Black Mountain : North carolina

Located in the Swannanoa Valley, Black Mountain is a recreational, homey town in North Carolina, not that far from Asheville. Hiking, biking, golf, gallery-hopping, and swimming are some of the main activities here. The town has a reputation as being an artistic town that attracts weekenders, vacationers, and retirees who tilt toward the liberal side. There is a nice downtown with quaint shops and B & Bs.  It is known as the "Front Porch of Western North Carolina". Photo of annual Leaf Festival (Lake Eden Arts Festival) from above courtesy of Wikipedia (public domain); photo of Main Building of the former Black Mountain College, on the current grounds of Camp Rockmont courtesy of Wikipedia (public domain).

There are plenty of nice areas in town, many of which include a lot of quaint country cottages.
According to Zillow, the median home value was $291,399, in early 2020.

Black Mountain has a famous 747 yard par 6 course, one of the longest in the world. It also has a reputation for being an artistic, liberal small town in the mountains.

Folks looking for a small town that embraces the arts and is on the quaint side will like Black Mountain.

Tourism, the medical center, and a bit of manufacturing

Black Mountain has over forty restaurants, as well as a historic downtown, craft stores, and nightly music. The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is a local attraction, along with the Swannanoa Valley Museum.