Oakley
Classic and quirky homes in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Oakley’s narrow, hilly streets feature an eclectic mix of architecture with classic homes neighboring the modern, the rustic and the flat-out eccentric. "You'll go on a walk and pass a beautiful centennial home, then pass something up the block that looks straight out of The Jetsons,” says Michael Stratton, co-founder of the Oakley Neighborhood Association. Level ground is hard to find here, with driveways often climbing steep slopes. Yards tend to be small and decorated with flowering shrubs, ornamental trees and personal touches. Prices start in the $200,000s for smaller ranch-style homes and 1920s bungalows, but most homes cost between $300,000 and $550,000. Newly constructed Arts and Crafts-style homes are at the upper end of the market, ranging from $425,000 to more than $800,000. Mountain-view homes are sometimes available, though these have been known to sell in as little as three days.Highly rated Buncombe County Schools
Oakley Elementary, which receives a B rating from Niche, sits in the center of the neighborhood and features a dual language program. Mountain views are the backdrop at A.C. Reynolds Middle and A.C. Reynolds High, which have adjacent campuses on Rocket Drive. The B-plus-rated middle school offers nutrition and wellness classes. The high school, which earns an A-minus, takes pride in its multilayered approach to education. “We push academics, sports, arts: the whole thing,” says Marvin Masters, head secretary to the principal at A.C. Reynolds High. “We’ve got a great reputation, and we’re highly involved in the community.” Nearby private options include the unrated Asheville Waldorf School and the A-rated Carolina Day School.A new playground at Murphy-Oakley Park
Murphy-Oakley Park is a nearly 8-acre green space often hosting Little League baseball games and tennis matches. The park’s recently renovated playground is now an inclusive space for all ages and abilities. It features a “serenity spot,” an accessible pathway and elevated equipment to make accessing the slides and musical instruments easier. A 7 ½-mile extension of Asheville's Greenway will start construction at the end of 2024, following the peaceful greenery of the Swannanoa River to downtown. Asheville Recreation Park, which features an outdoor pool and an extensive soccer complex, is a short drive away. The Western North Carolina Nature Center is next door, offering visitors a chance to see mountain wildlife up close. West of the nature center, Asheville Municipal Golf Course features 18 holes with scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which hug Oakley’s west side. “The neighborhood has quick access to the Blue Ridge Parkway with lots of hiking and mountain biking trails,” Whitehurst says.Saving Oakley/South Asheville Library
Oakley residents are active and involved in their neighborhood. "We recently had the opportunity to rally the neighborhood together to save the library," Stratton says. "The city was considering downsizing, and we were able to put the word out and stop that plan. The Oakley Library is a local institution, and I was proud of what we could do." Aside from its collection of books, CDs and DVDs, the library, which dates to the 1970s, provides weekly storytimes and a bimonthly Lego club for children.Boutique shopping in Biltmore Village
With more breweries per capita than any U.S. city, Asheville takes pride in its beer scene. Oakley is no different, with brewery Cursus Keme offering a complete biergarten experience in the neighborhood's northwest corner. Asheville's culinary scene is sampled less than 2 miles west at the nearby Biltmore Village, a neighborhood featuring stucco Victorian cottages initially built for workers at the esteemed Biltmore Estate. The Well-Bred Bakery & Café is a popular stop for pastries, coffee and croissant sandwiches, while the farm-to-table Corner Kitchen serves contemporary twists on American classics. The red-brick sidewalks lead to various boutiques, such as Dogwood Darlings Children's Boutique and Origami Ink, a stationary store. Dozens of national retailers, from Target and Walmart Supercenter to Whole Foods Market and Aldi, are close by. Asheville Mall is about 2 ½ miles north.Culture and events just up I-40
Bordered by interstates, including I-240 and I-40, Oakley has a straight shot into the heart of downtown Asheville, some five miles away. "You're never stuck in traffic in Oakley," Stratton says. Oakley's proximity to downtown provides quick access to annual city events and festivals, including Asheville Art in the Park, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, and the Goombay Festival, a yearly celebration of the African diaspora. Asheville Rides Transit buses stop along Fairview Road, but Whitehurst says it’s not popular with commuters. “I explored taking public transportation when I had a job downtown at one point. It was going to make my 4-minute commute a 50-minute commute.” Asheville Regional Airport is about 10 miles south.
Written By
DeeVa Payne
Photography Contributed By
Steven Bollman
Video By
Ruo Zheng
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Mona Roper
Mona Roper
EXP Realty LLC
(828) 820-5683
41 Total Sales
2 in Oakley
$145K - $523K Price Range
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Monica Rousseau
Monica Rousseau
Realty One Group Pivot Asheville
(828) 672-3813
104 Total Sales
1 in Oakley
$939,675 Price
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Trip Howell
Trip Howell
Responds QuicklyMosaic Community Lifestyle Realty
(828) 672-3550
93 Total Sales
5 in Oakley
$289K - $385K Price Range
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Julie May
Julie May
Keller Williams Professionals
(828) 519-5903
98 Total Sales
2 in Oakley
$268K - $359K Price Range
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Bennet Phillips
Bennet Phillips
Asheville Realty Group
(857) 365-8622
19 Total Sales
2 in Oakley
$336K - $499K Price Range
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Marla Machado
Marla Machado
LPT Realty, LLC
(305) 615-2861
74 Total Sales
1 in Oakley
$550,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Parks in this Area
Lakewood Park
- Basketball
- Grills
- Picnic Area
Blue Ridge Parkway
- Bike Trails
- Camping
- Fishing
Murphy Oakley Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Bike Trails
- Pool
River Ridge Playground
- Pool
- Tennis
- Playground
Asheville Playgrounds
Kenilworth Park
- Basketball
- Grills
- Picnic Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Oakley | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 5 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 7 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 7 | 4 |
| Robbery | 6 | 4 |
| Burglary | 7 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 6 | 4 |
| Larceny | 6 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 6 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Oakley Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Oakley, Asheville sell after 72 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Oakley, Asheville over the last 12 months is $372,500, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$429,000
Median Sale Price
$372,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$414,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$370,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
3%
Last 12 months Home Sales
40
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-2%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$230
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,881
Number of Homes for Sale
10
Median Year Built
1965
Months of Supply
3.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,307
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,149
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
890
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
11,325
Open Houses
-
Sunday, Aug 32 - 4pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
6,015
Median Age
40
Population Density
3 ppl/acre
Population under 18
21.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$54,263
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$72,428
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
86.3%
On par with the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
30.6%
On par with the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
11.1%
% Population in Labor Force
62.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
46''
Average Winter Low Temperature
27°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
11''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
6
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
15
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Biltmore Forest
Palatial properties with mountain views 5 miles from downtown Asheville
Southside
Historic suburb of bungalows near Downtown Asheville
East Asheville
Peaceful suburban living near the Blue Ridge Parkway
East End
An easy walk to African American history and downtown Asheville
Kenilworth
Storybook streets, mountain views and convenient accessibility
Downtown Asheville
Cultural hub with shopping, dining and parks in Asheville
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