Rich In History-A Best Place To Live In North Carolina

Hello again and welcome back to our look at the best cities and towns with populations between 30,000 and 50,000 people in North Carolina and South Carolina.

If you hadn’t noticed already we’ve spent much of our time in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina so I wanted to mention a few things about the Piedmont region and the towns and cities you’ll find there.

The Heartland is the place where most of the people in the Carolinas live, its the place where the transition from agriculture to manufacturing in both North Carolina and South Carolina happened first.

Subsequently its the place where much of the major transportation infrastructure and larger cities have developed.

Needless to say this is a great place to find towns and cities with populations between 30,000 and 50,000 people. This week we’re going to move north away from the Charlotte, NC area and into what’s referred to as the “Piedmont Triad” or the Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point metropolitan area to look at Burlington, NC, population 50,857.

The city of Burlington is located about 20 miles east of Greensboro, NC and 35 miles west of Durham, NC on Interstate 40.  Location has been kind to Burlington over the years from its start as a major railroad hub and textile manufacturing center.

It is now a central location between two of the most economically diverse and rapidly growing places in the state today, the Piedmont Triad and Research Triangle Areas.  Like Kannapolis, NC or Monroe, NC, Burlington has rapidly become a commuter community outside these larger metropolitan areas.

Burlington offers affordability and small town atmosphere to those wanting to get out of the hustle and bustle while also attracting businesses and economic development of its own.  Here again you can enjoy all the best of a smaller, quieter community while all the resources and amenities of a big city are also available and only short car drive away.

There is a lot of history in Burlington, NC and when I visit I like to check out the downtown with its tree lined streets and wonderful historic district with an amazing mix of buildings of all different types of architectural styles.

The local Paramount theater is a popular place for plays and other community events.  I really also like spending time at the Alamance Historical Museum and if you really want to go back in time check out the nearby Glencoe Mill Village and see what life was like in the 1800’s.

If you love the outdoors, you can take in a minor league baseball game, enjoy the many parks and green spaces, spend time on nearby lakes and streams canoeing or fishing. And you might just want to check out the local hot air ballooning and don’t forget that golfing is also a popular past-time in this area.

Some of the other intangibles that Burlington, NC enjoys…

Young families will have the advantage of a strong education system and a school district that consistently ranks high in the state and whose students score above state averages in a number of areas.

For  retirees, there are excellent lifelong learning programs available at nearby Duke and North Carolina State University.

Burlington is also close to all manner of major medical centers including those at Duke and Wake Forest Universities as well as the Alamance Regional Medical Center.

If you’re interested in getting out of town, not only is Burlington located on or near several major national interstates and railroad lines but there are a number of international and regional airports close by as well.

When it comes to housing Burlington, NC has something to fit every budget.  Resale single family homes are quite popular here but you’ll also find condominiums, townhouses, manufactured housing, multifamily housing as well as land to build on.

The median age of the local housing stock is around 40 years old which is pretty typical of this part of the state.  Your average home size in Burlington is a reasonable 1344 square feet while the median home value is approximately $122,000.

Roughly 40% of Burlington residents are renters and for those of you not interested in buying a home, popular rental options include single-family homes and townhouses.

Well, that's all for this week. Check out Burlington, NC!  It just might be your Best Place To Live In North Carolina.

Thanks again for joining me on our tour of the best cities and towns with populations between 30,000 and 50,000 in North Carolina and South Carolina.

I know I always remind you to check out the Best Places section but be sure to also check out our new Special Reports?

See You next week!

About Bob Bencivenga

Bob Bencivenga

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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