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We are looking for a NC mountain town for summers with cool temperatures and fun things to do including hiking and festivals. We are looking into primarily Waynesville, NC vs. Highlands, NC. Highlands has cooler temps but I’m wondering.... Does it rain constantly in Highlands? They have a very high annual precipitation compared to other NC towns. Don’t want to live somewhere where it is either raining or overcast all summer and would appreciate feedback! Waynesville looks like a cool town but lower elevation and housing costs higher. I am leaning more towards Waynesville if I can believe the low summer temps I see online:-)
We are looking for a NC mountain town for summers with cool temperatures and fun things to do including hiking and festivals. We are looking into primarily Waynesville, NC vs. Highlands, NC. Highlands has cooler temps but I’m wondering.... Does it rain constantly in Highlands? They have a very high annual precipitation compared to other NC towns. Don’t want to live somewhere where it is either raining or overcast all summer and would appreciate feedback! Waynesville looks like a cool town but lower elevation and housing costs higher. I am leaning more towards Waynesville if I can believe the low summer temps I see online:-)
Are you sure about that? I'm pretty sure housing in Highlands is a lot more, on average, than Waynesville. Basically twice as much.
This past Spring into Summer, feels like we have been breaking
records regarding rain. I’m at 3K’ and believe we’re going into a heatwave.
We have so many microclimates in this geography that I take it as it comes.
Back when the Meteorologists were in school, they learned all the right words:
possible showers, chance of rain, may reach - - - degrees.
Your elevation is going to have a lot to do with your temperatures. We live east of Waynesville at 4400 feet, so we stay quite comfortable during the summer months. Yesterday we hit 79 degrees. We don't turn our A/C on at all, sometimes we put in our window fan, like right now when it's been a bit warmer and turn on all the ceiling fans. Yesterday we went down to Clyde/Waynesville (on the border of both) and it was 89 degrees, I think they got to 93 or so.
However, the winter months tend to be a bit colder for us up here and we get more precipitation due to our elevation.
I can't answer the question about the rain in Highlands, but I do know it's much more expensive than Waynesville unless you are looking in certain neighborhoods in the Waynesville area (like Eagle's Nest or the country club area).
Are you sure about that? I'm pretty sure housing in Highlands is a lot more, on average, than Waynesville. Basically twice as much.
Have been visiting Highlands/Cashiers for 30 years, so know a lot about it. For a long time, thought we wanted to retire there. Completely different. Highlands is primarily second and third homes, and very expensive (yes, property is going to be more expensive). Very rainy, basically located in a rain forest. I would think twice if your plan is to live there year round. For year round residents, no question, Waynesville is the better choice. Highlands/Cashiers is a gorgeoous drive from Waynesville.
We live in/'above' Waynesville, so we know the area well...
Had friends that had a spectacular home in Highlands, but they moved to AZ, and we have chased the ball at a few courses there in the area, but I am no expert on Highlands.
Highlands is a very dramatic area, high elevations, some fine azz golf clubs, a very small 'downtown', and with just a few commercial/retail options.
As for precip, most of us are in the temperate hardwood rain forest, and Highlands, Sapphire, Toxaway get more than their fare share, on average. So does Waynesville and many other areas of western NC. Many micro climes, many situational areas due to topo and altitude affected, and most of us have had more than our fair share of precip this Spring, Summer thus far.
Waynesville has SFHs from $100G junquers to high $1.8 Mill, and many in between...housing areas can range from 2700 ft elevation to 5,500 ft elevation. Waynesville has several times the population of Highlands, both in 'legal town' and in area, fwiw, and has considerably more retail and service options. For perusing houses in W'ville, and knowing several friends in the RE biz, the $500 G and under SFHs with some view/good condition tend to move quickly. The $500G and up SFHs tend to sit on mkt for awhile, so there may be some opportunity in that class for serious offers. I agree with BC1960 that on average, SFHs cost more in Highlands than they do in Waynesville...
Waynesville downtown is thriving if a bit bordering on tourists, galleries, artsfartsy, et al. Many restaurants, pubs, businesses, and big box stores on outside of town on perimeter.
If you like Highlands, but if are "leaning toward Waynesville", you may want to be focus on higher elevation SFHs, eg 3500/3800 ft elevation, and higher. Those higher elevation situs will provide views, less hot summer temps, outstanding Spring and Autumn temps, but come with cooler to cold winter temps.
Our temp in the shade during the past few 'scorcher days' that much of the US had was 75 degs F. Unlike goldenlove we have 3 zone/2 compressor A/C and run it whenever we feel like it, esp to knock down humidity in evening for sleeping, and because solar gain on roof is considerable this time of year. Ceiling fans in literally every room, but I would not look at any SFH that doesn't have several fans and a good modern high capacity A/C unit, unless you are relocating from SW FL or Dubai, and are 'used' to some heat/humidity. Again, everyone's comfort zone is different; I like 'perfect' to cool to cold...
If you are commuting, or doing daily up/down to town trips, almost every higher elevation area will come with narrow two lane roads that one either becomes accustomed to/likes, or does not...YMMV.
I have ~18 yrs of living in W'ville experience, so if you want more opins/ideas, DM me.
I am not pumping Waynesville: we are more 'crowded' here than two decades ago, and I am not on the Chamber of Commerce, or in the RE biz, or promoting one moving here.
My 50Cts...
GL, mD
A few views from our Mtn Home deck at ~4,800 ft elevation 'above' Waynesville, and a recent smaller bear visit to our deck:
Last edited by motordavid; 07-04-2018 at 01:01 PM..
Just beautiful. As always, thanks MD for the lovely photos.
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Again, everyone's comfort zone is different; I like 'perfect' to cool to cold...
