Why Relocate to Greenville, NC? Ask These Residents

Justin Kase Conder

Colleen Bandle and Bri O’Donnell used to live on opposite sides of the country, but they were searching for many of the same things: a relaxed style of living, bountiful economic opportunities, affordability and a welcoming community. They found all those things and more after deciding to relocate to Greenville, NC, and Pitt County. 

In Philadelphia, O’Donnell worked as a pediatric dietitian. Bandle, born and raised in California, was a college student in Idaho finishing a degree in landscape architecture. Both women did extensive research on many cities around the nation before making their ultimate decision. Now, looking back, they agree that it was well worth the work that led them to the region. 

Courtesy of Colleen Bandle

Full of Opportunity in Greenville, NC 

After graduating in 2024, Bandle and her partner, Jacob Heminway, also a Californian, were looking for a place to land that was both less expensive and stressful than their home state. They wanted a place to live that wasn’t too big yet was interesting and full of opportunity. 

“It came down to where we could find the best computer science degree programs for Jacob and good job prospects for me,” Bandle says. “We kind of stumbled upon East Carolina University and found job possibilities in Greenville and Raleigh. We flew out, had an interview and fell in love with the people, the size of Greenville and its community feeling.” 

Bandle and Heminway moved to the Greenville area in 2024, finding an affordable, attractive apartment in Winterville. They were also pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome they received. 

“Our neighbors are so friendly,” Bandle says. “In California, we might not have ever met our neighbors. People there just tend to keep their heads down and keep to themselves. Here, people still say hello. I just love that.” 

Heminway is enjoying his program at East Carolina University, while Bandle is delighted with her work at The East Group, where she is an architectural landscape designer. 

You can often find the couple outside, walking the greenway, paddleboarding on the river or enjoying the area’s festivals and events. “We are happy and thrilled we could find this amazing place,” Bandle says. 

Courtesy of Bri O’Donnell

Pleasant Surprises in Pitt County 

O’Donnell moved to Greenville in 2022 from Philadelphia, where her husband, John, was a doctor. Prior to moving, they were looking to make a change. 

“It had always been on my list to move south to a place that offered a more relaxed lifestyle and was close to the beach,” O’Donnell says. “We wanted a place that would offer great career opportunities for both of us that were within a teaching health care environment. And we were looking for a place to settle down and raise a family.” 

O’Donnell says she and her husband researched many places to see which cities were growing, had jobs available and offered plenty to do. “Greenville checked all the boxes,” she says. “We just said, ‘Let’s give it a whirl.’” 

That whirl delivered some satisfying surprises: great jobs at ECU Health Medical Center, an affordable house with a pond and huge backyard, the arrival of baby daughter Mackenzie, and an ever-growing social media presence. 

O’Donnell has an account on Instagram and TikTok called “Bless Your Hearty Appetite,” which she started for fun, then it snowballed (@blessyourheartyappetite). 

Today, O’Donnell has over 7,000 Instagram followers and was voted Best Local Social Media Influencer-Silver for the second time by Daily Reflector readers. 

“I just wanted to show family and friends everywhere we were visiting, mostly cafes and bars at that point,” she says. “But I realized the community needed a way to showcase local events, businesses and ways to get involved. It’s turned into something that has actually helped the community.” 

O’Donnell’s family enjoys local sports, cultural events such as the First Friday ArtWalk, and fun-filled gatherings like PirateFest in Greenville and the Winterville Watermelon Festival. She also loves the region’s vibrant food scene and encourages people to explore places beyond downtown, as the number of things to do continues to grow. 

She already encouraged her parents to move to eastern North Carolina from New Jersey and extends the same welcome to others. 

“It makes me feel proud to call Greenville my home,” she says. “It’s a wonderful city that continues to grow. We are always trying to get our friends to move down here.”