Transylvania County’s artsy, outdoorsy cultural heart
The seat of Transylvania County, Brevard is a Blue Ridge Mountain town in southwestern North Carolina. With less than 8,000 residents, it’s tiny, but Brevard’s size belies its vibrance. Outdoor tourism is the dominant sector here, surrounded by state and national forests full of waterfalls. “Most of my clients are from out of town, whether they’re retirees, second-time homebuyers or families looking for a slower pace of life, moving from larger cities,” says Amanda Jennings Gravley, a Fisher Realty Realtor and Brevard local of nearly two decades. With more employers allowing flexible work-from-home options, Gravley states that Brevard is more accessible than ever, and with the exception of tourism, the city is not a big industry town. "So everybody who owns a home here actually wants to be here,” Gravley says, observing that, as a result, community involvement and engagement are high. “It’s what a lot of people come here looking for: to integrate into a really close-knit, eclectic, engaged community.”
Brevard is a Blue Ridge Mountain town in southwestern North Carolina.
Brevard has a really close-knit, eclectic, engaged community.
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Mountain bungalows sell for over the national median
The median sales price for single-family homes is $550,000, close to $144,000 higher than the national median. List prices start at nearly $270,000 and climb to about $2 million. Ranch-style bungalows clad in earth-toned siding, brick or stone are common, but Colonial Revivals and Cape Cods are also scattered throughout town. Homes typically stay on the market for about 45 days before going under contract, about on par with the national average. Proximity to French Broad River and the creeks branching from it elevate flooding risk during heavy rains like the record-breaking 18.34-inch fall during Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Brevard wasn’t hit as hard as other areas of western North Carolina; downed trees and flooding caused road closures and minimal property damage.
Large homes, such as Colonial Revivals, sit on larger tracts of land in Brevard.
Smaller bungalows and Cape Cod houses are quite common throughout the Brevard subdivisions.
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“Land of Waterfalls” between Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Mountains
According to the Trust for Public Land, nearly half of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a town park, like the Brevard Community Garden or Franklin Pool. “Aside from having small parks in town, we are surrounded by state and national forest, so the outdoors is everything around here,” Gravley says. Transylvania County is known as the “Land of Waterfalls” for its 250 falls. Gravley recommends DuPont State Forest, about 12 miles east of town, for relaxed hikes to Hooker Falls and Triple Falls. “In Pisgah National Forest, you can actually see Looking Glass Falls from the road. It’s a beautiful view,” Gravley adds. The national forest is about 6 miles north of Brevard, accessible via U.S. Route 276 and the Estatoe Trail, a pedestrian path stretching from the forest to Main Street. Flooding during and after Hurricane Helene caused some trail closures in both the state and national forest; most reopened after several weeks of cleanup, but the National Forest Service advises visitors to use extra caution while hiking.
Brevard locals have access to some amazing waterfalls, such as Hooker Falls and Triple Falls.
Residents in Brevard can enjoy walking through the peaceful Brevard Community Garden.
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Downtown and the Brevard Music Center are the community’s heart
Downtown Brevard is a historic shopping and dining district known far and wide for its seasonal events and thriving music scene. “Downtown is the hub for all things Brevard, with everything you would picture in a small town,” Gravley says of the central business district. Kids pan for treasures at Crystal Mountain Gem Mine, close to Rocky’s Grill & Soda Shop, a mainstay diner since 1941. “We don’t have a ton of restaurants, but what we do have is seriously fabulous,” Gravley says, calling out Dugan’s Pub, the Square Root and the Bohemian Restaurant as three of her favorites. Art shops like Brevard Clay and Starfangled Press add to the eclectic atmosphere of the walkable district. Co-ed Cinema’s single silver screen has captivated audiences since the 1930s, not far from Brevard City Hall and the Transylvania Heritage Museum. The Brevard Music Center’s 180-acre campus of indoor and outdoor performance venues anchors downtown’s far west end. “They host an international music school and a series of phenomenal concerts throughout the summer. And so many of the programs, along with the music center itself, are funded by local donors, so it’s neat to see that involvement coming from people who love our community,” Gravley says.
Soda Shop is a diner that has been in Brevard since 1941.
The Brevard Music Center’s is a 180-acre campus of indoor and outdoor performance venues near Brevard downtown.
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Seasonal events take over Downtown Brevard on the regular
“We really are that quintessential small town, where we have a festival for every major holiday. We’ll close off the main square downtown for street vendors, food trucks, beer gardens and all kinds of activities. Every single event draws the whole town together, which is one of the unique things about Brevard: we really congregate as a community,” Gravley says. The annual White Squirrel Weekend is a multi-day festival named after the county’s native tree-dwellers. White squirrels are rare; the kind that live here – white with a gray patch on their heads and a stripe down their backs – are even rarer. “They hang out downtown and up in the Pisgah Forest area; you’ll see gray and white squirrels chasing each other around all the time. They’re adorable,” Gravley says. The weekend-long event itself celebrates the start of summer every year with live music, family games and local vendors in the town square.
The annual White Squirrel Weekend is a multi-day festival named after Brevard's native tree-dwellers.
Beer gardens and bars host major events during the holidays in Brevard, NC.
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Highly rated Transylvania County Schools, Brevard College
Transylvania County Schools earns a B-plus from Niche. Just over 3,000 students attend the nine schools in the district, which offer an average student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1. Brevard Elementary, Brevard Middle and Brevard High serve students within the city proper. “No matter where you live, good schools—especially good public schools—are hard to find, but I’ve found that being a small town, we’re able to keep a pulse on what’s going on in the schools, keep an open line of communication, and get involved so much easier. That community involvement and good communication, in this kind of small town where everybody knows everybody, leads to better schools,” Gravley says. While open enrollment is unavailable, Brevard Academy is an independent, public charter school located in nearby Pisgah Forest. The A-minus-rated school serves elementary and middle students.
Private options include Montessori-based Mountain Sun Community School and Bethany Christian School, affiliated with Bethany Baptist Church. Neither has a Niche rating, but Gravley says they’re well-thought-of in the community, adding that there are a “wide variety of private schools in the nearby counties within 30 minutes of Brevard.” Brevard College, established in the mid-1850s as the first college in western North Carolina, is north of downtown. It offers 25 bachelor’s and two master’s degree programs. The college’s Paul Porter Center for the Performing Arts hosts performances from operas to jazz concerts, all open to the public.
Brevard College, established in the mid-1850s as the first college in western North Carolina, is just north of downtown.
Students living in Brevard can attend Brevard High School.
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An hour south of Asheville
TiM, Transylvania in Motion, provides bus service to the region. U.S. Routes 64 and 276 run through Brevard. The nearly 35-mile drive north to Asheville typically takes about an hour on Route 64. Gravley observes that there’s rarely traffic out here in the mountains. “I love that I don’t have to plan for traffic, I can go get and do whatever I want at any time, with a view of the Blue Ridge Parkway. No traffic and views, that’s what sells Brevard!”
Three-year violent and property crime increase
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation reports that Brevard saw increased property crime between 2021 and 2023, from 104 total property crimes to 130. Over the same three-year period, the number of violent crimes went up from seven to 20.
Written By
Megan Quintin
Photography Contributed By
Viktor Zagorevskiy
Video By
Ellie Brown
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Amanda Jennings Gravley,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Brevard, NC sell after 69 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Brevard, NC over the last 12 months is $510,000, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Lease is for 2 month minimum renewable October through June. This spacious townhome is close to downtown Brevard’s amenities and Pisgah National Forest. Brevard's walk/bike path is nearby for a great alternative to driving. DuPont Forest is 15 minutes away. This is a fully furnished end unit with fireplace in a four unit complex. The kitchen has great natural light, a pantry, a tile backsplash,
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