What You Need To Know About The North Carolina Piedmont
On The Road Again...
Last week we had a chance to roam around the North Carolina Piedmont region and take a look at some of our favorite small towns and cities with populations of 30,000 people or less.
We looked at a lot of great Piedmont towns and cities from Salisbury, NC to Lincolnton, NC but it occurred to me I forgot to mention some of the things that I think make the Piedmont region a great place to start to find your best place to retire or relocate to in North Carolina.
Frankly there is a lot going on in the Piedmont region.
It is an economically diverse region and has most of North Carolina’s major cities. Nevertheless the Piedmont region of North Carolina also has long history as an agricultural center which means there are a lot of smaller, affordable, rural towns here as well.
You’ll also find the transportation infrastructure is well-developed and everything from major interstates to regional and international airports are close at hand.
In a nutshell, the North Carolina Piedmont region provides the benefits of small town living, like affordable housing and a slower pace of life, while also offering access to the service and amenities of major cities, cultural events and sporting events, airports and hospitals to an occasional night on the town.
Piedmont Region of North Carolina Small Cities and Towns
So today we’re going to look at more of our favorite small towns and cities in North Carolina and this time we’re moving into the southwestern corner of the Piedmont Region to the city of 
Hendersonville, North Carolina, population 12,223.
Hendersonville, NC sits in the foothills of the Appalachian mountain south of Asheville, NC not too far from the border of South Carolina.
Once a 19th century resort town, Hendersonville, NC retains a charming small downtown area that contains a wonderful mix of old and new.
You’ll be amazed by wide variety of antique and craft stores and believe me you don’t want to miss out on the local farmers market.
Also, if you love the outdoors Hendersonville, NC is close to the mountains and privy to so many beautiful lakes and streams I often tell people your neighbor will probably be a fly fisherman. Your median home sales price in Hendersonville, NC is at around $220,000.
Shelby, NC, population around 22,000, is another one of my favorites. Nicknamed “The Front Porch of the Blue Ridge Mountains”, Shelby, NC is the kind of pedestrian friendly small towns I want to hang out in.
Walk along the tree-lined streets leading you to the historic Art Center and you’ll be impressed by the town’s very genuine civic pride.
Throw in a median home sales price of around $110,000, beautiful green spaces and being close enough to the mountains to enjoy a pleasant climate and all sorts of outdoor recreation and Shelby, NC has a lot going for it.
To the west of Shelby, NC on I-74 sits 
Forest City, NC, population around 7,000. Forest City, NC is another crossroads community and the longtime commercial hub of Rutherford County.
One of the things I admire about Forest City, NC is its long history of civic improvement that can be seen in its lovely well-planned downtown and numerous titles as the most beautiful town in western North Carolina. Its median home sales price of $108,000 isn’t bad either.
Last but not least is the small town of 
Saluda, NC, population 595. Located near enough to the mountains to have a mild year round climate, Saluda, NC, was once a major resort town and a place where generations of Carolinian's spent their summers.
Now I call it a haven for those looking to leave behind the everyday grind. Count on a median home sales price around $235,000, beautiful historic homes, and a size small enough that you’ll probably call everyone there your neighbor.
Hope you enjoyed Part Two of this ongoing tour of the best small towns and cities of the North Carolina Piedmont Region.
Come back next week for my favorites…we start the Mountain Towns!
Don’t forget to look at our NC Best Places section, if you want more information on the places we looked at today.
See you soon!
About Bob Bencivenga
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Bob Bencivenga is a professional site locator and location analyst for major corporations and has been researching the growth of NC and SC to find the Best Places to Retire or Relocate that are still affordable. |
| Visit his blog The Carolina Report and sign up for FREE updates by email,his FREE Affordable Best Places To Live Report and, get FREE Expert Advice on how to find Your Best Place to Retire or Relocate to in North Carolina and South Carolina, additional resources, and a lot more.
Bob does not sell real estate. |
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