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Waynesville, North
Carolina North
Carolina
| Nestled between the Blue
Ridge Mountains and the great Smoky Mountains in western
North Carolina, Waynesville (population 10,000) is a
leisurely place that is starting to attract more and
more retirees. It is just outside the Pisgah
National Forest and has a pretty cityscape, with five
church spires. Streets are tree-lined, and the
downtown is healthy and lively with more than 100
merchants and retailers of all shapes and sizes located
within an eight block area. Anchoring the downtown
is the regal Haywood County courthouse, a 1932
structure that lends an air of authority. In the early
part of the 1800s, Waynesville was known as a health
resort thanks to the local spring water. The
health craze faded, though, and today the city is a
hidden gem. It is safe, with a crime rate below the
national average, and 48% of residents are age 45 or
better.
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The cost of living in Waynesville roughly meets the
national average, and the median home price is roughly
$150,000. The median household income is below the
national average, and residents are generally
conservative and religious. The city has several
upscale, gated communities. Waynesville
sits at an elevation of 2658 feet, which helps keep it
cool in the summer (or at least cooler than other parts
of North Carolina). The average summer temperature
is 84°. At the other end elevation also makes
winters a little cooler than might be expected, with
temperatures in the 20s and 30s. The city
even receives an average of 15 inches of snow per
year. The sun shines 210 days of the year, and on
the comfort index, a combination of humidity and
temperature, Waynesville meets the national
average.
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| Waynesville has a reputation
as a friendly place, and retirees here find plenty to
keep themselves busy. The Haywood Arts Repertory
Theater is an amateur community theater with several
productions each year, and the Haywood County Arts
Council overseas cultural activities for the city,
including free Sunday afternoon concerts and
performances by the Atlanta Ballet.
Outdoor recreation is a staple of the Waynesville
lifestyle. The oldest ski resort in the state,
Cataloochee Ski Area, is just a few minutes away, and
nearby rivers provide venues for fishing, rafting, and
other water activities. Also close at hand are
acres of national forest and parks including more than
200 miles of hiking trails, which include parts of the
Appalachian Trail. Camping, hiking, fishing, and
of course, golf are all within easy reach.
Shopping, however, is limited to boutique style
retailers. There is, however, a Walmart.
Haywood Regional Medical Center is located in nearby
Clyde and is award-winning for clinical
excellence. It has 121 beds and is the largest
hospital west of Asheville. Further medical facilities
are in Asheville itself, which is 30 miles away.
Haywood Community College offers continuing education
classes for seniors in a variety of topics.
Having a car in Waynesville is a necessity because
there is no local bus transportation.
When it comes to taxes, Social Security income is
exempt. Other retirement income received a partial
exemption. There is no estate tax in North Carolina, and
the state offers a homestead exemption when it comes to
property tax.
Based on its reasonable cost of living, excellent
outdoor recreation, low crime rate and reputation as a
welcoming town, Waynesville should be on the list of
places to look at when it comes to retirement time.
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