Retirement in semi-suburban/Rural area west of Charlotte? (Gastonia, Hickory: schools, property taxes)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The photos from all over NC show how beautiful the state is; from the coast to the Piedmont to the Appalachians. Considering retirement, so schools not a factor, thinking maybe within 1 hour or so west of Charlotte, so we get some hilly areas. Looking for a smallish town (<50,000) which has a good internet connectivity, grocery store within 30", maybe a coffee shop, library. We like to garden, live a quiet life, maybe join/start a book club, & periodically travel so thus within 1 hour or so drive to CLT. The state seems to have so much to offer, beautiful countryside, hills (I think many scenes from "The Last Mohican" were filmed in NC), beaches (the Outer Banks), some big metro areas for occasional trips to the Charlotte, great airport, plus many talented people are from NC (William Faulkner, Roberta Flack, Ava Gardner, Earl Scruggs, etc). So...thinking about the towns that arc from N to W to SW outside of Charlotte: Denver, Lincolnton, Belwood, Casar, Polkville, Shelby and maybe Gastonia - that last one might be too big/close to Charlotte? Any thoughts on these towns? Thank you.
I would look a bit further north at towns like Morganton or Marion for a true taste of the foothills in places with plenty of varying services/conveniences.
Thank you all. All great suggestions. Thinking Marion might be slightly too far out from CLT airport /Charlotte for us. The SE side of Morganton might work - we'll explore that area. Kings Mountain certainly would be a closer to CLT option. So maybe we can find someplace hilly (doesn't have to be mountains) on 2+ acres in western Catawba, Lincoln counties; eastern Burke county; northern Cleveland county; NW Gaston county. I know it's a lot of territory to explore, but a pleasant way to see one of the most beautiful states. Gaston & Cleveland counties seem to have higher property taxes (but still relatively reasonable) compared to Catawba, Burke & Lincoln counties. We'll keep looking and enjoy the process of exploring NC. Thank you all for your help!
Thank you all. All great suggestions. Thinking Marion might be slightly too far out from CLT airport /Charlotte for us. The SE side of Morganton might work - we'll explore that area. Kings Mountain certainly would be a closer to CLT option. So maybe we can find someplace hilly (doesn't have to be mountains) on 2+ acres in western Catawba, Lincoln counties; eastern Burke county; northern Cleveland county; NW Gaston county. I know it's a lot of territory to explore, but a pleasant way to see one of the most beautiful states. Gaston & Cleveland counties seem to have higher property taxes (but still relatively reasonable) compared to Catawba, Burke & Lincoln counties. We'll keep looking and enjoy the process of exploring NC. Thank you all for your help!
Rutherfordton (Rutherford County) and Forest City (lovely name) both are intriguing suggestions - thank you for the links. Forest City with its Pavilion on the Park Square and Rutherforton with its history & artists. Both of these towns are definitely worth exploring. Thank you, both towns seem very appealing.
All of the towns you list, except for Gastonia, are much smaller than 50,000 in population.
If you were willing to go east of Charlotte, Albemarle/Stanly County checks off many your boxes as well. There are also two lakes (Badin & Tillery), rolling hills, Morrow Mountain State Park, and the Uwharrie National Forest right across the lake in Montgomery County, all within about 15 minutes.
But heading the opposite direction, you're still about an hour to Charlotte (a tad longer to some parts but typically 45 minutes or less to the UNCC area).
Thank you Jowel - we think we want to focus WEST of Charlotte due to CLT airport is on that side, maybe more hills to the west and more rural opportunities to the west. But...after we do some exploring, we may change our minds too. Lots to consider.
This. I know OP said "less than" 50k people, but as someone else mentioned most of the towns mentioned are much smaller than that. Hickory is pretty self-sufficient (and can also live in the outer edges if you want smaller) while being about an hour from Charlotte but also right off I-40 for trips to the mountains or the Triad & Triangle.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Thank you for the suggestions!
