Taylorsville offers small-town, country living close to Lake Hickory
Taylorsville is a small, rural town in Alexander County, just minutes from Lake Hickory. Sometimes called the Apple City, Taylorsville is known for its family-run apple orchards and its long-running Apple Festival, which celebrates its agricultural heritage each October. Here, it’s common to commute to nearby cities for work and spend free time in the great outdoors. Homes often rest on spacious lots with plenty of room for hobbies, and an up-and-coming downtown features mom-and-pop shops and a few local restaurants. Well-performing schools are a plus for families.
From in-town bungalows to ranch-style homes with acreage
Ranch-style homes dominate the market here, but you’ll also find small cottages, Craftsman bungalows and various custom two-story builds. Some properties sit on smaller lots in town, while others have plenty of land for farming. “It’s a great place to go where you can have some land, some middle-larger acreage tracts, but still be 5 minutes from grocery stores and restaurants and things like that,” says Chris Spencer, a Realtor with Realty Executives of Hickory. The median sale price is around $300,000, on par with Granite Falls to the west but well below that of Lake Hickory to the south. Here’s how prices break down by home type:
- Manufactured homes range from under $100,000 to the lower $400,000s.
- Townhouses range from the lower $200,000s to the lower $300,000s.
- Detached homes typically range from the lower $100,000s to the upper $600,000s.
Public school options from elementary to early college
Alexander County Schools is highly rated, with many Taylorsville students going to Taylorsville Elementary School, which earns high marks, as well as East Alexander Middle School and Alexander Central High School. Students can also apply to the highly rated Alexander Early College, which offers a dual enrollment program in partnership with Catawba Valley Community College.
Where locals go for hiking, golfing, motorsports and lake days
This region is a playground for the outdoorsy. “Within 20 to 30 minutes of here, you’re truly in the mountains. In 30 minutes, you can be canoeing on the New River, which is the second-oldest river in the world,” Spencer says. Roughly 6 miles outside of town is Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area, a favorite for rock climbers and hikers. If you like riding dirt bikes and ATVS, there’s Brushy Mountain Motorsports Park, and those into boating and fishing spend their free time at Lake Hickory. “You’re 10 minutes from Lake Hickory, which is a big plus. It’s a favorite weekend activity,” Spencer says. In town, Matheson Park has a playground, sand volleyball court and spots to enjoy a creek-side picnic under the shade of mature trees. Nearby, youth baseball and softball leagues practice at Taylorsville Town Park. There’s also the Brushy Mountain Golf Club, which has a scenic 18-hole course that’s open to the public.
Shop, dine and hang out in downtown Taylorsville
There are plenty of things to do downtown. You can browse Road Market Antiques and Culture Collectibles and reenergize with a caffeinated beverage from The Rustic Roast or Kwench Coffee and Soda Shop. Apple City Taphouse is a favorite for craft beer, but you’ll notice it’s the only bar on Main Avenue. “This was a dry county until about 5 years ago…That’s kind of held back this area from developing bars, restaurants, that kind of stuff,” Spencer says. Local restaurants dot the town, including Hollar’s Backstreet Grill, a no-frills joint for American fare. Mexico Viejo is popular for its birria tacos, and people drive from all over the region to sample the slow-smoked offerings at Apple City BBQ. There’s also a slew of annual events to enjoy, from the Summer Concert Series at Alexander County Courthouse Park to the big Taylorsville Apple Festival in October.
In-town industries include education, government and manufacturing
This is a commuter town, with most people driving into Hickory or Statesville for work. But there are a few large employers here, including:
- Alexander County Schools, which is headquartered in Taylorsville
- Alexander County Government, which has offices in downtown Taylorsville
- Carpenter Company, which is a pillar of the county’s furniture manufacturing industry
- Borealis Compounds, which is an automotive plastics manufacturer
Spencer says many residents also work at the Alexander Correctional Institution, just south of the town limits.
You can reach cities like Hickory and Charlotte in an hour or less
You’ll want a car if you move here, but during the week, you can catch a ride on Greenway Public Transportation/Western Piedmont Regional Transit Authority's flex bus route. U.S. Route 64 and state Route 16 connect commuters to Hickory and Statesville, both about 20 miles away. Charlotte, home to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, is less than 65 miles away, a drive that typically takes a little over an hour.
Life in the foothills comes with cooler summers and mild winters
Taylorsville’s location in the Western North Carolina foothills gives it a temperate climate ideal for apple orchards and for those who enjoy mild weather year-round. “You’re not getting that mountain snow, but it’s still a little cooler, typically 5 degrees cooler than Charlotte,” Spencer says. “You get some of that base-of-the-mountain breeze, so to speak.”
