16 Towns Near Asheville, North Carolina, That Are Just as Cool

Known for its beautiful setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, North Carolina, is a charming metropolis for those seeking a mid-sized city to call home (its population is just a hair under 94,000). Aside from abundant natural beauty and a temperate climate, Asheville offers a lively arts and music scene, plus diverse cuisines and more breweries per capita than any other U.S. city. (Its unofficial nickname? Beer City USA.)

But Asheville isn’t the only worthwhile spot to go house hunting. There are a number of small towns surrounding this North Carolina city that are just as cool.

Check out these 16 nearby small towns that give Asheville a run for its money.

1. Sylva

Average home value: $309,266
Median monthly rent: $1,027

About 50 miles outside of Asheville, Sylva has a population of just 2,500 people, lending it plenty of small-town charm. Sylva is home to the historic Jackson County Courthouse, which was built in 1914 and is widely considered to be the most photographed courthouse in North Carolina.

2. Brevard

Average home value: $431,629
Median monthly rent: $1,378

Known as the “Land of Waterfalls,” Brevard has more than 250 of them to explore. It’s also home to a large population of white squirrels—and you can even adopt one, if you’re feeling charitable.

3. Banner Elk

Average home value: $538,671
Median monthly rent: $1,397

If you love to hit the slopes on a regular basis, the classic ski town of Banner Elk is for you. It offers a relaxed vibe in a beautiful setting, not to mention lovely mountain views.

4. Weaverville

Average home value: $459,686
Median monthly rent: $1,630

Located just 10 miles outside Asheville, Weaverville has a quaint downtown area and plenty of natural beauty, including Lake Louise Park and Main Street Nature Park, for when you want to get away from it all.

5. Waynesville

Average home value: $355,984
Median monthly rent: $1,348

Come to Waynesville for its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and stay for the quirky shopping experiences.

6. Hot Springs

Average home value: $305,643
Median monthly rent: $1,166

As its name implies, Hot Springs is rich with natural hot springs, filled with pure mineral water. The famous Appalachian Trail also cuts through this small town that was voted the Best Small Mountain Town from Georgia to West Virginia by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine.

7. Hendersonville

Average home value: $395,151
Median monthly rent: $1,501

Aside from Asheville, Hendersonville has the largest downtown area in the western part of North Carolina. That means there’s a lot to do. Christmas is an especially festive time in this town, as its Home for the Holidays event celebrates all things merry and bright.

8. Columbus

Average home value: $371,544
Median monthly rent: $1,401

This teensy-tiny town has just under 1,000 residents. What it lacks in size it makes up for in its proximity to Tryon Foothills Wine Country. Check out the historic House of Flags Museum, or enjoy the equestrian life in Tryon Horse Country.

9. Maggie Valley

Average home value: $379,617
Median monthly rent: $1,298

Maggie Valley offers plenty of ways to explore the great outdoors, ways in which are not limited to skiing, snowboarding, tubing, fishing, and hiking. The town’s Wheels Through Time museum has the nation’s best collection of rare American vintage motorcycles, while the Elevated Mountain Distilling Company is the spot to sample premium, small-batch whiskeys and spirits.

10. Morganton

Average home value: $233,341
Median monthly rent: $1,105

Morganton is the site of Fort San Juan, the oldest known European inland settlement in the United States. (Believe it or not, the Spanish fort was built 40 years before the English settlement at Jamestown in Virginia.) Beyond history, there’s plenty of hiking, biking, and fishing in this outdoors lover’s paradise. Stop by the stately Historic Burke County Courthouse to learn all about the area’s roots.

11. Lake Lure

Average home value: $463,605
Median monthly rent: $1,399

If lake life appeals to you, the “crown jewel” of North Carolina boasts its very own beach. After a swim, be sure to check out the aerial views from the top of Chimney Rock.

12. Franklin

Average home value: $274,220
Median monthly rent: $1,247

Known as the “Gem Capital of the World,” Franklin sits on a large mine and is home to gem shows and rock shops. Don’t miss the Little Tennessee River Greenway, which preserves the area’s natural beauty.

13. Highlands

Average home value: $921,436
Median monthly rent: $1,544

One of the more affluent towns in the area, Highlands is a popular place for vacation homes, thanks to the surrounding Nantahala National Forest. At an elevation of 4,118 feet, you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world.

14. Bryson City

Average home value: $310,770
Median monthly rent: $1,216

Asheville is just an hour east of Bryson City. Take in the Nantahala River, Fontana Lake, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park here, then hop on the train for a scenic railroad excursion.

15. Blowing Rock

Average home value: $681,379
Median monthly rent: $1,700

What Blowing Rock lacks in population (just under 1,900 people live there) it makes up for in natural beauty and culture. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it features stunning rocky outcroppings, charming streets lined with shops and B&Bs, and the largest Scottish festival in the U.S. in nearby Linville.

16. Hickory

Average home value: $277,464
Median monthly rent: $1,280

Just over an hour away from Asheville, Hickory is about half the size, but has dozens of sites on the National Register of Historic Places, the second-oldest art museum in North Carolina, the Western Piedmont Symphony, and plenty of hiking trails and breweries.