Poverty and living standards in Greenville, North Carolina: official figures
24.6% of residents of Greenville (21,535 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 51st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; North Carolina: 13.0%).
How many children live in poverty in Greenville?
21.8% of children under 18 in Greenville lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (3,720 children), 221st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; North Carolina: 17.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Greenville?
By age, the poverty rate in Greenville was 23.5% for children under 6 and 15.9% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Greenville live in deep poverty?
13,970 people in Greenville, 16.0% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 20th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Greenville are cost-burdened?
52.6% of renting households in Greenville spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (13,731 households), 410th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; North Carolina: 48.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Greenville spend half their income on rent?
28.5% of renting households in Greenville spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 297th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Greenville are food insecure?
An estimated 20.6% of adults in Greenville experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 206th highest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 17.1% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Greenville compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Greenville ranks 51 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | Birmingham | 24.7% |
| 49 | Waterbury | 24.7% |
| 50 | Terre Haute | 24.7% |
| 51 | Greenville | 24.6% |
| 52 | Pontiac | 24.4% |
| 53 | Corvallis | 24.3% |
| 54 | Toledo | 24.3% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Greenville ranks 221 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 218 | Wichita | 21.8% |
| 219 | Yuma | 21.8% |
| 220 | Harrisonburg | 21.8% |
| 221 | Greenville | 21.8% |
| 222 | Lowell | 21.8% |
| 223 | Los Angeles | 21.7% |
| 224 | Kansas City | 21.7% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Greenville ranks 20 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Detroit | 16.4% |
| 18 | Stillwater | 16.2% |
| 19 | Valdosta | 16.0% |
| 20 | Greenville | 16.0% |
| 21 | Syracuse | 16.0% |
| 22 | Corvallis | 15.5% |
| 23 | Iowa City | 15.4% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Greenville ranks 414 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 411 | Tempe | 52.7% |
| 412 | Lafayette | 52.7% |
| 413 | Troy | 52.7% |
| 414 | Greenville | 52.6% |
| 415 | Reno | 52.6% |
| 416 | Elk Grove | 52.6% |
| 417 | Dearborn Heights | 52.6% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Greenville ranks 210 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 207 | Norfolk | 20.6% |
| 208 | Hampton | 20.6% |
| 209 | High Point | 20.6% |
| 210 | Greenville | 20.6% |
| 211 | Warner Robins | 20.6% |
| 212 | Joliet | 20.4% |
| 213 | Westland | 20.4% |
More on Greenville: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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