10 Things Non-SC People Say About Greenville

If you want an honest read on a city, listen to the people who just moved there. Fresh eyes notice the quirks locals take for granted—and the gems they’ve stopped bragging about. In this episode of Selling Greenville, newcomers from all over the country share what surprises them most about life in the Upstate. From basements (or the lack thereof) to restaurant realities and lake life, here’s a curated tour of Greenville through out-of-state eyes—equal parts practical guide and love letter.

Things Non-SC People Say about Greenville

That exact phrase pops up again and again when folks relocate: “things non-SC people say about Greenville.” The comments are remarkably consistent, and together they sketch a clear picture of the Upstate’s culture, housing stock, weather rhythm, and daily living. Below is a grounded, first-hand compilation—nothing theoretical, just what transplants notice once their boots hit Main Street.

1) “We are all the basements”

This is the single most common question from buyers arriving from basement country. Greenville is ringed by mountains, but the city and much of the county are surprisingly flat. Add in the local building preference for aggressive grading, and basements—especially true, fully underground basements—are rare. When they do exist, they’re often walk-out basements.

That scarcity affects everything from search criteria to appraisals. Historically, basements have confused local appraisers; still, recent experiences show it’s not a lost cause—three straight transactions with basements appraised just fine. The point stands: if a basement is non-negotiable, expect a narrower hunt.

2) “Wait…there aren’t gnats everywhere?”

Transplants from deeper-South locales chuckle at this discovery. Gnats aren’t a dominant feature of Greenville life. Mosquitoes? Sure—especially in wetter pockets—but that’s a solvable nuisance. The real shocker is what locals call palmetto bugs (not German roaches): big, alarming, and on certain humid days, capable of flying. Are they pleasant? Not remotely. Are they an everyday crisis? No. They’re simply a Southern rite of passage—best handled with quick reflexes and a good shoe.

3) “The restaurant scene is legit.”

Visitors expect chain comfort food. What they find is a seriously varied dining scene. Downtown’s Table 301 group is a favorite, but the appeal sprawls far beyond Main Street. Downtown Greer, Simpsonville, and Travelers Rest each have their own personalities (and menus) worth a night out. There’s even a beloved Greer spot, Latin Flavors, that grew from a food truck to a full-fledged go-to.

Two caveats newcomers commonly note:

• Italian food: If you’re spoiled by the Northeast, Greenville’s Italian scene can feel thin.

• Chicago-style deep dish: The demand is there; the consistent, raved-about supply isn’t—yet.

The verdict still lands where it started: great restaurants in many directions, with more local flavor than most expect.

4) “Snow day…so where are the plows?”

Greenville’s winter is mostly a photo op: a dusting at night, then slush by midday. But ice events do happen, and on those days, newcomers look for plows that simply don’t exist in large numbers. The city and county typically ride out minor events; heavier hits often require help from elsewhere.

Practical takeaway: keep proper ice-melt salt on hand (not table salt—yes, people try it). The trick in the Upstate isn’t endurance; it’s preparation for the rare, messy morning.

5) “Art is everywhere.”

Not clustered in a single warehouse district—everywhere. Public pieces along downtown corridors. Galleries are in easy walking distance. And the Artisphere festival anchors the annual calendar. Newcomers regularly point out how woven-in the art scene feels: less “destination,” more “daily backdrop.”

6) “Why is renting so expensive?”

This one starts a lot of conversations. The short answer isn’t market mystery; it’s tax structure. In Greenville County, rental properties are taxed at roughly triple the rate of owner-occupied homes. Landlords pass that cost through, which is why rent can feel out of step with the area’s reputation for purchase affordability. If you’re moving here to rent before you buy, it’s helpful to know you’re not imagining things—the math really is different.

7) “All these ‘other’ downtowns are adorable.”

Everyone hears about Downtown Greenville—the Falls, the food, the strollable spine. What surprises people is the depth of small downtowns nearby:

• Travelers Rest: Outdoorsy vibe, fueled by the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

• Greer: A polished core, a great central park, and not one but two main drags (Main and Trade).

• Simpsonville: A cozy train-town feel, plenty of walkable, and even an arcade for a nostalgic night.

Taken together, these pockets make weekend wandering a hobby all its own.

8) “The drivers…aren’t great.”

That’s the polite phrasing. What newcomers actually describe is a mash-up of driving cultures: rural habits (unhurried, often uncertain) sharing lanes with big-city veterans (decisive, occasionally aggressive). The result? Confusion about right-of-way, generous but misplaced courtesy (waving others on when it’s actually your turn), and a peculiar local habit of switching on hazard lights in heavy rain.

Layer in another Greenville quirk: people don’t just commute downtown—they go there to hang out from all corners of the county. That means more drivers navigating streets they don’t know well, which adds another beat of hesitation to every intersection. The advice is simple: stay alert, leave a cushion, and anticipate the unexpected.

9) “So many lakes—and so many ways to use them.”

You can’t shortcut to the ocean from here, but you don’t need to. The Upstate is laced with lakes of every flavor—some with sandy beaches, others welcoming jet skis, and plenty suited for kayaks and fishing. A number of favorites sit just beyond Greenville County lines in Anderson or Spartanburg, but that’s part of the charm: fifteen to forty minutes in the car can put you on the water for whatever kind of day you had in mind.

10) “Mountains at the doorstep.”

Drive north through Greenville or Spartanburg County, and the Piedmont rolls up into ridgelines. Weekend hikes, leaf-peeping, and brisk fall drives into North Carolina—it’s all within easy reach. Pair it with the lakes, and you’ve got a low-stress, high-reward outdoor circuit that transplants rave about.

Everyday quality of life: the thread that ties it all together

Read between the lines of these comments, and a pattern emerges. Newcomers are surprised by variety (in dining, in arts, in small-town cores) and by access (to water, to mountains, to a downtown people actually use). They also bump into realities—basement scarcity, winter logistics, rental pricing, and driving dynamics—that aren’t deal-breakers so much as adjustments.

And that’s the real story of Greenville through out-of-state eyes: a city that over-delivers on lifestyle and asks you to recalibrate a few expectations along the way. If you’re house-hunting, it means getting clear on basement needs and planning for a competitive rental market if you’re not buying right away. If you’re settling in, it means keeping ice melt in the garage, learning local traffic rhythms, and building a weekend routine that mixes Main Street with side streets downtown and quick escapes to water or hills.

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Bottom Line

Ask a dozen newcomers what stands out, and you’ll hear the same chorus: fewer basements, better food than expected, art at every turn, sticker shock on rent, tricky drivers, and easy access to lakes and mountains. Sprinkle in the occasional palmetto bug, plan for light snow logistics, and you’ve got a realistic snapshot of life in Greenville—grounded, livable, and surprisingly rich.

If you’re moving in, use this list as a playbook: calibrate your home search, budget wisely if you’re renting first, and give yourself a few weekends to explore beyond Main Street. The Upstate rewards curiosity—and people who show up ready to enjoy it.

Ien Araneta

Journal & Podcast Editor | Selling Greenville