Moving to Greenville – Here’s What You Should Know
Moving to Greenville – Here’s What You Should Know!
Guest Author: Amanda Moore
Greenville, South Carolina is quickly growing city located about halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte and although most of the state’s shine gets directed at coastal cities like Charleston, SC — Greenville deserves its own recognition. Greenville is a vibrant city with affordable homes, a bustling metropolis, and a picturesque Main Street. Slowly but surely people are realizing the charm and allure of Greenville making it the fourth fastest-growing city in the U.S. Here’s what you should know before moving to Greenville.
The biggest draw in this city is Falls Park on the Reedy. Falls Park on the Reedy is a 32-acre park adjacent to downtown Greenville in the historic West End district that includes 40-foot-tall waterfalls and a cantilevered pedestrian bridge. Besides its unobstructed beauty, locals flock to the park year-round for outdoor movies, concerts, food and music festivals, the list goes on. Hikers and cyclists love to take a ride or a stroll through Swamp Rabbit Trail which has more than 10 miles of trails that follow the Reedy River. Other natural hiking trails in the area can be found at Lake Conestee Nature Park, Gower Estates Park, and Cleveland Park. If you want even more natural beauty, a short five-mile drive from the city center will drop you in Paris Mountain State Park where you can kayak on the lake or sunbathe on the grassy shore.
The 10-block stretch of Main Street is lined with galleries, restaurants, boutiques, and bars. The area is rich with historic beauty but updated with tree-lined walking paths, trolleys, and bike share programs. The city is so into biking, it’s been jokingly nicknamed “Bike Town.” Down on Main Street, locals rave about the thriving and constantly evolving food scene. The city hosts Euphoria, an annual food festival featuring celebrity chefs and cooking demonstrations, but the more than 120 locally owned restaurants in 10 city blocks are reason enough to move here. From tasty BBQ spots to craft breweries, Southern Living recently called the city a “foodie paradise.”
College football is a huge deal in Greenville with locals rooting for Clemson University against their rival at the University of South Carolina. Baseball fans flock to Fluor Field to cheer on the Greenville Drive, the A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox (the field is also a near replica of Fenway Park).
If sports aren’t your thing, the art scene in Greenville is one to keep an eye on. The Art Crossing in Downtown Greenville is a series of galleries and studio that are open every day to the public who are curious about art or hoping to buy a piece from the next great American artist. There’s also the Peace Center (which includes an amphitheater, concert hall, and theater), the Greenville County Museum of Art, the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, and a number of smaller theaters where you can catch anything from a Shakespearean production to a one-act play. The music scene in Greenville is also great — it’s not hard to catch a local jazz band playing in a bar downtown.
According to U.S. News and World Report the median home price in Greenville, South Carolina $159,692, which is significantly below the nation’s average, which is in the low $200,000s. Almost half of all residents in Greenville own a home and the downtown area has tons of brand new apartment complexes and new condominium developments. Another bonus to living in Greenville is that it has more livable seasons than a lot of major cities. The mild weather during the spring, fall, and winter make Greenville the envy of many east coast cities where citizens constantly battle insane winters.
Most people own cars and drive in Greenville, which is easy because there is virtually no traffic in the city. Greenville citizens who have experienced traffic in cities like Los Angeles or Boston consider the minor gridlock in Greenville to be a breeze. The average commute to the city from the surrounding suburbs is around 22 minutes which is less than the national average commute.
The schools in Greenville are fantastic across the board. Greenville is home to 34 public k-12 school, 63 private schools, and seven colleges and/or universities. The South Carolina Child Care website is a great resource for searching for childcare and school options for any age as the site breaks down schools by zip code and assigns each a letter-grade ratings. For a list of the best preschools, daycare and infant care centers in Greenville County, Niche has a great comprehensive ranked list. Although these resources help you find the best school for your child, there are so many highly rated educational options in Greenville that you don’t have to search that hard.
It’s pretty clear why Greenville, SC is such a desirable city. You get the conveniences of a small city with the “Hello neighbor” friendliness of a small town. Beautiful parks, a walkable downtown, and affordable homes are just a few reasons why everyone wants to move to Greenville!