Saint Stephens
Neighborhood in Hickory, North Carolina
Catawba County 28601, 28613
Saint Stephens has larger lots than much of Hickory
Saint Stephens is a census-designated place that includes a mosaic of numerous small but growing subdivisions. With mature forests towering over homes, an absence of sidewalks and ample space between houses, Saint Stephens has something of a rural feel. Homes tend to follow New Traditional, ranch-style and raised ranch-style designs, with the occasional split-level. The community has seen continuous, steady development, and dates of construction range from the 1950s to the 2020s. “Typically, lots are bigger in Saint Stephens. You’ll get more land for the same, or even a lower, price as you would with a house in Hickory. You get closer to town, though, and the homes are pricier, and the lots are smaller,” Hefner says. The median lot size in Saint Stephens is approximately 20,000 square feet, whereas the median lot size in most neighborhoods closer to Downtown Hickory varies between 9,000 square feet and 15,000. But this typically goes for the neighborhood’s earlier homes. “The newer builds have smaller lots, but this lets us have more houses this way, which is good because a lot of people are still buying homes here,” says Claudia Vargas, Realtor with Re/Max who has spent most of her 24 years in Hickory living in Saint Stephens. Detached homes sell for between $170,000 and $400,000. Manufactured homes can also be found scattered around the community, though they rarely enter the market. Undeveloped lots are still available, usually going between $10,000 and $60,000, depending on size and proximity to thoroughfares.Fun on the lake and at the driving range
Lakeside Marina offers boaters storage and docks for their own boats, as well as rental options. When they want to dip their own feet in the water, residents can visit Kool Park Pool, which has a waterslide, four diving boards and a massive, 235-foot-wide swimming pool. Player’s Ridge Golf across Lake Hickory offers an 18-hole golf course with views of the mountains in the distance. Though the course is open to the public, members can play unlimited rounds of golf and get unlimited use of the driving range, while receiving some extra discounts.Highly rated grade schools and a few colleges
Several public elementary schools serve Saint Stephens children, including Snow Creek Elementary, which earns an A-minus from Niche. The school provides each student with a Chromebook and offers a robotics program. Kids can move up to Harry M. Arndt Middle, which is also A-minus-rated, and finish up at B-plus-rated Saint Stephens High. The boys tennis team has performed well in recent years, making it to the 2024 3A state championships. Lenoir-Rhyne University, a private Lutheran school with undergraduate, graduate and seminary programs, is about a 4-mile drive from most homes. Other higher education institutions include Catawba Valley Community College and Appalachian State University’s recently opened Hickory campus.Hickory’s Oktoberfest
Hickory’s annual Oktoberfest takes place on the second weekend of October, featuring live musical performances, bouncy castles for the kids and food and drink for the whole family.
Easy access to work and leisure, thanks to convenient highways
Many Saint Stephens residents are within a 5-mile drive of Interstate 40, a major highway which goes west through Asheville. To get to the amenities of Charlotte, residents can take North Carolina Highway 16. “You’re an hour from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and you’re not that far from the mountains. You’re about four and a half hours from the beaches,” Hefner says. As far as employment, residents have many opportunities to stay closer to home, and Vargas highlights the community’s location between employment centers near Maiden to the south and Lenoir to the northwest. “Jobs are coming this way and to surrounding areas,” she says. “There’s a Google Data Center that’s coming to Maiden.”Dining in Downtown Hickory, shopping along the highway
Hefner and Vargas note that Saint Stephens residents love to eat out in Viewmont and Downtown Hickory, both highlighting Notions as a local favorite. “Notions is more of a high-end place a few steps above restaurants like Outback Steakhouse,” Hefner says, noting that the establishment is known for their American fare. Closer to home, there’s also Sakura, a Japanese restaurant known for its teriyaki steak and sushi bar. A centrally located Food Lion and Walmart Neighborhood Market make for quick grocery runs, but other shopping destinations can be found along US Highway 70. Valley Hills Mall hosts two floors of department stores while the Hickory Furniture Mart is a four-story hub filled with shops and galleries specializing in tables, chairs, sofas and other home furnishings.


Agents Specializing in this Area
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Josh Ritchie
RE/MAX Legendary
(828) 392-1709
204 Total Sales
3 in Saint Stephens
$170K - $319K Price Range
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Chris Spencer
Realty Executives of Hickory
(828) 523-8514
143 Total Sales
3 in Saint Stephens
$170K - $320K Price Range
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Jill Galliher
Keller Williams Unified
(980) 600-3481
260 Total Sales
2 in Saint Stephens
$260K - $300K Price Range
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Stephanie Hefner
EXP Realty LLC Mooresville
(828) 624-4383
155 Total Sales
12 in Saint Stephens
$50K - $755K Price Range
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Karla Murillo
Karla Murillo Realty LLLC
(980) 326-4673
57 Total Sales
1 in Saint Stephens
$280,000 Price
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Randy Justice
EXP Realty LLC Mooresville
(828) 392-6046
115 Total Sales
2 in Saint Stephens
$226K - $265K Price Range
Schools
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Parks in this Area
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Saint Stephens | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 3 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 4 | 4 |
Robbery | 3 | 4 |
Burglary | 4 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
Larceny | 4 | 4 |
Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Saint Stephens Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Saint Stephens, Hickory sell after 40 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Saint Stephens, Hickory over the last 12 months is $280,000, up 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
Car-Dependent
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

Remodeled homes a stroll away from Downtown Hickory and a university

Historic homes within walking distance of restaurants, boutiques and a hospital

Small-town living within walking distance of shops and events

Historic homes at low prices near the interstate, a modern park and downtown

Beautifully preserved homes on larger parcels within walking distance of downtown