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Waynesville, North Carolina

Waynesville, North Carolina image 1

What It Is Like to Retire in Waynesville

Waynesville, North Carolina, is a small, vibrant town in western North Carolina and is the county seat of Haywood County.  Located within the Appalachian Mountain chains and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Waynesville draws many visitors each year to witness the mountain views and enjoy the nearby national forests.  The town, which is the largest one in North Carolina west of Asheville, has a population of just over 10,000.  It was founded by Colonel Robert Love, an American Revolutionary War soldier who donated the land for a courthouse, jail, and public square.  He named the town after his commander, General “Mad’ Anthony Wayne.  Photo of Haywood County Courthouse, and photo of First Baptist Church courtesy of Wikipedia and Warren LeMay (public domain).

Where to Retire in Waynesville and Home Prices

Zillow reports the median home value to be $341,591 in early 2023.

What Is Special about Waynesville

Waynesville, is a small town with a vibrant downtown full of restaurants, art galleries, and shops, all within the very walkable community.  The town is nestled within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with views of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and is close to the Cherokee Indian Reservation and the Pisgah National Forest.


What Is Not Special about Waynesville

Waynesville is a small town and does have cool temperatures during the winter months, along with an annual average 12” snowfall. The closest  international airport about is about 150 miles away in Charlotte.

Who Will Like Retirement in Waynesville

Those who enjoy the great outdoors and all four seasons would appreciate Waynesville and the beautiful vista scenery, along with all the activities the area has to offer. Waynesville is a very walkable and bikeable community, with a low crime rate and a lower than average cost of living.

Local Economy Is Driven by

The economy is driven by manufacturing and construction.

Climate and Physical Environment

Waynesville does experience all four seasons and has an average January temperature of 37 degrees, and an average July temperature of about 76 degrees.  The annual rainfall is 47 inches, and  12 inches of snow.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

Waynesville is nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The town offers many restaurants and cafes where southern cooking is easy to find. As the heart of Appalachian cultural and heritage, each year Waynesville hosts Folkmoot USA, which is North Carolina’s official international music and dance festival.  The town is also home to Haywood Arts Regional Theater, one of the southeast most active theatres with year-round productions of musicals and plays. And for more variety of cultural activies you can always head to Asheville, approximately 30 minutes away.

Crime

The crime rate in Waynesville is below the national average.

Medical facilities

Haywood Medical Center

Transportation

Asheville Regional Airport is about 30 minutes away; Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport is 1.5 hours away; Waynesville is considered both a very walkable and bikeable community.

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