Charlotte, NC vs Greenville, SC
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | CharlotteCharlotte, NC | GreenvilleGreenville, SC | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | Same |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | High Risk | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Exposed |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 25 minutes versus 19.9 minutes, Charlotte, NC and Greenville, SC show a 5-minute longer average commute in the larger city, per 2023 Census figures. Charlotte’s commute sits at the 60th percentile while Greenville’s is at the 27th. The two places also diverge sharply on household size: Charlotte averages 2.4 people per household (the 47th percentile) against Greenville’s 1.9 (the 3rd percentile), a 25% larger figure. Job growth over the past year runs +1.0% in Charlotte versus +1.8% in Greenville, a 0.8-point gap, with Greenville at the 72nd percentile and Charlotte at the 46th.
Work-from-home rates differ by 11.8 points, with 25.5% of Charlotte workers remote compared to 13.7% in Greenville; Charlotte ranks at the 91st percentile, Greenville at the 65th. State and local tax burden is 9.9% in Charlotte versus 8.9% in Greenville, a 1.0-point difference, placing Charlotte at the 48th percentile and Greenville at the 20th. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 18 in Charlotte and 35 in Greenville, an 89% higher rate in the latter, with percentiles of 58 and 79 respectively. Median home values also differ: $351,500 in Charlotte versus $453,300 in Greenville, 29% higher, while median rent runs $1,504 in Charlotte and $1,248 in Greenville, 21% higher. Violent crime stands at 559 per 100,000 in Charlotte and 466 in Greenville, a 20% higher figure, with property crime at 3,419 versus 2,861, also 20% higher. Nearest large city sits 1 mile from Charlotte but 611 miles from Greenville, a 609-mile difference.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Greenville, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 12766th pctl | 12967th pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $351,50064th pctl | $453,30078th pctl | Median home value: Charlotte, NC $351,500; Greenville, SC $453,300; Greenville is 29% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,50471st pctl | $1,24853rd pctl | Median rent: Charlotte, NC $1,504; Greenville, SC $1,248; Charlotte is 21% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $78,43857th pctl | $68,46043rd pctl | Median household income: Charlotte, NC $78,438; Greenville, SC $68,460; Charlotte is 15% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $68,29065th pctl | $88,06879th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Charlotte, NC $68,290; Greenville, SC $88,068; Greenville is 29% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $100,38765th pctl | $129,46079th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Charlotte, NC $100,387; Greenville, SC $129,460; Greenville is 29% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Unaffordable | Housing affordability: Charlotte, NC B+; Greenville, SC D; Charlotte is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Greenville needs about
$76,200
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 127 vs 129). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Greenville, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.7%52nd pctl | 3.7%52nd pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.0%46th pctl | +1.8%72nd pctl | Job growth (YoY): Charlotte, NC +1.0%; Greenville, SC +1.8%; Greenville is 0.8 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $49,99178th pctl | $56,95385th pctl | Per-capita income: Charlotte, NC $49,991; Greenville, SC $56,953; Greenville is 14% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 11.7%51st pctl | 14.1%62nd pctl | Poverty rate: Charlotte, NC 11.7%; Greenville, SC 14.1%; Greenville is 2.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25 min60th pctl | 19.9 min27th pctl | Average commute: Charlotte, NC 25 min; Greenville, SC 19.9 min; Charlotte is 5 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 25.5%91st pctl | 13.7%65th pctl | Work from home: Charlotte, NC 25.5%; Greenville, SC 13.7%; Charlotte is 11.8 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Greenville, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 55989th pctl | 46684th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Charlotte, NC 559; Greenville, SC 466; Charlotte is 20% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,41995th pctl | 2,86191st pctl | Property crime per 100k: Charlotte, NC 3,419; Greenville, SC 2,861; Charlotte is 20% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Fair | Crime & safety: Charlotte, NC D-; Greenville, SC C-; Greenville is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Charlotte, NC B-; Greenville, SC F; Charlotte is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Greenville, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort isn't available for Greenville, SC; broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Greenville, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FriendlyState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | highState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | BState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | C-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | B+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Greenville, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 1 mi2nd pctl | 611 mi77th pctl | Nearest large city: Charlotte, NC 1 mi; Greenville, SC 611 mi; Greenville is 609 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Good | Target proximity: Charlotte, NC C; Greenville, SC A; Greenville is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 532 mi73rd pctl | 561 mi78th pctl | Distance to international border: Charlotte, NC 532 mi; Greenville, SC 561 mi; Greenville is 5% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 152 mi37th pctl | 196 mi42nd pctl | Distance to coastline: Charlotte, NC 152 mi; Greenville, SC 196 mi; Greenville is 29% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Exposed | Strategic location: Charlotte, NC D; Greenville, SC C; Greenville is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Greenville, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 886,28399th pctl | 71,75582nd pctl | Population: Charlotte, NC 886,283; Greenville, SC 71,755; Charlotte is 12.4 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,84075th pctl | 2,32567th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Charlotte, NC 2,840; Greenville, SC 2,325; Charlotte is 22% higher. |
| Median age | 34.421st pctl | 34.824th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.4%76th pctl | 55.0%84th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Charlotte, NC 47.4%; Greenville, SC 55.0%; Greenville is 7.6 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.447th pctl | 1.93rd pctl | Average household size: Charlotte, NC 2.4; Greenville, SC 1.9; Charlotte is 25% larger. |
More about Charlotte's residents · Greenville's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | CharlotteCharlotte, NC | GreenvilleGreenville, SC |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+24 | R+11 |
| 2024 presidential | D +46.0 pts | R +24.0 pts |
Full politics data: Charlotte · Greenville
Moving between Charlotte and Greenville
- Median rent: $1,504 in Charlotte, $1,248 in Greenville
- Median home value: $351,500 in Charlotte, $453,300 in Greenville
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 127 in Charlotte, 129 in Greenville
- Median household income: $78,438 in Charlotte, $68,460 in Greenville
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $100,387 in Charlotte, $129,460 in Greenville
- Unemployment: 3.7% in Charlotte, 3.7% in Greenville
- Average commute: 25 min in Charlotte, 19.9 min in Greenville
- Violent crime per 100k: 559 in Charlotte, 466 in Greenville
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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