The city of Boone, North Carolina is located in the Heart of the High Country as part of the spectacular Blue Ridge Mountain chain. This town combines all of the amenities and conveniences of a modern town with the benefits and environment of a classic university town. Boone maintains a stable economic base that is centered around health care, education, retail and the arts, providing a wealth of employment opportunities for residents here. Quality of life in Boone is high, and the town is continually lauded as one of the Best Small Towns in America.

There are currently approximately 13,127 residents living in the city of Boone. The presence of a major university lowers the median age of residents here to twenty one years old. The largest employment sector here is the area of professional or managerial services, employing just over a third of locals. Following in an incredibly close second, nearly thirty two percent of Boone's residents are employed in the service industry. Approximately seventeen percent of locals work in administrative support. The median household income within the city of Boone is around $22,184 per year.

Newcomers to the region will certainly want to consider joining the ranks of Boone's homeowners. With nearly sixty percent of homes being single-family detached style, the town's residential neighborhoods are designed with families in mind. Home ownership is a popular trend here, as well as a wise investment. Within the city of Boone, the typical purchase is a three-bedroom model home. Recent real estate reports indicate that the average purchase price of a home here is currently $153,200.

Boone is simultaneously the commercial and financial hub of northwestern North Carolina. A jewel in the local crown is Appalachian State University, which serves as an artistic, cultural, and economic anchor to the region. Appalachian State University recently received the incomparable honor of being named by Time Magazine as its 2001 "College of the Year".

Bordering the Appalachian campus, Boone's downtown district is a lively shopper's paradise. With its row upon row of specialty boutiques, art galleries and antiques shops, downtown is as appealing a place as you could hope. Tributes to the past such as the Old Boone Mercantile and Boone Drug create a warm environment in which to shop, dine, or simply take a leisurely stroll.

With the mountains right outside their doors, residents here can often be found hiking or mountain biking in their free time. Kayaking, rafting and fishing are popular pastimes, particularly in the spring season. Additionally, Boone hosts a number of much anticipated events throughout the year. The Appalachian Summer Festival is a chance for some of America's best actors to perform in town. Bluegrass at Merlefest is a world-renowned bluegrass and folk music festival. Spring brings Concerts on the Lawn and Art in the Park, while the Horn in the West outdoor drama ushers in the summer season. And with summer come the nightly arrival of the fireflies, earning Boone the moniker of "Firefly Capital of America".

The neighboring town of Banner Elk is also situated in the mountains, and is a thriving hub of the region's tourism. Banner Elk is a recreational paradise, offering skiing, golf, horseback riding, rafting, fishing and hiking. The town's business community continues to grow, and with it, brings more and more new residents to live here. Perched in what is called the Balcony of the Blue Ridge, Banner Elk combines a peaceful lifestyle with some of the finest scenery in the southeast. Indeed, the quality of life here is such that more and more people are choosing to own a home in Banner Elk simply for the purpose of a vacation home. But for residents who live here full-time, there is simply no where else in the country to live.

This High Country region offers residents a spectacular, carefree way of life. With friendly residents and a variety of community events throughout the year, both Boone and Banner Elk offer the absolute best of days gone by while never compromising the services and amenities of modern living. If you are thinking about moving, consider a move to the High Country! To learn more about Boone or Banner Elk, North Carolina, request our free relocation packet today.