What It Is Like to Retire in Cashiers |
Cashiers (pronounced CASH-urs or Cash-EERS) is a very small town located high on a plateau in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. The scenic town boasts hundreds of waterfalls, lakes, and forests, and sits at an elevation of 3,484 feet. The population of about 1,500 full-time residents swells during the summer months with the return of snowbirds, vacationers, and those that own a second home here. Picture of The High Hampton Inn near Cashiers, North Carolina Courtesy of Wikipedia and Richard Kenni; photo of Church of the Good Shepherd courtesy of Wikipedia and Warren LeMay; photo of The Zachary-Tolbert House listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and owned by the Cashiers Historical Society and operated as a house museum, Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0/
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Where to Retire in Cashiers and Home Prices |
Cashiers has many gated and golf course communities that offer single-family homes priced from the $200's and condos priced under $100,000. There are also large estate homes with beautiful mountain views and priced in the $millions. According to Zillow, the median home value was $932,810 in late 2022. Many rentals are also available. |
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What Is Special about Cashiers |
The mountain top community is for those who enjoy outdoor recreation. There are 16 golf courses located here, both public and private, many parks, hiking trails, lakes for boating and fly fishing, waterfall cruises, and fishing charter tours. The Cashiers Farmers Market is a popular spot for its locally grown produce, baked goods and homemade ice cream. |
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What Is Not Special about Cashiers |
It is a curvy ride up the mountain and the town is a bit isolated. The nearest city is Asheville, about 60 miles away. If you don't enjoy the great outdoors there is not much to do. Cashiers gets about 87" inches of rain annually. |
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Who Will Like Retirement in Cashiers |
Retirees must enjoy living in Cashiers as the median age is 71 years old. It offers a quiet and secluded setting with beautiful mountain views. Residents and visitors enjoy a lot of recreational opportunities, including hiking, fishing, and golf. Many of the gated communities offer an abundance of amenities with clubhouses, tennis and pickleball courts, and swimming pools. Health care is nearby in Highlands, about 10 miles away. |
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Local Economy Is Driven by |
Construction, real estate, and retail are the main drivers of the economy. |
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Climate and Physical Environment |
Cashiers enjoys all four seasons, and because of its altitude it's cooler during the summer months than the surrounding areas. The average January temperature is 37 degrees, July's average is 72 degrees. The average annual rainfall is about 87", but it has received over 100 inches of precipitation in a year, which makes it one of the rainiest places in the eastern United States. The annual snowfall amount is about 11". |
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Restaurants & Cultural Scene |
Cashiers has several restaurants along with a coffee cafe and a brewery. The town is host to several annual events which include the Leaf Festival, the Tour de Cashiers, holiday parades, and car shows. During the busy season in the summer, Groovin' on the Green takes place each Friday. The nearby quaint town of Highlands is home to the Highlands Playhouse and the Performing Arts Center which feature movies and live productions. |
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Transportation |
The nearest airport is Asheville Regional Airport, about 50 miles away. Atlanta, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina, are the closest International Airports, both about 150 miles away. |
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