$359,998Average Value$290Average Price per Sq Ft97Homes For Sale
Riverside community and small-town vibe in the mountains of Murphy
Located between Knoxville and Atlanta, Murphy is a community in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, with a small-town vibe. Despite a population of only about 1,600 people, Downtown Murphy is thriving, immersed in local brewpubs and festivals, surrounded by forests along the Hiwassee River and scenic hiking trails in the depths of lower Appalachia. "Everyone is so friendly, and there's just a certain energy here," says Donna Srabian, an area local and team lead at RE/MAX Town & Country. "We don't have traffic. We have lakes, rivers, mountain views and hiking away from the rat race. This is the way people want to live, and they love it."
Murphy offers plenty of shops and restaurants for residents to enjoy and explore.
Launch your boat in Murphy at the Payne Street Boat Ramp for a day of fun on the Hiwassee River.
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1970s colonial homes and log cabins
Houses sit on shady, wooded lots and gravel roads centered around downtown. Architecture includes Craftsman, midcentury and cabin-style homes. Many properties, mainly newer homes on the edge of town, are reminiscent of log cabins, with wooden exteriors in densely forested areas. Home prices range from $100,000 to $600,000. “People will buy a vacation home and then move here full time,” Srabian says. “Once people live here or have a second home here, they tend to stay.”
In Murphy, a cabin style home is popular with families looking for vacation houses.
Some houses in Murphy are separated by trees.
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Breweries and restaurants in this historic downtown
Its community spirit and Main Street culture are the highlights of this rural village. Historic Downtown Murphy features 20th-century architecture and locally owned storefronts along the Unicoi Turnpike, its central thoroughfare home to breweries, restaurants and boutiques. Shopping centers with box store retail are about 3 miles north on U.S. Highway 19, with supermarkets such as Ingles Market and Walmart Supercenter. Legends Steakhouse serves classic southern cuisine in a vintage atmosphere. Valley River Brewery and Eatery is a local watering hole serving brick-oven pizza and craft beer in a rustic space with DIY décor. “I honestly didn’t think so many breweries and wineries could exist in such a small town,” says David Brown, a resident who has lived in the area for over 20 years. “It’s captured in time with the same kind of small-town lifestyle.”
Murphy residents can get all their grocery needs at Ingles.
Murphy locals enjoy delicious food at Legends Steakhouse.
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Fishing and rafting on the Hiwassee River
Near multiple lakes and the Nantahala National Forest, Murphy has plenty of access to outdoor recreation. Konehete Park offers tennis courts near the Murphy River Walk, a 3-mile informational trail with boardwalks along the Valley River. Murphy Health and Fitness is a 24-hour gym with a swimming pool and personal trainers. Mountain bikers can head to Piney Knob Trails, a 700-acre watershed area with 13 miles of trails around Fain Mountain. The Hiwassee River is one of the area's most popular attractions, with trout fishing and Class II rapids for whitewater rafting. "We have two lakes: Apalachia and Hiwassee. You go out on the lake, and you might see four boats. It's paradise," Srabian says. Local waterways also feed into Chatuge Lake, with scenic hiking trails and boating areas about 15 miles east.
A group of friends in Murphy make a plan for their next adventure.
Residents get their daily steps in at the Murphy River Walk trail.
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Valley River art, museums and festivals
The Valley River Arts Guild showcases a regional gallery with over 50 canvas paintings and a monthly art walk. The Cherokee Historical Museum tells the regional history of the Cherokee peoples, with more than 2,000 artifacts and exhibits of the "Trail of Tears." Residents can visit the Murphy Farmer's Market for farm-fresh products on Saturday mornings during spring and summer. The Murphy Spring Festival features kids' activities and a beer garden in May. Local bands play bluegrass and folk music concerts monthly during the Fain Alley Music Series.
Learn about the history of Murphy at the Cherokee Historical Museum.
Murphy residents support local artists by buying their work at the Valley River Arts.
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Curriculum at tech-focused Cherokee County Schools
Murphy Elementary School earns a B grade from Niche, emphasizing technology and an after-school program. Murphy Middle School also has a B and a state-of-the-art STEM Lab. Murphy High School receives a B-minus on the same campus, providing an Army JROTC program and study halls for SAT prep.
Murphy Elementary School has 536 students in grades PK, K-5.
Murphy High School has 489 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1.
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Day trip to Atlanta and other big cities
Cherokee County Transit (CCT) vans provide daily door-to-door transportation for residents. Atlanta is roughly 120 miles south, and Knoxville is about 100 miles north on state Route 68. The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport is the closest airport for those who need to catch a flight, about 85 miles west on U.S. Highway 74, the area's central expressway. "We are within two hours of Atlanta, Chattanooga and Knoxville. We are close to small-town stuff, and it's a day trip to the big city," Srabian says.
Sound concern and flood risk
Murphy is the site of several crypto-mining facilities. Residents who live near Harshaw Road on the southeast side of town may frequently hear the whir of a jet engine, which is the sound of computer systems running software while being cooled by fans. Additionally, properties along the Hiwassee River and the Valley River may be at risk of potential flooding.
Written By
Jackson Hardy
Photography Contributed By
Anna Dukovich
Video By
Edward Pokoj
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Erika Smith,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Murphy, NC sell after 100 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Murphy, NC over the last 12 months is $341,835, up 14% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome Home to this beautifully maintained 3-bedroom, 1.5 bathroom home offering just over 1,200 square feet of comfortable living space, ideally situated just minutes from Murphy, Blue Ridge, and Blairsville. Enjoy easy access to outdoor adventures like river rafting, hiking, and mountain exploring, while still being close to charming small towns with dining, shopping, and more. Inside, you
Pristine condition, unbeatable long-range views, privacy, paved access, and high-end finishes, furniture and decor throughout! This luxury cabin sits at the end of a paved road with no neighbors in sight—just you and the mountains. Step inside to a warm all-wood interior with soaring ceilings, 3 cozy fireplaces, and stunning custom craftsmanship. The spacious kitchen is a showstopper with
Welcome Home to this beautifully maintained 3-bedroom, 1.5 bathroom home offering just over 1,200 square feet of comfortable living space, ideally situated just minutes from Murphy, Blue Ridge, and Blairsville. Enjoy easy access to outdoor adventures like river rafting, hiking, and mountain exploring, while still being close to charming small towns with dining, shopping, and more. Inside, you
Welcome Home to this beautifully maintained 3-bedroom, 1.5 bathroom home offering just over 1,200 square feet of comfortable living space, ideally situated just minutes from Murphy, Blue Ridge, and Blairsville. Enjoy easy access to outdoor adventures like river rafting, hiking, and mountain exploring, while still being close to charming small towns with dining, shopping, and more. Inside, you
Pristine condition, unbeatable long-range views, privacy, paved access, and high-end finishes, furniture and decor throughout! This luxury cabin sits at the end of a paved road with no neighbors in sight—just you and the mountains. Step inside to a warm all-wood interior with soaring ceilings, 3 cozy fireplaces, and stunning custom craftsmanship. The spacious kitchen is a showstopper with
Welcome Home to this beautifully maintained 3-bedroom, 1.5 bathroom home offering just over 1,200 square feet of comfortable living space, ideally situated just minutes from Murphy, Blue Ridge, and Blairsville. Enjoy easy access to outdoor adventures like river rafting, hiking, and mountain exploring, while still being close to charming small towns with dining, shopping, and more. Inside, you
Rustic 2 bdrm 2 bath cabin outside of Murphy NC and minutes from Rt. 64. 15 miles to Murphy and 68 miles to Chattanooga. Property consists of the cabin and the vacant lots on each side. One lot has a firepit, picnic table and charcoal grille. Property has just been stained, and color will be a little lighter than the pictures indicate. Wildlife galore with deer, black bears, turkeys and
Sit on the deck with a glass of wine & enjoy the Mountain View from your home. Log Home, All Wood Interior, Awesome Views, Full Unfinished Basement for storage. Home is Move In Ready. This is a modular home made from actual logs over an unfinished basement.
Private Apartment Over Garage, Tucked away in the peaceful woods of Murphy, NC, this charming 2-bedroom, 1-bath mother-in-law suite offers quiet comfort and privacy above a detached garage. With its own private entrance and approximately 815 sq ft of living space, this apartment is perfect for anyone seeking a cozy, low-maintenance mountain retreat. Inside, you'll find an open-concept living and
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