Greenville, NC Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Greenville, NC: What You Need to Know

All hail Greenville the Queen City on the Tar! Greenville’s location along the Tar River in eastern North Carolina is the reason behind its special nickname.  

The Local History

Richard Evans, a Pitt County legislator, founded the city in 1771 as Martinsborough. Evans’ family divided his plantation to form the city and sold the lots by public auction. It was renamed Greeneville in 1786 in honor of General Nathanael Greene, American Revolutionary War hero. The spelling was later simplified to Greenville. The first tobacco warehouse in the city was built in 1891. It was the beginning of Greenville’s development as the largest tobacco market in North Carolina.

The Cost of Living in Greenville

Greenville is a highly affordable small city (population: 93,400) with a cost of living that’s 10.6% lower than the national average. Housing and transportation costs are also reasonable – 18.6% and 4.1% lower than the national average respectively. Greenville’s median gross rent is $799. North Carolina has a flat income tax rate of 5.25% and a sales tax rate of 6.75% to 7.50%.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Greenville’s downtown area offers a variety of housing choices: single-family homes, apartments, and condos. The historic districts, at the heart of the town, offer charming Craftsman and Tudor-style houses. There are also a lot of colonials and manor houses in the neighborhoods surrounding downtown. The majority of Greenville’s residents are renters. 

If you prefer to live in the suburbs, Winterville Township and Grimesland Township are a short commute to Greenville. They both have good schools and amenities. Farmville is known for the annual Dogwood Festival, a weekend of entertainment that attracts up to 30,000 visitors every year. Both Farmville and Winterville have a large percentage of renters.

Weather and Climate

Greenville gets an average of 49 inches of rain every year, more than the U.S. average of 38 inches. In 1999, the city experienced a terrible flood when Hurricane Floyd hit the Carolinas. Greenville received 12.86 inches of rain; it was the city’s wettest September on record. Greenville gets very little snow, only 3 inches annually on the average, versus the national average of 28 inches.

The Local Sports Scene

The city is home to East Carolina University (ECU) and its Pirates athletic teams. The Pirates compete in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s baseball and football, and women’s soccer, softball, and volleyball. Greenville is also known as “BMX Pro Town USA” because it hosts bicycle motocross events for amateurs and professionals throughout the year.