same $100k income, fresh start from Ann Arbor

change
Greenville, SC cityscape

if you left ann arbor

Greenville

sc · metro 975k

photo: Alex Borelli / pexels

a dispatch from

greenville

SC

34.85°N

82.40°W

Greenville built a city around a waterfall. The Reedy River drops right through downtown in Falls Park, with a suspension bridge curving over it that locals show off like a trophy. Main Street is a textbook of how to revitalize a small American city: brick, trees, patios, and a steady stream of festivals. BMW's largest factory in the world is a few miles up the road. The Blue Ridge foothills start just outside town.

metro975k

in our guides

#3

of 10

Affordable cities for outdoor lovers

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best mid-sized US cities

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to leave San Francisco for

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities for young professionals

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best affordable cities to live car-free

read the guide
#3

of 10

Most vibrant and affordable cities

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities for retirees who love the outdoors

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for families

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for families who love the outdoors

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for couples

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities for mild four-season weather

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities to leave New York for

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to leave Los Angeles for

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to leave Chicago for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Denver

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to live in the South

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave Phoenix for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to leave Denver for

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities on the East Coast

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities for a $75k salary

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for a $100k salary

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities to leave Boston for

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities to buy a home

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to leave Miami for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to live in the Southeast

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to leave Portland for

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities in the Carolinas

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to leave DC for

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities for creatives and artists

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities to live in your 30s

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$344

cheaper each month than Ann Arbor

Not a fortune, but real money. Greenville runs cheaper than Ann Arbor month over month.
landable, recorded on the greenville entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,551/mo

26% cheaper than Ann Arbor(vs $2,082/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$188/mo more in state tax than Ann Arbor

vs 4.25% in Ann Arbor

03after rent

$6,241/mo

$344 more than Ann Arbor

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$311k

28% cheaper than Ann Arbor

vs $429k in Ann Arbor

05metro size

975k

vs 366k in Ann Arbor

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

202

pleasant days a year, in greenville.

Ann Arbor barely cracks 154 pleasant ones.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 1.6× more on the calendar than Ann Arbor.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

23% higher than Ann Arbor

vs 56/100 in Ann Arbor

Closest outdoor draw: Caesars Head State Park, 20.5 mi.

·walk score®

84/100

13% lower than Ann Arbor

vs 97/100 in Ann Arbor

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

85% fewer than Ann Arbor

vs 135 nonstops in Ann Arbor

04 · see also

if greenville appeals, also worth a look:

see also

spartanburg

$117/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

charleston

more things to do

turn the page

see also

pensacola

$340/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare greenville with:

SpartanburgCharlestonPensacola