1st Advantage MortgageThe median Greenville County household earns $76,932, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Greenville County
- Jobs and commutes in Greenville County
- Paychecks and income spread in Greenville County
- What it costs to live in Greenville County
- Places inside Greenville County
- The counties around Greenville County
- Budget math at the Greenville County median
- Who lives in Greenville County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Greenville County
- Checking a lender's license in South Carolina
- Steps before you apply in Greenville County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Greenville County
With an estimated 548,166 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Greenville County ranks 1st of 46 in South Carolina for population. Land area is 786 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 697 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 25 places in the county (6 incorporated, 19 census-designated); the largest is Greenville, with about 72,935 residents, or 13% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Greenville County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Greenville County residents work in education and health care and 15% in manufacturing. Compared with South Carolina, the county leans toward professional and administrative services (14% against 12%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 14% work from home.
| Top industries | Greenville County share | +/- vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.2% | -0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.4% | +2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.4% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | -0.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.7% | +0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Greenville County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in Greenville County
Greenville County households have a median income of $76,932 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 8th of 46 in South Carolina.
| Band | Greenville County | Compared with South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.6% | -4.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | -0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.7% | +2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.1% | +2.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 38% of Greenville County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. 10.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 14.1%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Greenville County median.
What it costs to live in Greenville County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,262 in Greenville County versus $1,180 statewide. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. With a median value of $299,000, a typical Greenville County house costs 3.9 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 69%.
| Housing | Greenville County | South Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,262/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $299,000 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 13% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Places inside Greenville County
25 Census places fall mainly inside Greenville County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 332,730 residents, leaving about 39% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Five Forks has the highest median household income on the list ($141,786) and City View the lowest ($37,688), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Conestee ($685) and steepest in Five Forks ($2,178). Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Greenville County community.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | city | 72,935 | $71,472 | $1,312 | 4 mi |
| Greer | city | 41,536 | $82,626 | $1,198 | 8 mi |
| Mauldin | city | 27,055 | $82,331 | $1,490 | 9 mi |
| Simpsonville | city | 26,144 | $82,457 | $1,415 | 13 mi |
| Taylors | CDP | 24,505 | $77,144 | $1,337 | 4 mi |
| Wade Hampton | CDP | 20,898 | $77,449 | $1,115 | 2 mi |
| Five Forks | CDP | 18,656 | $141,786 | $2,178 | 10 mi |
| Berea | CDP | 16,862 | $49,829 | $1,076 | 5 mi |
| Gantt | CDP | 15,401 | $47,316 | $1,062 | 7 mi |
| Parker | CDP | 12,898 | $40,043 | $1,099 | 5 mi |
| Fountain Inn | city | 12,020 | $73,585 | $1,184 | 17 mi |
| Travelers Rest | city | 8,370 | $54,583 | $1,033 | 6 mi |
| Sans Souci | CDP | 7,665 | $45,069 | $999 | 3 mi |
| Welcome | CDP | 6,527 | $66,094 | $1,103 | 8 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
The counties around Greenville County
Pickens County is closest, 20 miles from center to center; the sixth, Transylvania County, is 33 miles off. Income ranges from $61,064 in Pickens County to $68,187 in Henderson County; none of these neighbors top Greenville County's median. Some neighbors are in North Carolina. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Greenville County resident follows South Carolina rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville County | - | $76,932 | $1,262/mo | 69% |
| Pickens County, SC | 20 mi | $61,064 | $972/mo | 71% |
| Spartanburg County, SC | 22 mi | $66,234 | $1,084/mo | 73% |
| Polk County, NC | 29 mi | $67,758 | $1,178/mo | 77% |
| Anderson County, SC | 30 mi | $66,651 | $989/mo | 75% |
| Henderson County, NC | 31 mi | $68,187 | $1,187/mo | 75% |
| Transylvania County, NC | 33 mi | $66,184 | $967/mo | 75% |
Budget math at the Greenville County median
How much room does a median Greenville County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,411 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,262, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- At 35%, room after rent is $982 a month
- $1,623: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $1,262, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Greenville County, in numbers
Degree holders: 41% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 10.0%, against 9.6% for South Carolina.
| Greenville County | South Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.3% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.0% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.0% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Greenville County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 45.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.8% |
Before borrowing in Greenville County
What the Greenville County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Health costs. With 10% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Checking a lender's license in South Carolina
Before sharing details with a lender, a Greenville County resident can confirm its license with the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. Consumer lending in South Carolina is also overseen by the Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on South Carolina: South Carolina personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Greenville County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Greenville County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Greenville County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
Guides that cover parts of Greenville County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Greenville County earn?
The median is $76,932; 38% earn $100,000 or more and 21% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Greenville County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,262 against $1,180 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Greenville County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 25 Census places: Greenville, Greer, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Taylors.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Greenville County or elsewhere in South Carolina, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Greenville County check a lender's license?
With the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.