Best City For Small Town Living – Monroe, NC
Welcome back to our journey through the Best Towns and Cities in North Carolina and South Carolina with populations between 30,000 and 50,000 people.
We last visited Kannapolis, NC, population 42,521, which is a good example of all the advantages of finding your best place to relocate or retire in a smaller city located near a rapidly growing metropolitan area.
If you missed it, the main point was …
A city/town located near a rapidly growing metropolitan area provides the best of both worlds.
Just a few of which are;
- small town living
- lower cost
- quiet
- more community
While being close you have the advantages of a metropolitan area with easy access to and larger selection of
- resources
- services
- amenities
- culture
- cultural events;
and the list goes on.
It's important for you to get the most for your money when deciding your best place to relocate or retire and this kind of city/town is a good bet and definitely worth considering.
This week we’re going to look at another gem close to the Charlotte, NC metropolitan area that bills itself as “Charlotte’s Best Neighborhood”, Monroe, NC, population 32,543.
The city of Monroe is located roughly 25 miles southeast of Charlotte on Rt. 74 and like Kannapolis, NC has benefited greatly from Charlotte’s rapid economic development as well as those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city.
In fact, Monroe’s population has grown by almost 50% in the last ten years and if there is one concern among residents it’s that the rapid development has brought more traffic.
If you drive along Rt. 74 you’ll notice the increase in popularity has also brought a lot of new businesses, hotels, restaurants and investments to Monroe, NC.
This type of growth helps enhance the quality of life you can expect in Monroe and it certainly can enhance the job prospects of those of you looking for work.
My favorite place in Monroe, NC is its beautiful, classic downtown with its tree lined streets, quaint shops, historic buildings and genuinely laid back atmosphere.
It’s a great place to take a walk.
Check out the daily farmer’s market or take in one of Monroe’s many festivals like the annual Blooming Arts Festival or Waxhaw Scottish Fair and Games.
Best of all good planning and zoning regulation ensure downtown Monroe, NC will remain a special place.
Perhaps even your best place to live in NC.
When it comes to housing, Monroe, NC is very affordable and literally has something for everyone. Single-family homes, townhouses, condominiums, apartments, multi-family housing, manufactured housing, farmland and plots of land to build on are all available.
When looking for housing, you’ll find that three bedroom single-family homes are the most common type of housing on the Monroe market with the median age of the local housing stock being only about 23 years old suggesting a lot of newer housing on the market.
The median home value in Monroe, NC is approximately $125,900 with an average home size of 1489 square feet.
Those of you interested in building your dream home in North Carolina, in the Monroe area you'll pay a minimum of $79 a square foot.
Overall, the median property tax bill in Monroe is about $1400 per year which is a few hundred dollars less than what you’d find in nearby Charlotte, NC.
If your predisposed to renting, the average cost of rent in Monroe, NC starts around $634 a month and popular rental options include single-family homes and townhouses.
Another intangible benefit to living in Monroe, NC is a mild distinct four season climate that allows you to enjoy all types of outdoor recreation year round.
Nearby Cane Creek Park is a popular outdoor destination and a place you can enjoy hiking, biking, fishing and horseback riding.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot that Monroe is in a section of North Carolina known for its horses and equestrian industry and is actually home to one of the best steeplechase courses in the country.
While Monroe is about an hour west of Pinehurst, NC it is also home to several quality public and private golf courses for those of you wanting to spend your free time out on the links.
Yet again I would be remiss if I forgot to mention that nearby Charlotte, NC provides cultural activities, sporting events and nightlife that you may want to check out as well.
Well I’m out of time but cback next week when we continue to move across the southern Piedmont region of North Carolina for another of my best places to live, retire and relocate to in the Carolinas.
I know I always remind you to check out the Best Places section but have you ever seen our videos?
See You next week!
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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