$473,865Average Value$286Average Price per Sq Ft36Homes For Sale
Space and a slower pace draw homebuyers to Leicester
While the pronunciation of Leicester is a heated debate, with some saying “Les-ter” and others saying “Lei-ses-ter,” many agree on the community’s main draws. The Buncombe County enclave offers country living and mountain views in the rolling hills northwest of Asheville. “There are lots of farmers out there,” says Alexandra Schrank, a Realtor with Re/Max Executive who’s lived in Asheville for 15 years. “I have a friend who bought 40 acres in Leicester. They have a hemp farm. They love it out there. It’s so gorgeous.” Leicester’s residents are close-knit, with children often attending the same schools and a vibrant community center at its heart. The enclave puts residents in reach of parks and trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the culture and cuisine of Asheville, which is only about 11 miles away.
In Leicester, this weathered birdhouse tells a small, honest story of seasons passing, hands that built it, and life that keeps returning.
A sweeping view of the rolling hills and mountain ridgelines surrounding Leicester, where winding roads, scattered homes, and open land define the rural Appalachian landscape.
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A variety of single-family homes in the countryside near Asheville
Whether looking for a secluded single-family home in the woods, a farm with several acres or a bucolic subdivision, homebuyers have options in Leicester. Architecture is diverse, ranging from ranch-style homes and farmhouses to neotraditional designs and new construction. The Ridge, a gated community off Bear Creek Road, is sought-after for its custom luxury homes on one-acre lots, while the Craftsman homes in the private Mountain View Acres community have views of mountains in the distance. The median price for a single-family home in Leicester is around $390,000, slightly below the national median. Most homes fall between $300,000 and $875,000. However, particularly large custom homes and farmsteads start around $1 million and can exceed $2 million.
This custom French Country–inspired home in Leicester, boasts elegant old world charm, without being too flashy.
A modern farmhouse–inspired home in Leicester is proof that you can respect tradition without living in the past.
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Buncombe County's education options from prekindergarten to university
Buncombe County Schools receives an A-minus overall rating from Niche and has 45 schools serving more than 22,000 students. Most homes in Leicester are zoned for Leicester Elementary, Joe P. Eblen Intermediate, Clyde A. Erwin Middle and Clyde A. Erwin High, which all earn B-minus ratings. The high school offers a career academy, which features a week-long job shadowing experience. Asheville offers private schools, such as the A-plus-rated French Broad River Academy, and higher education. The University of North Carolina Asheville and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College are about 10 miles away.
Students in Leicester can attend Clyde A. Erwin Middle School, which is a part of Buncombe County Schools.
Joe P. Eblen Intermediate School, built to serve grades 5–6, bridges the gap between elementary and middle school.
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Events, classes and markets at Leicester Community Center
The Leicester Community Center has been a focal point of community and youth programming for generations. In addition to having rentable meeting space and recreational amenities, it offers a packed calendar that includes monthly Community Art Nights, where residents can participate in various craft projects, and weekly adult movement classes, which welcome dancers of all skill levels. More than 30 vendors set up tents at the Leicester Farmers Market, held at the community center every Wednesday evening from May through October.
The playground at Leicester Community Center offers plenty of after school fun.
Strength through community is a Leicester neighborhood commitment at the Leicester Library's Giving Garden.
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Exploring the great outdoors in Buncombe County and beyond
The Asheville region is known for its outdoor activities, from scenic hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains to whitewater rafting along the French Broad River. The Harmon Den Wildlife Management Area, which is part of Pisgah National Forest, is fewer than 30 miles from Leicester and offers horseback riding trails and campsites. Ledges River Park provides kayakers with an access point for the French Broad River. The park is one of the few riverside green spaces to reopen after Hurricane Helene in September 2024. The grounds of Leicester Community Center feature a playground, basketball court, baseball field and walking path. Nearby, the Leicester Branch Library is home to the Leicester Library Giving Garden, where volunteers tend to a garden, a pollinator habitat and an orchard. In 2023, the garden cultivated more than 1,100 pounds of produce for the community.
The French Broad River is a great place to go kayaking near Leicester.
You can challenge some friends to a game of HORSE at the Recreation Park.
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There are a few stores, but most shopping is done in Asheville
Shops and restaurants dot state Route 63, also known as New Leicester Highway, between Leicester and Asheville. The family-owned Grateful Roots Market & Deli is a popular stop for lunch and groceries. “You can go there and get locally grown food and local soap – all types of stuff, including hemp and CBD,” Schrank says. Restaurants include Salty Goat Grill, a relaxed spot for American fare, and Shorties Drive-thru BBQ, which offers walk-up and drive-through service for brisket sandwiches and barbecue plates. Asheville offers boutique shopping downtown and name-brand shopping around the Asheville Mall, Western North Carolina’s largest indoor shopping mall with more than 100 stores. Ingles Markets is the closest grocery chain, about 5 ½ miles from the center of Leicester. The nearest full-service hospital, Mission Hospital, is about 13 miles away.
Leicester residents head to Asheville Mall for name brand stores.
Casual, confident, and community-loved, the Salty Goat Grill is the kind of spot that doesn’t need a view when the food does the talking.
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Leicester is a car-dependent community
Commuters in Leicester take two-lane country roads to reach state Route 63, also called New Leicester Highway, which heads east into Asheville and west into the mountains. Two major North Carolina highways meet in Asheville, Interstates 40 and 26. I-40 crosses the state west to east, while I-26 goes north towards the Virginia border and south into South Carolina. The closest bus stops for Asheville Rides Transit are near the Ingles Markets off New Leicester Highway. Asheville Regional Airport is a little over 20 miles from Leicester.
Two major highways cross Leicester, connecting to Virginia and South Carolina.
Leicester residents are within 10 minutes from Asheville Regional Airport.
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Important to know
According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Buncombe County’s risk for hurricanes is relatively low. However, the region continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, which caused devastating landslides and flooding throughout Western North Carolina in 2024. Schrank notes that Leicester fared well in the storm and did not experience nearly as much damage as hard-hit communities like Asheville. Many creeks flow through Leicester, and FEMA flood maps indicate that some properties along these waterways face a flood risk.
Written By
DeeVa Payne
Photography Contributed By
David Strayer
Video By
Emily McNamara
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Janis Moore,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Leicester, NC sell after 64 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Leicester, NC over the last 12 months is $435,000, down 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Like-new Arts & Crafts home set against magnificent mountain views. Thoughtfully arranged floor plan filled with natural light. Recent updates include a new water heater along with new kitchen countertops, backsplash, and appliances, enhancing both style and function. The finished basement offers a private bedroom and bathroom, plus a spacious family room ideal for relaxed living or entertaining.
This home offers an exceptional value opportunity to create your personal mountain escape. And, with Asheville just 18 miles away, you’ll enjoy both the peace of seclusion and the convenience of city amenities. Welcome to 165 Peepeye Cove Road, a tranquil retreat tucked away in the serene hills of Leicester, North Carolina. Nestled on 6.57 pristine acres, this charming 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home
Enjoy pastoral views and a peaceful existence from inside this solid, rambling, feature rich estate home. This idyllic farm with its rolling hills, mountain views, and expansive acreage is sure to delight those seeking privacy, space to spread out, and absolutely gorgeous, gently laying acreage. This property is ideal for horses, goats, sheep, or even cattle! If gardening is more your thing, the
Horse lovers paradise on Dix Creek. Beautiful 4.8 acre valley farm in rural Leicester with mountain views. 4-stall barn with tack room, and hay loft. Riding Ring with new fencing. The cabin has much of the original 70s charm and warmth with wood floors, solid wood paneling, and exposed beams. The main floor has a wheelchair accessible bedroom and bathroom with a ramp on the exterior. Three
Looking for your own private mountain retreat? Welcome home to Rose Cottage—a charming hideaway tucked at the end of a quiet road and surrounded by more than 4 acres of serene natural beauty. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be greeted by your very own pond along with daily visits from deer, turkey, and an array of vibrant mountain birds. This delightful 2-bedroom, 1-bath bungalow is filled
Experience the perfect blend of mountain serenity and city convenience with this beautifully maintained 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home in the established Kinsale Ridge community. Located just minutes from the vibrant heart of Asheville, this home offers a peaceful retreat with beautiful long range mountain views. Step inside to find an inviting floor plan featuring hardwood floors throughout and a
This custom-built home blends timeless mountain style with modern comfort, just 11 miles from vibrant downtown Asheville in the private Ridgeview Meadows community. Wrapped in stone with striking wood beams and thoughtfully landscaped grounds, the exterior sets the tone for the craftsmanship inside. The living room impresses with soaring 18-foot ceilings and a dramatic tile-wrapped fireplace that
Beautifully updated home nestled in the peaceful countryside of Leicester. This inviting property offers a perfect blend of comfort & modern living with its open floor plan, abundant natural light, & stylish finishes throughout. Enjoy cooking in the spacious kitchen with updated appliances, granite countertops & ample cabinetry, then unwind in the cozy living area or on the expansive deck
NEW PAINT - MOVE IN READY! Come see this spacious 3-bed, 3-bath home that offers over 2,300 sq ft on a 1.14-acre lot in a secluded neighborhood in Leicester, blending privacy with easy access to Asheville. The open floor plan features an updated kitchen with granite counters and a layout made for gatherings. The home has a split bedroom setup and the primary bedroom has plenty of space with a
2010 Year Model Clayton Manufactured Single Wide, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths, Eat in Kitchen, Living Room, Primary Bath with Garden Tub, Separate Shower and Closet. Laundry Room off Kitchen, Living Room, Central Heat and Air, Front Deck with Mountain View! Private Septic, 1.41 Acre Lot. Private Setting Convenient to Down Town Leicester.
Price Improvement! This turn-Key Property with Secondary Living Space – 20 Minutes to Asheville Pre-inspected and ready for occupancy. 4 BR / 3 BA / 3,351 sq ft home on 1.32 acres with long-range mountain views. MAIN LEVEL• Large living area with Brazilian cherry floors and 3-sided gas fireplace• Custom cherry kitchen• Approx. 50 ft of covered rear deck• Screened balcony off
Beautiful Price Improvement on Beautiful Land in Leicester: Family compound, horse farm, homestead, glamping venue, STRs: the possibilities are numerous. The acreage has several potential homesites with views, pastureland, wooded areas, and a stream. The home offers the perfect place to live, rent, or occupy while you build your dream home with more expansive views further up on the property, or
*** Open House on June 7th from 12-4 PM*** Looking for large acreage of improved land? How about 83+ acres offering a home, a guest cottage, a container home, a blend of pasture and forest with magnificent views?! This beautiful property has been lovingly remastered into a sustainably upfitted permaculture dream. The main 2/2 home walks out to raised-bed gardens and a greenhouse. A 1/1 cottage
Property Id: 905727WE DO NOT ADVERTISE in CRAIGSLIST or FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE! PLEASE VISIT THE PROPERTY BEFORE SCHEDULING PROPERTY VIEWING **1 YEAR MINIMUM LEASE REQUIRED** **MINIMUM CREDIT SCORE OF 670 IS REQUIRED TO APPLY.***SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND SUBLETTING ARE NOT CONSIDERED OR ALLOWED* Enjoy the peaceful setting of this spacious home in the Leicester
For Rent: Newly Renovated 1-Bedroom Basement Apartment – Leicester, NC$1,500/month — 1 Bed - 1 Bath Ground-Level Basement Apartment in Leicester with Mountain Views & HOA AmenitiesEnjoy this newly renovated basement apartment in a quiet, well-maintained home located within a homeowners association community in Leicester, NC. You’ll have approximately 1,300 sq ft of living space—tucked
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