Greenville, SC Local Data & Statistics

State: SC

Total population: 72,935 Household income: $71,472 Rent: $1,312

Overview

Total population

72,935

Rent

$1,312

Year built

1987

Household income

$71,472

Per capita income

$58,929

Poverty rate

14%

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Household size

2.0 persons

Rent over 30% of income

47.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

South Carolina

Total population

72,935

Adults over 25

51,392

Total households

35,482

Household size

2.0 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$71,472

Per capita income

$58,929

Poverty rate

14%

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Rent over 30% of income

47.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,312

Year built

1987

Households that rent

58.9%

Households that own

41.1%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.7

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

67.4%

Black

19.4%

Asian

2.2%

Two or more races

7.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

7.2%

Not Hispanic or Latino

92.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

84.1%

Commute time to work

19 mins

Work from home

15.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

19%

High school graduate or GED

17.5%

Some college or associate degree

7.9%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

55.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Greenville, SC with: South Carolina United States

Greenville, SC

Total population72,935

Rent$1,312

Year built1987

Household income$71,472

Per capita income$58,929

Poverty rate14%

Unemployment rate3.4%

South Carolina State

Total population5,296,225

Rent$1,180

Year built1992

Household income$69,324

Per capita income$39,236

Poverty rate14.1%

Unemployment rate4.2%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityGreenville, SC	StateSouth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	72,935	5,296,225	334,922,499
Rent	$1,312	$1,180	$1,413
Year built	1987	1992	1980
Household income	$71,472	$69,324	$80,734
Per capita income	$58,929	$39,236	$44,673
Poverty rate	14%	14.1%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.4%	4.2%	4%

View the complete comparison of Greenville, SC, South Carolina and United States →

Summary for Greenville, SC

Greenville is located in South Carolina.

Rent & Income

In Greenville, the typical monthly rent is $1,312 and the typical household income is $71,472. Rent here is higher than South Carolina and lower than the U.S., and household income is similar to South Carolina and lower than the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 14%, which is similar to the South Carolina rate and higher than the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 58.9% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 47.7% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 55.5% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.4%, which is lower than both South Carolina and the national rate.

Greenville, SC — Rent vs Household Income

Greenville, SC — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Greenville, SC (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,312 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Greenville, SC

Annual Household Income: $71,472

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Greenville, SC

Estimated Rate: 14%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Greenville, SC

In Greenville, SC, households that rent: 20,898 (58.9%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	20,898	58.9%
Owner-Occupied	14,584	41.1%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Greenville, SC

In Greenville, SC, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 9,962 (47.7%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	9,962	47.7%
Other renter households	10,936	52.3%
Total renter households	20,898	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Greenville, SC

Less than High School: 9,771 people (19%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 8,997 people (17.5%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,084 people (7.9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 28,540 people (55.5%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 51,392

📊 Unemployment Rate in Greenville, SC

Estimated Rate: 3.4%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Redlands, CA72,985 Kalamazoo, MI73,132 New Britain, CT73,301 Gulfport, MS72,533 Mount Vernon, NY72,528 Lakeville, MN72,480 Turlock, CA72,400 Jacksonville, NC73,507 Rocklin, CA72,340 Bowling Green, KY73,638

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.