Hendersonville is a friendly city in North Carolina’s Apple Country
South of Asheville in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Hendersonville has a trail for everyone, including the Ice Cream Trail; the Cheers! Trail for beer, cider and wine; and hiking trails through several forests and parks. While this Henderson County city draws thousands of annual visitors, it also attracts creatives and retirees who move here for the artistic community, mountain scenery and mild climate. “Hendersonville is a place people think of as their hometown. You may not have been born here, but you can feel like this is a place you’re comfortable in,” says Mayor Barbara Volk, who moved to the city with her husband nearly 50 years ago. “We wanted a small town. We like to hike and we looked at other places, but everyone here was so friendly, and that’s what people still say. It’s just a very friendly town.” She notes that the walkable Main Street Historic District, home to locally owned shops and restaurants, adds to the city’s appeal.
Hendersonville attracts creatives and retirees who move here for the artistic community.
The Main Street Historic District has a great selection of restaurants in Hendersonville.
Hendersonville downtown is full of rich history and artistic inspirations.
Hendersonville features the Ice Cream Trail and Blue Ridge Crafts Trail for locals to enjoy.
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Housing options from historic neighborhoods to secluded suburbs
Hendersonville has several historic districts close to downtown, including Druid Hills, Lenox Park and Hyman Heights. These neighborhoods offer a variety of early 20th-century architectural styles, such as colonial and Tudor Revival. However, most of the city’s homes are ranch-style or Craftsman bungalows. Townhouses and condos are available on the city’s west side and near downtown. The outlying suburbs and mountainous countryside offer new construction, neotraditional homes and farmhouses.
The median price for a single-family home is around $470,000. Most townhouses cost between $300,000 and $750,000. However, the newly built units at Champion Hills start at around $535,000 and can exceed $1 million. Condos range from $135,000 to $540,000. “Lower-priced housing is in short supply. We’re getting more townhome developments and trying to keep denser developments closer to the city to protect the outlying farms and apple orchards,” Volk says.
Craftsman style homes can be found in quiet neighborhoods in Hendersonville, NC.
Ranch homes can be seen on the outskirts of Hendersonville County.
Townhomes and condos are becoming more abundant in Hendersonville, NC.
Large colonial homes are a common sight in Hendersonville.
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Henderson County Public Schools students can earn college credits
Henderson County Public Schools earns a B-plus overall rating from Niche and is the county’s biggest employer. The district has more than 12,500 students across 23 schools, including the A-minus-rated Hendersonville Elementary, the B-plus-rated Hendersonville Middle and the A-minus-rated Hendersonville High. The district offers reassignment, and students can apply to the A-rated Henderson County Early College, at Blue Ridge Community College’s campus in town, to earn an associate degree along with a high school diploma. The city offers several private education options, including Immaculata Catholic School, which Niche does not yet rate.
Students in Hendersonville can attend the Hendersonville High School.
Bruce Drysdale Elementary School is a popular destination for Hendersonville students.
The Boys & Girls Club is associated with the schools in Hendersonville.
Hendersonville High School students can participate in a plethora of sports programs.
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City green spaces and Chimney Rock State Park offer recreation
According to the Trust for Public Land, half of Hendersonville’s residents are within a 10-minute walk of one of the city’s 15 urban parks, including the 220-acre Jackson Park. It features a dog park, disc golf course and BMX track. Protected natural areas provide more adventure, including Chimney Rock State Park and DuPont State Recreational Forest, where visitors can take challenging hikes or go on relaxing fishing and kayaking trips. “There’s Sliding Rock if you want to brave the cold waters of the Davidson River,” Volk says.
Jackson Park offers multiple tennis and baseball courts for Hendersonville locals.
Hendersonville locals enjoy going hiking at Chimney Rock and DuPont Park.
Cascade Lake is located in DuPont State Park in Hendersonville, NC.
The DuPont State Forest is a great place to go fishing and camping in Hendersonville.
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Shopping and dining in the Main Street Historic District
Hendersonville’s downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its Neoclassical storefronts and serpentine Main Street, which gently curves around ornamental trees and shaded outdoor dining areas. The wide sidewalks can become crowded on weekends as residents and visitors stroll between local boutiques, breweries, art galleries and restaurants. The city’s popular cideries and wineries display the region’s strong terroir, the unique flavors the mountain climate gives to wine. Shopping centers branching off U.S. Route 64 offer national retailers.
There is a wide selection of local bars in Hendersonville.
The Appalachian Ridge Artisan Cidery features a large orchard for the locals to pick apples.
Brandy's on Main in Hendersonville offers American classics for the locals to enjoy.
Hendersonville is known for its many vineyards and apple orchards.
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Apple orchards and festivals make Hendersonville a tourist destination
With dozens of farms and apple orchards, Henderson County is considered the apple capital of the state. Hendersonville’s economy is fueled by this agriculture and the tourism it brings. “We have the Apple Festival over Labor Day weekend. It can draw up to 250,000 people into our town of around 16,000 over a four-day weekend,” Volk says. But there’s more to Hendersonville’s annual calendar of event than just apples. “We call ourselves the City of Four Seasons because there are so many things to do throughout the year," Volk says. Plants, gardening equipment and novelties fill vendor booths for the Garden Jubilee over Memorial Day weekend, while decorated bear sculptures dot downtown for the Barefootin’ Public Art Walk from May through October. Residents can catch a play or musical at the Hendersonville Theatre or the Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theater of North Carolina.
Most residents drive, but Apple County Transit provides bus rides
Residents typically rely on their vehicles to get around Hendersonville. However, Apple Country Public Transit provides bus service around town as far north as Asheville Regional Airport, which offers the closest commercial flights about 11 miles away. While there are no bike lanes, the 3-mile Oklawaha Greenway connects several parks along Mud Creek, and the planned Ecusta Trail will eventually add 20 more miles of bike paths between downtown and Brevard. U.S. Route 64 is the main east-west road through the city, and Interstate 26 connects commuters to Asheville, roughly 25 miles north. The city has two full-service hospitals: Pardee Hospital and Advent Health Henderson.
The Oklawaha Greenway Trail is a great place to go biking in Hendersonville.
U.S. Route 64 is the main east-west road through the Hendersonville city.
The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is a 46-mile trip from Hendersonville.
Interstate 26 connects Hendersonville to Asheville, NC.
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A risk for wildfires, flooding and hurricanes
While Hendersonville has a low risk of wildfire, the forested mountains nearby have a moderate risk. Fires have damaged property and reduced air quality in Western North Carolina as recently as March 2025. Hendersonville also lies on a floodplain and was impacted by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. “We were more fortunate than some of our neighboring communities. However, we had businesses and homes that were severely damaged or are now completely unusable,” Volk says.
Written By
DeeVa Payne
Photography Contributed By
Viktor Zagorevskiy
Video By
Nina Violi
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On average, homes in Hendersonville, NC sell after 70 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Hendersonville, NC over the last 12 months is $423,245, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Welcome home to this bright and inviting 1940's bungalow! This home features beautiful hardwood floors, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, a front and back covered porch, and a fully fenced yard. An unfinished basement with an exterior entrance offers ample storage. It is a solid house with some character. Recent updates include a new roof in 2020, a fully painted interior, a completely renovated bathroom, a
WOW WOW WOW! Outstanding Value! Two homes for the price of one!! Here you'll find a beautifully restored 1945 estate nestled on just under two acres in the heart of picturesque Hendersonville's apple country. Seamlessly blending historic charm with modern comfort, the main residence offers five spacious bedrooms, each with its own private ensuite bath—perfect for multi-generational living,
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Discover Wilmont a brand-new community nestled in the heart of Hendersonville. Choose from spacious 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments designed for contemporary comfort and sustainable living. With energy-efficient features, private astro turf dog patios, and serene natural surroundings, Wilmont offers endless adventure, with easy access to hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities. Experience a
Beautiful townhome located just 5 minutes from downtown Hendersonville. Zoned for Hendersonville High and Hendersonville Middle. Located minutes from shopping, restaurants, the interstate, and all activities this quaint small town has to offer. Extremely spacious open concept plan, boast 9' ceilings on the lower level, beautiful modern kitchen, with all stainless-steel appliances, opens to a
Say hello to Ascend Cottages at Highland Square, our brand-new community in Hendersonville, NC, that has everything you’re looking for in your next home. Our pet-friendly one, two, and three bedroom Hendersonville cottage-style homes come loaded with features that complement your routine, including well-equipped kitchens, large walk-in closets, and in-unit laundry appliances. On beautiful days,
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