This quiet town in northwestern North Carolina has grown tremendously over the past few decades. From 2000 to 2010, the population increased by 54 percent! However with a current population of only 5,331, it still has a small town feel.
Situated about equidistant between Winston-Salem and Greensboro, there are a good number of job opportunities within a fairly short commute. Winston-Salem is quickly become known as one of the artsier cities in North Carolina, so you’ll have arts and culture a short drive away. Schools in Stokesdale are excellent and many homes are spacious, new and reasonably-priced. Piedmont Triad International Airport is only a few miles from Stokesdale.
You might be thinking, North Carolina gets very hot and humid. While the summers are long, one plus about this part of the state is it’s less than a two hour drive to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. In summer, towns like Boone and Banner Elk are about 15 degrees cooler than the Greensboro/Winston-Salem area due to the higher elevation. It’s much less humid in the NC mountains too! Lots of skiing in the area in winter as well. Great for a quick weekend getaway. If you’re seeking nearby water sports, Belews Lake is a large, popular lake right outside Stokesdale.
Winters are pretty short in Stokesdale, and the town receives an average of only six inches of snowfall annually. If places like California and Florida aren’t appealing to you because they don’t really have a change in seasons, this part of North Carolina strikes a nice balance between long summers and just a bit of a chill and snow in the winter. The only drawback is North Carolina and Virginia can be infamous for being right between the rain to the south and snow to the north during large winter storms…which means freezing rain and sleet. Not fun to travel in, but it’s not terribly common and some winters they don’t see that kind of precipitation at all.
Another cool thing about Stokesdale is you won’t have to worry about being one of the only people from out-of-town. North Carolina has become a huge magnet for people from places like New York City and Washington DC seeking a lower cost-of-living. I have friends that moved from the NYC area to the Raleigh area many years ago, and were constantly running into people who also moved there from the Northeast. As a result, they never really felt alienated and adjusted to their new home quite well. Stokesdale could very well have the low cost-of-living, inexpensive homes, great schools and quiet lifestyle that is just right for you too!
Stokesdale stats:
Total Population: 5,331
Median home value: $189,600
July is the warmest month, with an average high temperature of 88 degrees.
January is the coldest month, with an average high temperature of 48 degrees.
Average annual rainfall: 44 inches
Average annual snowfall: 6 inches
Fun fact: The International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro is one of the most popular museums in North Carolina: https://www.sitinmovement.org/…and check out it’s magnificent reviews on Trip Advisor!
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