Mount Pleasant is a family-friendly commuter town outside Charlotte
Queen City commuters can come home to peaceful country landscapes in Mount Pleasant. The eastern Cabarrus County town, less than 40 miles outside Charlotte, is a growing bedroom community. “It’s a small town, and it’s a 'Friday Night Lights'-type of town,” says longtime resident Bonnie McDonald, the owner of Bonnie S. McDonald Real Estate. “A lot of people who like to live here like wide open spaces. … One of the things that I love about it is that we don’t have to go into a bigger town except for work." McDonald adds that the community attracts families for its close-knit schools, retirees for its Active Living Center and medical professionals for its proximity to the hospital in Concord. An up-and-coming downtown, new parks and highway access add to the area's appeal.
Single-family homes on spacious lots
Mature trees encircle many of Mount Pleasant’s single-family homes, which rest on lots that are typically over half an acre. Architecture is diverse, ranging from midcentury ranch-style homes and split-levels to historic Victorians and 21st-century brick traditional designs. Some houses line unmarked roads branching off Main Street. Others front cul-de-sacs in subdivisions or are surrounded by farmland in the outlying countryside. The median price for a single-family home is around $420,000, on par with the national median and well below Charlotte’s median. Most homes fall between $175,000 and $600,000. However, new-construction houses can cost up to $800,000.
Public schools offer magnet programs and career exploration
Cabarrus County Schools earns an A-minus overall rating from Niche. The district, with more than 35,000 students across 44 schools, offers a Program Choice initiative in which families can apply for magnet programs, including STEM, arts and dual-language tracks. Seats are filled through a randomized lottery. Three schools serve all of Mount Pleasant: The B-plus-rated Mount Pleasant Elementary, the B-plus-rated Mount Pleasant Middle and the B-minus-rated Mount Pleasant High, which is home to the district’s Academy of Architecture and Construction and the beloved Tigers varsity football team. Nearby private options include the B-rated Carolina Christian School and the B-plus-rated Concord Academy.
Local restaurants and retailers in downtown Mount Pleasant
The busy intersection of Main and Franklin streets anchors downtown Mount Pleasant. Local restaurants and boutique businesses fill historic storefronts at this pedestrian-friendly junction. Café Lentz is a favorite for coffee and offers an assortment of sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. Across the street, 73 & Main pairs elevated American fare with pints of craft beer from the on-site Old Well Brewery. Nearby, What-A-Burger No. 13 is a long-running stop for fast food. In a former prison away from the town center, Southern Grace Distilleries pours tastings of its whiskey and moonshine. Meanwhile, antique lovers come from near and far to browse the array of vintage goods at White Owl Antique Mall. Food Lion is in town for groceries. Carolina Mall, national retailers and the nearest full-service hospital, Atrium Health Cabarrus, are about 14 miles away in Concord.
Nature trails and Cabarrus County parks offer recreation
Next to Mount Pleasant Town Hall, McAllister Park is community-focused, with a baseball field and a concession stand beside a playground and picnic area. Nearby is Virginia Foil Park, which opened behind the Cabarrus County Library & Active Living Center in 2024. Anchored by a softball complex, the park has a walking trail, a fitness trail and a playground. South of town, nature lovers can travel along the Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail, part of the Carolina Thread Trail system, for quiet walks and bike rides through woodland and farmland. Part of the trail crosses over Adams Creek with a narrow suspension bridge. A new 615-acre park, St. Stephens Church Road Nature Park, is in development and will offer trails, scenic overlooks and a nature center when it’s complete. McDonald says Uwharrie National Forest and Lake Tillery are a short drive away for more adventure.
Holiday celebrations in Mount Pleasant
Annual events in Mount Pleasant include the Fall Festival in early October and a Christmas parade and tree lighting in December. One of the biggest events of the year is the Independence Celebration, which features a parade down Main Street, a party outside Town Hall and fireworks. McDonald says it's held in late June because residents typically head to the beach during the week of July 4.
Mount Pleasant is a car dependent community
Most people drive to get around Mount Pleasant and Cabarrus County, and commuters have access to state highways 73 and 49 to reach nearby cities. Concord and Albemarle are less than 15 miles away. Uptown Charlotte is around 35 miles away, and the closest commercial flights take off from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. There is no public bus system in Mount Pleasant, however, Cabarrus County Transportation Services can provide scheduled rides to qualifying residents.
