Norwood offers lakefront living and a revitalized downtown
About 10 miles south of Albemarle, the small town of Norwood sits along the west bank of Lake Tillery, a laid-back vacation destination in North Carolina. That proximity has earned Norwood the moniker “The Gateway to Lake Tillery.” “On Lake Tillery, you can kayak at sunrise, cruise at sunset and relax lakeside all year,” says Johanna Martin, a Realtor and team lead with River Valley Group at Carolina Living Associates. Norwood has a modest downtown, rustic lake houses and a few million-dollar waterfront houses in gated subdivisions. “It appeals to discerning buyers, second-home seekers and professionals looking to relocate for lifestyle or retirement,” Martin says. Homeowners can access outdoor recreation in this rural area while being able to grab groceries, coffee or a meal a few streets away.
Community spirit is alive and growing in Norwood. Every April, the Arbor Day Festival brings the community together for vendors and food trucks, local bands, a 5K and a car show. As part of ongoing revitalization efforts, the town gathered donations to purchase and light up the first community Christmas tree in 2020, a tradition that continues today. In 2024, Norwood received a Community Development Block Grant award exceeding $1.6 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which will go toward renovating fifteen of the town’s homes.
Waterfront living drives higher prices by Lake Tillery
The streets in the center of Norwood are gridded, stretching past ranch-style homes on grassy lots. Outside of the town center, roads winding along the shoreline lead to lakeside bungalows with private docks. Prices in Norwood typically range from $100,000 to $900,000, with less expensive options near the center of town and higher-priced properties close to the lake. Homes overlooking the water in the gated Edgewater on Lake Tillery neighborhood typically cost between $1.5 million and $2.8 million, and residents of the community have access to a private Olympic-sized swimming pool, a community club house and a recreation center. “There’s another gated community called Eagle Pointe, but it doesn’t have the amenities that Edgewater has,” Martin says. Few homes are for sale in Eagle Pointe, but current estimated values of range between about $1.3 million and $2 million; lots are available for purchase, starting at $145,000. And while there is land available in the rest of Norwood, Martin warns potential buyers that they might have to hunt for just the right spot. “It’s hard to find a large parcel on the waterfront right now,” she says. “It’s about $150,000 to $300,000 for a parcel in a cove.”
Boating on Lake Tillery and other outdoor activities
Although no swimming is allowed in Lake Tillery, there’s still plenty to do on and around this manmade lake, from wakeboarding to camping. Anglers can find bluegill, catfish and bass. “Boating, jet-skiing, fishing are the most popular attractions on the lake,” Martin says. Kayaks, paddleboards and boats take off from the public access launch and from private docks.
Norwood also has two public parks. Darrell Almond Community Park, named after a former mayor, has a fishing pond where kids can compete to catch the biggest fish as part of the Arbor Day Festival. The park provides spots to relax and socialize while playing shuffleboard and throwing horseshoes. Norwood Memorial Park has softball fields and sand volleyball courts.
In the wider region, golfers can meet up at Tillery Tradition Country Club or Piney Point Golf Club, the two closest courses to Norwood. Tillery Tradition is a private club, and Piney Point is open to the public. Hikers can explore the tree-lined trails of nearby Uwharrie National Forest and Morrow Mountain State Park. “My great uncle, A.C. Honeycutt, helped get Morrow Mountain State Park established,” Martin says. “Morrow Mountain has public lake access with camping sites, boat and canoe rentals, cabins to rent and 37 miles of hiking and bridle trails,” Martin says.
Stanly County Schools support learning from elementary to high school
Stanly County Schools, rated B on Niche, serves the area. Students may attend Norwood Elementary School and South Stanly Middle School, which are both rated B-minus, before advancing to South Stanly High, rated B. In 2025, the high school’s Trailblazers Outdoor Club was named Club of the Year at the Trailblazers’ statewide retreat.
Norwood’s hometown shopping and dining scene
Local businesses line Main Street, including an ice cream shop, a bank and a hardware store. On Friday afternoons, the farmers market sets up downtown under shade sails. There are a handful of restaurants downtown where Main Street meets Pee Dee Avenue, like Lantern Sushi, which serves Japanese food in a contemporary, minimalist atmosphere. The Boat House on Lake Tillery offers casual dining with waterfront views under twinkling string lights. Shoppers can get groceries at Family Dollar and Food Lion. For more comprehensive shopping, residents here can make the drive to Albermarle, where they’ll find stores like Walmart Supercenter, Lowe’s and Hobby Lobby.
U.S. Route 52 is the main road through Norwood
U.S. Route 52 connects this rural town to regional cities and services. It leads about 15 miles northwest to the nearest hospital in Albemarle, Atrium Health Stanly. Concord-Padgett Regional Airport is about 50 miles northwest, and for more flight options, Charlotte Douglas International Airport is about 60 miles west.
