Boone and Mt. Airy? (Charlotte, Raleigh: relocation, housing, rental)

[csjccm]

I have read alot of previous threads but I can't get much info on Boone and Mt. Airy. I have researched alot but would like to get info from people who live or have lived there. Are there areas to stay away from when looking to buy a home? I have been to Boone during the fall and it is absolutely spectacular is Mt. Airy the same? Jobs are not an issue. I work from home and my husband probably will also once he leaves the military in October. If it doesn't work out for him then I know from Mt. Airy it isn't too far to Winston-Salem. (Boone would be a whole different story.) This is the first time we actualy get to choose were we want to live, so it's kind of a big deal for us. We know we want to live in one of these towns, which one is still the question. We have five school aged children so any info on the schools would also be very helpful. I have recieved relocation packages from both places so I have the overview. I am really looking for first hand information. Please forgive me if I have asked too many questions. I just recently found this fourm and ya'll are so helpful to everyone I thought I would ask. Thanks in advance for all your help.

[csjccm]

Originally Posted by csjccm

I have read alot of previous threads but I can't get much info on Boone and Mt. Airy. I have researched alot but would like to get info from people who live or have lived there. Are there areas to stay away from when looking to buy a home? I have been to Boone during the fall and it is absolutely spectacular is Mt. Airy the same? Jobs are not an issue. I work from home and my husband probably will also once he leaves the military in October. If it doesn't work out for him then I know from Mt. Airy it isn't too far to Winston-Salem. (Boone would be a whole different story.) This is the first time we actualy get to choose were we want to live, so it's kind of a big deal for us. We know we want to live in one of these towns, which one is still the question. We have five school aged children so any info on the schools would also be very helpful. I have recieved relocation packages from both places so I have the overview. I am really looking for first hand information. Please forgive me if I have asked too many questions. I just recently found this fourm and ya'll are so helpful to everyone I thought I would ask. Thanks in advance for all your help.

Sorry, I didn't quite submit properly. So I am having to reply to my own question so I can get it posted...

[the 7 oh 4]

The climate is totally different in Boone versus Mount Airy.

Boone is "IN" the mountains at a pretty high elevation.

Mount Airy is "NEAR" the mountains at a much lower elevation...much wamer than Boone in the winter and summer.

Mount Airy is about 30-35 minutes north of downtown Winston-Salem.

Boone is about 1 1/2 hrs west of Winston-Salem.

GOOD LUCK!

[silverwing]

Boone is geared toward being a college/tourist/retirement area while Mount Airy is still very much a (generally) lower middle-class working town. It's base industry was textile, but that's pretty much gone. It bolsters an image of being "The Original Mayberry" with tourism and festivals.

Boone is going to be way more expensive than Mount Airy, while at the same time lacking many of the services. Mount Airy being close to W-S, you can be at a mega shopping center in about 30 minutes and have access to a couple of major medical centers. And a wider selection of jobs.

Mount Airy is not as scenic as Boone, but you can still be in the mountains in about 15 minutes. You just take a steep drive up one of several roads: I-77, highway 52, or 89. That's why it's become more attractive as a retirement area for those who don't have the mega-bucks: cheaper than Boone but with access to the higher elevations, closer in to a major metro area, has some upper scale activities. The MA area is noted for its growing wine industry with tours, tippling events and adjoining restaurants. It's also has one of the few remaining drive in theaters, outside of town on 52. They show first run movies there.

About schools, I have no idea. Boone is the home of Appalachian State; something that might interest you once your kids are of college age.

I'm probably a bit more biased toward Mount Airy since it only becomes bloated with tourists during the festivals and the leaf peeping season. Boone can be crazy at any time, and very congested. As always, you should check both areas with a visit, but unless you have the $$ and skills that would fit into the venue of what Boone represents, you'd probably be better giving the Mount Airy/Winston-Salem area a close look.

Editing to add: if your job requirements allow you to be more home based, I'd give northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia a look as well, with school requirements giving NE TN the edge. That area is also very scenic; the Bristol area becoming more developed; and a very popular family outing is the Virginia Creeper Trail Virginia Creeper Trail Guide - Virginia's Premiere Mountain Biking Experience

[csjccm]

Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for me. Hope you don't mind if I ask a few more... Are there any particular areas of Mt. Airy that I should stay away from when buying? Also, this may sound silly, but I was wondering if the fall colors are as beautiful in MA as they are in Boone? We have seriously considered moving to the winston-salem area, but I am a little scared of living in a large city especially with little children. I know that may sound crazy, but we have always lived in smaller towns, except for base housing, (we do not get a lot of choice with the military). Again, I just want to say thanks for everyones help. NE TN? Are you refering to the Knoxville area?

[silverwing]

Originally Posted by csjccm

Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for me. Hope you don't mind if I ask a few more... Are there any particular areas of Mt. Airy that I should stay away from when buying? Also, this may sound silly, but I was wondering if the fall colors are as beautiful in MA as they are in Boone? We have seriously considered moving to the winston-salem area, but I am a little scared of living in a large city especially with little children. I know that may sound crazy, but we have always lived in smaller towns, except for base housing, (we do not get a lot of choice with the military). Again, I just want to say thanks for everyones help.

You'd probably want to check with a realtor on housing choices in the MA area. Just off-hand I can't think of any developments, though it's probably 'cause I don't go looking. Being a town once dependent on a textile-based economy, the houses closer in to town are small and modest. And since so many people left to take jobs in the city (W-S), those houses have decayed and become rental properties. One housing option that area provides is the availability of reasonably priced land to build on. In that view, you're also looking at possibly being dependent on well water and septic tank. Also, if you do work via a computer you'd have to check the access to high speed connections. Though, even rural areas have ready access to DSL nowadays. We've lived in the stix for years and had DSL before the more populated areas. Again, I would suggest contacting a realtor.

If leaf peeping is that big a priority, I would describe Boone as "rugged" and the MA area as "pastoral". Both towns provide easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, a wonderful road to take in the fall colors, but around Boone you have places like Grandfather Mountain and north from MA you run into more rolling hills, farmland and attractions like Mabry Mill


One thing I have to advise is that the leaf peeping has been kinda spotty over the last decade, what with droughts some years and hurricanes ripping through mountains in others. The development of the western side of the state has brought about a new awareness of how that area is affected by the torrential rains that come through with the occasional hurricane. That part of the country generally isn't focused on when those storms strike, but there has been some titanic damage to roads and hillsides.

If you consider W-S an option, check out that forum. There you'll find plenty of information. It's a city for people who don't want the craziness of Charlotte or Raleigh (seeing all the threads about crime in Charlotte, I'm amazed at what has happened to that city. it wasn't that bad when we lived near there 20 years ago ), but still have the amenities of shopping, excellent medical care, and good schools. And easy access to either MA or Boone (52 north to MA, 4-lane 421 straight up to Boone). You don't have to be in W-S either. The surrounding areas have become very popular, with Clemmons (designates itself as a "village" not "town") probably at the top of the list as far as a diversity of safe developments and good schools. You'd be next to Tanglewood ( Forsyth County > Tanglewood Park ) a very family oriented park. And right across the river, in Davie County, is a new multi-field soccer complex. In general, the areas west of W-S have been promoted heavily as safe, family friendly and with a "small town" appeal. Being small town types ourselves (we live in the rural part of Davie County) I'd definitely give that area a thumbs up both for what it is now, and what the plans are for the future. Unlike the 'burbs around Charlotte and Raleigh, Clemmons is taking a very proactive approach to development http://www.clemmons.org/ People there have noticed the rampant sprawl in those cities and want to keep Clemmons from becoming another bloated, over-developed suburb.

[csjccm]

Thanks for the link and all your help. I will check that area out. It sounds like what I really want and didn't even know it. I really do appreciate all your help. Have A wonderful weekend!! Thanks again!!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by silverwing

Boone is geared toward being a college/tourist/retirement area while Mount Airy is still very much a (generally) lower middle-class working town. It's base industry was textile, but that's pretty much gone. It bolsters an image of being "The Original Mayberry" with tourism and festivals.

Boone is going to be way more expensive than Mount Airy, while at the same time lacking many of the services. Mount Airy being close to W-S, you can be at a mega shopping center in about 30 minutes and have access to a couple of major medical centers. And a wider selection of jobs.

Mount Airy is not as scenic as Boone, but you can still be in the mountains in about 15 minutes. You just take a steep drive up one of several roads: I-77, highway 52, or 89. That's why it's become more attractive as a retirement area for those who don't have the mega-bucks: cheaper than Boone but with access to the higher elevations, closer in to a major metro area, has some upper scale activities. The MA area is noted for its growing wine industry with tours, tippling events and adjoining restaurants. It's also has one of the few remaining drive in theaters, outside of town on 52. They show first run movies there.

About schools, I have no idea. Boone is the home of Appalachian State; something that might interest you once your kids are of college age.

I'm probably a bit more biased toward Mount Airy since it only becomes bloated with tourists during the festivals and the leaf peeping season. Boone can be crazy at any time, and very congested. As always, you should check both areas with a visit, but unless you have the $$ and skills that would fit into the venue of what Boone represents, you'd probably be better giving the Mount Airy/Winston-Salem area a close look.

Editing to add: if your job requirements allow you to be more home based, I'd give northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia a look as well, with school requirements giving NE TN the edge. That area is also very scenic; the Bristol area becoming more developed; and a very popular family outing is the Virginia Creeper Trail Virginia Creeper Trail Guide - Virginia's Premiere Mountain Biking Experience

Silverwing, you are awesome! Thanks for writing all this so that I didn't have to! I totally agree with everything you wrote