it anyone’s ideal city to live in. That coupled with its economic growth which we’re about to dig into, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better quality of life anywhere else.
Economic Growth
In the wake of the pandemic, Greenville was at the forefront of the United State’s economic recovery. Work from home opportunities caused people to pour into this city because of its amazing quality of life. That coupled with the jobs that are provided by major companies like Michelin and BMW make Greenville’s economy one of the strongest in the nation. If you’re wanting to move somewhere you know you can find a job, Greenville is definitely a great place to start.
Location between major cities
Greenville is anywhere from 1 to 4 hours away from several major cities that are great for weekend getaways. We’re 4 hours from Charleston, 2 hours from Atlanta and Charlotte, and 1 hour from Asheville. There is no shortage of adventures to be had just a short drive away.
The Food Scene
touted as the south’s best foodie city on the rise by Southern Living,, Greenville is sure to surprise you with the quality and diversity of its food scene. Many a magazine has featured us in their list of foodie towns to keep an eye on, and it's only getting more and more delicious with time. Our restaurants are so innovative both in their menus and atmospheres, it’s hard to find a restaurant that is any less than extraordinary in terms of its menu and flavor.