High up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Boone is a small Appalachian town with a population of roughly 20,000. This area, known as the High Country of North Carolina, is known for its rugged peaks and outdoor attractions right on the cusp of the Tennessee border. Billie Rogers, a broker with Keller Williams who has lived in the High Country for more than 30 years, says many of her clients move to Boone for its temperate climate and varied recreation. “It’s so much more relaxing up here,” she says. “There’s no traffic, only amazing views. Plus, people are just nicer — they hold open doors, and they help look for lost pets. No one ever honks their horn at you unless they know you or if you’re seriously going to cause an accident.” For many of the people moving to Boone, the slower pace of mountain life is a welcome change. However, heavy tourism and a bustling student population also mean there’s plenty to do.
Far from a remote village, Boone is also a college town and a center of commerce for the surrounding High Country. Four of the top employers in Watauga County are based in Boone: Appalachian State University, UNC Health Appalachian, Watauga County Board of Education and Samaritan’s Purse. As Rogers puts it: “If you live in the High Country, Boone is where you do your work.” Watauga Medical Center is the county’s only hospital and is operated by UNC Health Appalachian.
Boone is a popular mountain town located in North Carolina.
UNC Health Appalachian (UNCHA), in Boone, is the leader for healthcare in the High Country, is comprised of three hospitals and 13 medical practices.
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Mountain homes at peak prices
Housing in Boone skews rustic, with plenty of custom-built cabins and midcentury mountain cottages. Although not every home can have multiple acres of land, most of them feel like it, thanks to densely wooded lots set into the hillsides. Some homes are rented out seasonally, and many condos near downtown are rented to App State students. Ranch-style homes and New Traditional developments across town cater to year-round residents.
As of early 2025, the median home price in Boone was about $450,000, above the state median of $375,000. However, prices have trended downward by 6% in the past year, likely due to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024. Homes sell in an average of 106 days after being listed on the market, significantly higher than the national average of 44 days.
Cabins and snow go hand in hand in Boone.
There are many housing types in Boone, ever near the college.
Custom cabins are found all over Boone, many rental and vacation options as well.
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Making a comeback after the devastation of Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene struck Boone on September 27, 2024. In the wake of the heavy rainfall and catastrophic winds, the town witnessed previously unthinkable levels of destruction: entire homes were swept away in the floods, while others were swallowed up by sinkholes and crushed beneath landslides. “I don’t want to downplay the damage that was done during Helene. It was just devastating. No one thought it could happen more than 300 miles inland,” Rogers says. “But it’s also been amazing to watch everyone pull together to rebuild. People will go on Facebook and say, ‘You need a bridge built? Okay, we’ll be there are 3 p.m.’ The mountain lifestyle really is self-sufficient, and people take care of one another.” Though the High Country is still years away from returning to life as it was before Hurricane Helene, the area was reopened to visitors just two weeks after the hurricane made landfall, marking a major step in the road to recovery. Of the 1,200 initial road closures in Watauga County, less than 200 remain affected as of January 2025.
Rogers says the town is still reckoning with the changes in runoff post-Helene, and that unexpected flooding can occur during heavy rain when water gathers in the mountain valleys. Due to its elevation of 3,333 feet above sea level, Boone experiences above-average precipitation and has a humid continental climate, with summertime highs around 80°F and winter lows of 20°F.
Hurricanes are quite uncommon in the Boone area.
Many homes and businesses were destroyed during Hurricane Helene, especially along the rivers in Boone.
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Home of the App State Mountaineers
Watauga County Schools is based in Boone and receives an A grade from Niche, which ranks it as the No. 6 out of 116 school districts in the state. The district serves about 4,700 students and operates nine elementary schools and one high school. Of the two schools located in town, Hardin Park Elementary serves kindergarten through the eighth grade and scores an A, and Watauga High earns an A-minus.
Boone is also home to Appalachian State University, a public college in the University of North Carolina system. Around 21,000 students attend the university each year, more than doubling the town’s year-round population. The university’s football program, the Mountaineers, is the only team in the state to have won the NCAA Division I Football Championship, with three back-to-back wins between 2005 and 2007. Two of Boone’s professional sports teams, Appalachian Football Club and Bigfoots Baseball, play their home games at ASU sports facilities.
The student population of Hardin Park Elementary is 851 and the school serves grades PK-8.
On GameDay in Boone, Kidd Brewer Stadium is packed with Mountaineers fans.
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An outdoor lover’s dream near three ski resorts
While Boone has its fair share of parks with playgrounds and basketball courts, the town is famous for its range of rugged outdoor activities. “For people who are at all outdoorsy — whether that means hiking or just a lunchtime walk — this is paradise,” Rogers says. Boone is known as a ski destination in the South due to its proximity to three ski resorts: Appalachian Ski Mountain, Beech Mountain Resort and Sugar Mountain Resort. Other nearby peaks are reserved for hiking, particularly Grandfather Mountain, where one of the nation's largest Scottish Highland games events is held each July. Those who prefer to take on the trails by cycling head to Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park, which has five trails of varying difficulty.
Despite its name, the New River is actually the oldest river in North America. Its southern fork zigzags through the mountainous terrain just east of Boone, flanked by the 3-mile Greenway Trail. Kayaking, fishing and tubing are all popular activities along the New River Paddle Trail. More recreation spots such as swimming lakes, golf courses and zipline parks can be found throughout the surrounding area. Some families purchase season passes to Tweetsie Railroad, a Wild West theme park whose namesake locomotive is the primary attraction.
Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park is a great amenity to Boone, it's just too cold and windy right now to use the pump track.
Pickleball is a booming sport in most cities, Boone is no different. Summit Pickeball always has action going on.
Appalachian Ski Mountain in Boone is a local favorite among the ski slopes.
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Dine local and celebrate Appalachian heritage
Thanks to seasonal tourism and a sizeable student population, Boone lacks little in the way of shopping and dining, unlike many other towns of similar size. “There are a lot of very wealthy people who have homes up in the mountains, which means we actually have quite a few fine dining restaurants,” Rogers says. “Now, King Street around App State is where you’ll find all your rooftop bars, live music and art galleries.” Considered Boone’s Downtown district, brewpubs, cafes and boutiques all mingle within this stretch of historic brick storefronts that maintain the look of a mountain outpost. College nightlife and all-ages entertainment can also be found close by. Admission to rotating and permanent exhibits at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is free, while the Appalachian Theater hosts film screenings and live performances. Big-box shopping centers are along the highways to the east and south of town, anchored by recognizable retailers such as Walmart, Lowes Foods, Hobby Lobby and Harris Teeter.
Since 1952, the outdoor drama “Horn in the West” has been an annual tradition that brings to life the High Country’s early settlers during the American Revolution. The Southern Appalachian Historical Association produces the play each year at Daniel Boone Amphitheater, which is adjacent to the Hickory Ridge History Museum, an educational homestead where costumed interpreters give tours and workshops. During the warmer months, the Watauga County Farmers’ Market is held on Saturday mornings in the parking lot.
F.A.R.M. Cafe, in Downtown Boone is a community favorite, especially for their charity work.
Rivers Street Ale House is a popular restaurant/bar in Boone. Tonight everyone is trying their hand at trivia.
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About a hundred miles from major North Carolina cities
City life is a ways away from this mountain town, though U.S. highways 221, 321 and 421 meet in Boone for travel throughout the Appalachians of North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway weaves through the jagged landscape just outside of town and is one of the most-visited units of the National Park System, renowned for its unmatched views. To many residents, it’s part of their daily commute. “I’d drive the Blue Ridge Parkway every day to work in Blowing Rock, and every day I’d round a corner and gasp at the view,” Rogers says. “It never gets old when the clouds cover the tops of the mountains. We’ve got our heads in the clouds here — and I mean that literally.” The nearest regional airport is about 90 miles southwest in Ashville, while the closest international airport is 95 miles south in Charlotte. Watauga County’s public transit authority, AppalCART, operates bus routes throughout the town and the surrounding area.
AppalCART is the public transportation system that runs all through out Boone.
Charlotte, is just under 2 hours from Boone.
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Lower-than-average crime statistics
According to statistics provided by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, property crime fell by about 28% and violent crime figures remained the same between 2018 and 2023. In the same five-year span, FBI crime data shows that both violent crime and property crime in Boone were well below state and national rates.
Greetings from Banner Elk, NC! I have lived in the Banner Elk area since 1990. I attended Lees McRae College and shorty began my career Club/Resort industry from 1990-2014 which was a great segue way into selling real estate in the High Country. My passion is quite simply people...I take pride in listening to my client's needs and love the search in finding the perfect spot for their mountain home. My passion for this area is both evident to both my buyer and seller clients. I am a member of both the National Association of REALTORS and the High Country Association of Realtors, along with the local High Country MLS. The High Country is a wonderful location to raise a family, own a second mountain home or to retire into a close knit community. Feel free to give me a call 828-387-1897 or email morganbeckherdklotz.premiersothebysrealty.com
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