Have a Question or Want a Free Market Report?

Contact Me
Questions? We're Here to Help
Search Listings
Greenville Best Neighborhoods

Best Neighborhoods in Greenville: Greenville, SC Community Living Guide

Greenville, South Carolina, is a city of about 70,635 people. Part of the largest metro area in South Carolina, the Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin metro statistical area, Greenville is part of an urban district of about 920,477.

The city is located about equal distance from Charlotte and Atlanta. Positioned at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville is known for its array of outdoor activities and natural beauty. Residents can enjoy numerous parks and walking trails.

Greenville is home to a number of other attractions, including theaters, community festivals, and large concert venues. For those considering a move to the city, the following six areas are considered some of Greenville's best neighborhoods.

North Main

North Main Amenities

  • Community events
  • Community educational activities
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping nearby
  • Parks
  • Nearby lake

The North Main neighborhood is located just north of Greenville's downtown area. As such, it is one of the oldest neighborhoods to be found in the city. The North Main neighborhood is defined as the area north of Stone Avenue, west of Mohawk Drive and Chick Springs Road, south of North Pleasantburg Drive, and east of Worley Road, Rutherford Street, and Rutherford Road.

Founded in 1813, the North Main neighborhood started as a business district. It wasn't until around 1896 or 1897 that residential development began to expand, a process that would continue into the 1920s. As with most areas, growth was hindered during the Great Depression. However, the neighborhood's development was further impacted with the construction of U.S. Highway 29, which got underway in the 1930s to link Greenville and Spartanburg. The highway was finally completed in 1946, after construction delays due to World War II.

Residents of the North Main neighborhood enjoy the many green spaces maintained by the North Main Community Association, as well as social events and educational activities the association provides. With its proximity to downtown, residents have easy access to a wealth of business and retail services. Those looking for an older neighborhood with quick access to city services may find North Main an appealing option.

North Main Hotspots

North Main Shopping

North Main Nightlife

North Main Cafés

Overbrook

Overbrook Amenities

  • Historic district
  • Parks
  • Salons
  • Neighborhood Association

Overbrook is one of Greenville's first suburbs. It got its start with the expansion of the Greenville trolley line in 1910, which brought with it the opportunity for residential development outside the city's center.

Development got underway in 1913 by a group of businessmen known as the Overbrook Land Company. The group purchased land on what was then Greenville's east side, later having it surveyed and subdivided. Two years later, a portion of that land was sold to a local farmer. He later sold to a real estate firm, which sold off parcels to prospective homeowners. A second section of land was surveyed in 1917, leading to the development of Overbrook Circle by 1924. The area was characterized by larger lots and homes than the original Overbrook neighborhood.

The Overbrook Historic District is dominated by Craftsman Bungalow architectural style, popular at the time of its development. Residents can enjoy historic architecture, a mature neighborhood, and numerous parks, while also having easy access to downtown.

Overbrook Hotspots

Overbrook Shopping

Overbrook Nightlife

Overbrook Cafés

Twin Lake Cottages

Twin Lake Cottages Amenities

  • Park
  • Gazebo
  • Walking paths
  • Healthcare nearby

Twin Lake Cottages is a development of new construction homes, located just north of downtown Greenville. The neighborhood is located near the intersection of Twin Lake Road and White Oak Road, on Cottage Knoll Circle.

The centerpiece of the development is a park-like common space, complete with a gazebo, a fire pit, walking paths, and greenspace. Each home features a covered porch, which faces the common space area as a way of developing a sense of community. The neighborhood consists of both single-family cottage-style homes and townhome cottages.

Prospective residents have their choice of multiple floor plans or the option of purchasing an existing spec home. The cottage plans come with or without garages.

Twin Lake Cottages Hotspots

Twin Lake Cottages Nightlife

Twin Lake Cottages Restaurants

West End

West End Amenities

  • Park
  • Shopping
  • Restaurants
  • Downtown nearby
  • Nightlife
  • Baseball stadium
  • Neighborhood association

West End is a historic district near the intersections of Main, Pendleton, and Augusta Streets. Settlement of the area first began in the 1820s, though growth didn't get started until the establishment of Furman University on 50 acres and the first train on the Greenville and Columbia Railroad, which arrived in 1853. Together, these factors boosted the residential and commercial development of the neighborhood.

With the university came the need for residential and commercial areas. Following the Civil War, farmers began to find it profitable to grow cotton. Fertilizer warehouses began dotting the area. By the turn of the century, the West End had developed into a thriving commercial region, rivaled only by the downtown district. Growth of residential areas brought development of schools and churches.

As the textile industry shifted outside the area, it was replaced by soft drink manufacturing and bottling, then later automotive services. New office and commercial buildings were constructed to meet the neighborhood's continued commercial and retail needs.

The community is served by the West End Neighborhood Association. The neighborhood offers parks, boutiques, and restaurants. Residents looking for an older, historic area with plenty of nearby amenities may enjoy West End.

Hampton-Pinckney Historic District

Hampton-Pinckney Historic District Amenities

  • Historic district
  • Restaurants
  • Museums
  • Parks
  • Neighborhood Association

The Hampton-Pinckney Historic District neighborhood got its start in 1815, when a philanthropist spent $27,550 to purchase 11,028 acres of land. The first house in the Hampton-Pinckney neighborhood was built prior to the Civil War. During the 1890s, a portion of the land was further divided into residential lots. Both the cotton industry and railroad were important catalysts in the development of the neighborhood, as well as the city.

Hampton-Pinckney has the distinction of being the city's first trolley car neighborhood and is well-known for its fanciful representations of Victorian Era architecture.

Hampton-Pinckney was Greenville's first National Register District. Prospective residents are drawn to the neighborhood's historic significance, as well as its unique architecture.

The Hampton-Pinckney Neighborhood Association helps to ensure the historic integrity of the district. The neighborhood sits adjacent to the Heritage Green neighborhood, home to the Greenville County Main Library, the Greenville County Art Museum, and the Greenville Little Theater.

Hampton-Pinckney Historic District Hotspots

Hampton-Pinckney Historic District Shopping

Hampton-Pinckney Historic District Nightlife

West Greenville

West Greenville Amenities

  • Restaurants
  • Shopping
  • Art galleries
  • Recreation center
  • Community association
  • Walkable commercial district
  • Community garden

West Greenville got its start—like many older Greenville neighborhoods—as an old textile mill village, known as the childhood home of Shoeless Joe Jackson. However, in 2014, a plan designed to turn the neighborhood into a more pedestrian-friendly district led to a walkable neighborhood rich in arts and culture. Gallery walks and weekly art classes are now commonplace. The neighborhood's Mill Village Market became notable as the place to get farm-fresh produce in the city. Meanwhile, restaurants began sprouting up across the village.

All the commercial activity has led to renewed interest in residential development, with several projects underway or on the horizon. Today's West Greenville village is decidedly known as Greenville's art district. There are over 60 businesses thriving in the neighborhood, from galleries and services to shops and restaurants. Prospective residents are drawn to the village's walkable, invigorated arts and restaurant scene. Proximity to downtown provides access to a host of amenities and services.

The West Greenville Community Association operates in the neighborhood, and residents have access to a recreation center.

West Greenville Hotspots

Visit the Best Greenville Neighborhoods Today

While Greenville is a city that owes much of its early growth to the textile trade, it has proven itself capable of economic diversity. The city has successfully revitalized its downtown and continues to bolster arts and culture throughout the community.

Greenville's neighborhoods reflect its growth, offering residents numerous opportunities to enjoy the city's natural beauty while also providing the many services and amenities expected of a major metro area. The city's extensive park system, as well as its thriving restaurant and retail scene, continue to hold appeal for prospective residents and tourists alike.