Brookford is a growing town near Hickory
Located just off the Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 321 interchange, the Town of Brookford is a small suburban community in Catawba County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town was home to approximately 450 residents as of 2020. Immediately north of the town is Hickory, a mid-size city with a growing downtown area. “Brookford is a quiet community with easy access to all the amenities of Hickory,” says Tami Fox, a local real estate broker with The Temple Team at Keller Williams who grew up in Brookford. Though the town has been around for more than a century, it’s undergone a bit of a growth spurt in recent years. “It’s definitely been growing,” Fox says. “I’ve sold more new construction there in the last five years.” Brookford is highly residential, but Hickory has a range of urban amenities convenient to residents. Downtown Hickory is approximately 3 miles from town, a drive that typically takes less than 10 minutes. Valley Hills Mall, a major shopping destination, is also under 4 miles away. Fox notes that Hickory also is a major employment hub for the region, with several furniture manufacturers and healthcare facilities, along with the campuses of both Appalachian State University and Lenoir-Rhyne University. “Hickory has a full-time population in the 40,000s, but during the workday, it becomes home to about 100,000 people,” Fox says. Brookford has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Homes from the early 20th century to new construction
Brookford’s housing stock covers a range of housing styles dating back to the early 1900s, when the town was incorporated. “You get everything from the charm of the 20th century to newer construction,” Fox says. “These homes cover more than a century.” Single-family bungalows and ranch-style homes cost between approximately $150,000 and $300,000, while larger New Traditionals and Colonial-inspired houses typically range from $400,000 to $600,000. Multifamily properties like townhouses and duplexes can sell between $150,000 and $450,000, with new builds usually priced near the higher end of that range. Properties often feature ample lawn space with paved or gravel driveways, so residents don’t have to park on the street. Many homes back up against forested areas, so residents can enjoy a comparatively more bucolic setting here than in Hickory.
Zoning for Hickory City Schools
Most of Brookford is zoned for Hickory City Schools, while Catawba County Schools serve the remaining part of town. In the Hickory City Schools district, prekindergarten through second-grade students can begin their education at Southwest Primary, which receives a C-plus rating from Niche. Grades three through five are served by the B-rated Longview Elementary School. Grandview Middle and Hickory High School also receive B ratings. Secondary students can also apply to Hickory Career and Arts Magnet High School, which is rated B-plus and offers seven career-focused academies, including a Computer Programming Academy, Performing Arts Academy and Health Sciences Academy.
In the smaller portion of Brookford served by Catawba County Schools, students in prekindergarten through sixth grade are zoned for Mountain View Elementary, an A-minus-rated institution. Grades seven and eight can attend Jacobs Fork Middle, also rated A-minus, while the B-plus-rated Fred T. Foard High School serves secondary students.
Proximity to Hickory city parks and sports
Outdoor recreation is limited in Brookford, but Hickory’s parks are easily accessible. “Brookford has a great community center that people can rent for events, and there’s a ball field next to the center, but otherwise, people mostly go to city parks,” Fox says. Southside Heights Park is located just north of town across the interstate and has a playground and sheltered picnic pavilion. Six miles west of Brookford is Henry Fork River Park, a large outdoor area with a soccer field complex, playgrounds and a walking trail. People can also use the park’s canoe launch to go boating on the Henry Fork River. The popular Kiwanis Park is a 6-minute drive from town and is home to the Zahra Baker All Children’s Playground and the Charles D. Dixon Memorial Splash Pad, open May through September.
Shop and dine at Valley Hills Mall and downtown Hickory
Several major shopping and dining destinations are within a 10-minute driving radius of Brookford. East of town, down Interstate 40, is Valley Hills Mall, a large indoor mall complex with several department stores, dozens of brand-name retailers and a central food court. Next door is the Hickory Furniture Mart, a four-story outlet for interior furnishings. Downtown Hickory is a 3-mile drive from Brookford and offers a variety of dining options, performance venues and museums like the Hickory Museum of Art. Locals can spend late nights at downtown brewpubs like Olde Hickory Tap Room and McGuire’s Pub. Brookford’s nearest grocery store is a Food Lion, approximately 2.5 miles away in the nearby Mountain View community.
Convenience to major highways
In addition to being located the major highway interchange of Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 321, Brookford is also close to U.S. Highway 70, which crosses both thoroughfares a little farther north. “Brookford has great access to connector roads and less traffic than Hickory,” Fox says. Interstate 40 runs east-west, while Highway 321 travels north-south and runs through Hickory and other towns like Granite Falls. Residents in this area almost all rely on their cars to get around. The nearest public transit is a bus station in Hickory, operated by Greenway Public Transportation. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is the nearest commercial airport, about 50 miles southeast. The closest 24-hour emergency department is located in downtown Hickory at the Frye Regional Medical Center.
