A small North Carolina city just below the Virginia state line
Less than 20 miles south of the Virginia state line, Henderson is one of the first North Carolina cities travelers pass through when driving south on Interstate 85. Although it might look unassuming to passersby, Henderson has a population of 15,000 and is the county seat of Vance County. Its small Downtown district has one iconic structure — the Henderson Fire Station and Municipal Building, which once served as a fire station and is recognizable by its brick clock tower. “The number one appeal of Henderson is proximity – to the Research Triangle, to amenities, to dining. And anything you can’t find in Henderson you can find 7 minutes away in Oxford,” says Ann Hancock, a broker with Century 21 Hancock Properties who sells homes in the area.
Variety Wholesalers is the top employer in Vance County and is headquartered in Henderson. It operates discount retail stores such as Roses, Maxaway and Big Lots and has a large warehousing presence in the area. The city is also home to Maria Parham Health, a regional hospital. “Lots of people work at Maria Parham, but also at WakeMed North Hospital and Duke University Hospital,” Hancock says, noting that many people commute about an hour south to the Research Triangle area of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill “Healthcare is huge here.
Downtown Henderson's Municipal Building still houses Fire Station No. 2.
Maria Parham Health provides an array of health care services to Henderson residents.
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Late 20th century homes sell below the state median
Much of Henderson was developed in the latter half of the 20th century, with the exception of some cottages near Downtown that were built in the early 1900s. Ranch-style homes in established neighborhoods are particularly easy to come by, though some New Traditional developments and completely remodeled properties have sprung up as the population continues to boom around Raleigh and Durham. The median home price in Henderson is $250,000, well below the state median of $375,000. Townhouses sell at a median price of $210,000. Homes spend an average of 45 days on the market, on par with the national average of 44 days.
New Traditional style homes are common in the Henderson neighborhood.
Smaller cottage homes are prevalent near Downtown Henderson.
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Vance County Schools offer dual enrollment at VGCC
Henderson is served by Vance County Schools, which scores a C-plus from Niche and has an enrollment of about 5,300 students. Of the district’s 10 elementary schools, E.M. Rollins Elementary and Pinkston Street Elementary are located within the city, while Eaton-Johnson Middle and Northern Vance High are both less than a mile away. The district also operates multiple additional academies that offer STEM-oriented education or early college preparation. “The charter schools here are above and beyond, but there are also private Christian schools, so you have options outside of the traditional school system,” Hancock says. Vance-Granville Community College is also just outside of town, about 5 miles east along Interstate 85. “Vance-Granville is known for its nursing program and its dual enrollment program for high school credit. That’s a big deal to parents because it can save a lot of money,” Hancock says.
Vance-Granville Community College is about 5 miles east of Henderson, NC and offers dual enrollment programs in partnership with Northern Vance High.
Niche.Com gives STEM Early High School a B+ score.
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Country club greens and lake days at Kerr Lake
There are a handful of parks and playgrounds scattered around the city. Notably, Scentral Bark Dog Park is popular among pups, while Fox Pond Park offers walking trails and fishing spots. The city is home to Henderson Country Club, a private club featuring an 18-hole golf course plus tennis and pool amenities. Kerr Lake is less than 10 miles north and is the go-to place to launch a boat.
Henderson Country Club is a private club featuring an 18-hole golf course available to Henderson area residents.
Henderson residents enjoy boating on nearby Kerr Lake.
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Garnett Street dining, with shopping near the highway
Henderson’s modest Downtown centers on Garnett Street, where local businesses and a couple of cafes and restaurants are housed in early 20th-century storefronts. A high concentration of chain restaurants and big-box stores line the I-85 corridor on the west end of the city, where strip malls and the local Walmart Supercenter can be found. A couple of Food Lion locations and Mexican grocers are spread across the rest of the city for convenient neighborhood access.
Vegan Mami Deli & Bodega brings an array of vegan delights and natural products to Henderson.
Food Lion is a popular grocery destination for Henderson residents.
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Concerts at McGregor Hall and events in Downtown Henderson
McGregor Hall is the community’s performing arts center, bringing live performances, Broadway musicals and film screenings to Henderson. It hosts a free holiday concert featuring local artists, in addition to other educational concerts and lectures throughout the year. Other Downtown Henderson events include the annual Christmas parade, the Keep Pressing 5K race and the Way to Grow Festival which promotes local entrepreneurs and creatives.
McGregor Hall brings live performances, Broadway musicals and film screenings to Henderson
Downtown Henderson is seeing a revitalization over the past few years.
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Forty miles to Raleigh via I-85
Henderson sits along Interstate 85 and U.S. Route 1, two major travel corridors. National business routes and state highways also converge in the center of the city, which many commuters use to get to work in Raleigh and Durham, which are both 40 miles away. “Interstate 85 runs all the way from Virginia to the Research Triangle, but there’s way less traffic around Henderson,” Hancock says. Raleigh-Durham International Airport is roughly 50 miles away, and Greensboro is approximately 90 miles west. Although the city currently has no passenger rail, a proposed route that would pass through Henderson — the Southeast Corridor — is currently in the planning stages. There is a Greyhound bus stop along Vanco Mill Road, and the Kerr Area Transportation Authority provides scheduled public transportation upon request through its KARTS program.
Above average crime rate and four temperate seasons
According to the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation, violent crime in Henderson increased by about 5% between 2018 and 2023, while property crime fell by 7%. FBI crime statistics show that both violent crime and property crime rates in Henderson were above national and state averages.
The city experiences four temperate seasons, with temperatures varying between 30°F and 90°F between winter and summer.
Written By
Elliot Schorr
Photography Contributed By
Kris Bates
Video By
Bob Yukich
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