EZ Home Search Guide to Living in Rowan County, NC

If you’re looking for a balance between a great location, excellent work opportunities, and enriching lifestyle amenities, then Rowan County, North Carolina, is a great place to live. Positioned between Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem, Rowan County touts an ability for residents to find a better balance between their work and personal lives. 

The slogan, “be an original,” emphasizes Rowan’s focus on making life the best it can be for all its residents. Rowan County has a dynamic arts community, a diversified economy, rich history, and quaint local communities. Add to that convenient access to the amenities found in multiple metro areas, and residents can create the lifestyle they want.

Learn about living in Rowan County and what the local communities are like. 

About Rowan County

Rowan County is part of the Piedmont region in North Carolina. You’ll find rolling countryside cut by creeks and rivers. The Yadkin River and High Rock Lake lie along the eastern border. The northern section becomes more mountainous, with Dunn Mountain as a notable location and stunning natural views.

Surrounding Rowan County is Cabarrus, Davidson, Davie, Iredell, and Stanly County. 

One of Rowan County’s distinct advantages is its central location in North Carolina. It lies to the north-northeast of Charlotte, NC, and the south-southwest of Winston-Salem. Residents are nearly equidistant to Charlotte, Winston-Salem, and Greensboro. Interstate 85 bisects the county, running north-south and connecting residents to other locations along the east coast and the south. Be at the East Coast beaches or the mountains within a few hours’ drive.

In addition, two major international airports are 45 minutes away. Rowan is also at the center of a 3,200-mile East Coast rail network. 

Residents enjoy the moderate climate. Life here has all four seasons, with temperatures averaging from 50-87F degrees. July is the warmest month, with an 88F average high. January averages are 51F/31F. 

Residents benefit from an affordable cost of living. The US average is set at 100; Rowan County scores an overall 84.9. All of its categories are under the 100 mark, with housing being the cheapest indexed item and health care the most expensive. 

Rowan County History

Original inhabitants include the Catawba and Saponi peoples. Rowan County’s central location has been a draw for European settlement and commerce since the early 1700s when German and Scotch-Irish settlers traveled the Great Wagon Road to settle here. It separated from Anson County in 1753 and was named after the North Carolina Governor. 

The area’s most famous historic house was built in 1766. Known as the Old Stone House, a successful German settler from Philadelphia built the house. Sources from the day referred to as the “noblest of the North Carolina stone houses.”

During the 1800s, Salisbury served as an important economic and political center for North Carolina. While farming was important to its growth, the middle 1800s saw the North Carolina gold rush and an influx of fortune seekers. Gold was discovered in 1824 at Gold Hill, which produced more than $6 million in gold over its history. After the gold petered out, copper was found in 1907, which led to more mining.

The Civil War brought a prison to Salisbury, the only one in North Carolina. The overcrowding and poor sanitation contributed to a 25% death rate for Union POWs. Today, the Salisbury National Cemetery commemorates the soldiers who lost their lives. 

Investments in the railroad were important to restoring the area’s economy after the Civil War. In 1896, J.P. Morgan chose the area as the site of the Southern Railway Company’s steam locomotive servicing facility because of its location midway between Washington, DC, and Atlanta, GA. At one point, five companies ran their trains through Rowan County. 

Rowan County Cities and Areas

Between the creeks and hills are eleven incorporated municipalities.

Salisbury is the largest town and the county seat. The city was named after the town in England. Historically, it has been a significant center for trade and politics. It has a vibrant downtown area and an industrial sector, and today is home to the famous Cheerwine soft drink and the Food Lion supermarkets. There is a municipality-owned broadband system called Fibrant. Many homes here are on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Gold Hill is a historic restored mining town with a shopping village, 70-acre park, and history. Modern Gold Hill is known for its award-winning vineyard, the Montgomery General Store Bluegrass Jam hosted every Friday evening, and the gold history tours. 

The town of Spencer has a small-town atmosphere and is only about 30 minutes from Charlotte and Winston-Salem. It is the site of the North Carolina Transportation Museum. 

Granite Quarry was once known as Woodside. Its claim to fame is the unique pink Granite mined from the multiple quarries in the area. 

China Grove was named after the china-berry trees located next to the old train depot. Safewise.com ranked it one of the safest cities in North Carolina.

Part of Kannapolis extends into Rowan County. Kannapolis is a large municipality that is a center for education, research, and health care. 

Other towns in Rowan County include Cleveland, East Spencer, Faith, Landis, and Rockwell. These towns have origins spanning hundreds of years and often have historic homes and buildings around their downtown. 

Rowan County Job Market

Since its inception, Rowan County’s advantage has been its location. The Southern Railway Company used it as a steam locomotive servicing facility because it was situated between Washington, DC, and Atlanta, GA. It continues to draw businesses and individuals. 

Modern Rowan County is home to Fortune 500 companies and international brands. Some of its largest employers by the number of employees include Food Lion, Daimler Trucks North America, VA Medical Center, Chewy, Rowan Regional Medical Center, Rowan County Schools, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Gildan, Continental Structural Plastics, and R&L Carriers. 

The Economic Development Council is focused on expanding in the advanced manufacturing, health care, logistics, and office & technology sectors. These industries include Gamewell Mechanical, Aldi, UPS, and Andrew & Sons.

Rowan County had a 3.8% unemployment rate in October 2021, lower than the North Carolina 4.1% rate. The mean travel time for a resident to reach work was 26 minutes. 

Rowan County Real Estate Market Highlights 

You can find a home to suit your style in Rowan County. With eleven municipalities, you can live in a quaint small town or something more developed. Make your home along High Rock, the state’s second-largest lake. Find a spacious farm to build a homestead or live in a historic neighborhood. 

Real estate market data in October 2021 found that Rowan County median sales prices were up 10% year-over-year to $225,000. Homes were on the market an average of 18 days until sale. The county’s months’ supply of inventory stood at one month, which was down 47% from October 2020.

For the year-to-date, the number of new listings was up 9%. However, the median sales price was also up, having increased 18% for the YTD.

Looking historically at the median sales price, Rowan County prices have been steadily rising since 2015. The median sales price crossed the $200,000 mark in January 2021. 

The Salisbury-specific report shows that the median sales price in the county seat was $215,490, a 7% increase YOY. Here, the market’s average days until sale were 19, a 50% drop. The month’s supply of inventory was just under one month. The number of new listings was up about 3% YOY and about 14% for the YTD. Salisbury’s median sales prices began rising more steadily in mid-2019. 

Rowan County property taxes are 0.6575. The county last assessed home values in 2019 and will reassess in 2023. 

Rowan County Population 

Rowan County had 146,875 residents in the April 2020 census, with a 6% growth rate over the last decade. North Carolina projects Rowan County will add 3.6% more residents by 2030. 

The median age for Rowan County residents was 40. Around 22% of its population was under 18 years of age, and 18% was 65 years and older. Most citizens lived in an urban area. 

Demographically, 79% of residents identified as white alone. Approximately 17% identified as African-American alone and 9% identified as Hispanic or Latino. 

Around 19% of people aged 25 years and older had obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher. Around 86% held at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. The median income for a household was $49,842 in 2019. 

Rowan County Education

Rowan County provides public education to almost 21,000 students. Residents have two school districts in the county:

Rowan-Salisbury School District is the largest in the county. It educates around 19,500 students. The district has ranked in the top ten for pioneering technology uses in the classroom. It’s also been awarded the State Grand Prize for Education Programs. 

The district has a total of 35 schools in its operations. There are 17 elementary schools, one K-8 school, eight middle schools, and eight high schools. It divides them into six community areas to better personalize the experience for students and create a family-centered environment. 

Kannapolis City Schools partially extends its borders into southern Rowan County. The district serves 5,700 students and operates nine different schools. It is one of four North Carolina School Districts named to the College Board AP honor roll for outstanding performance in advanced placement courses. 

Students can attend one of nine private schools such as Salisbury Academy and North Hills Christian School, both faith-based institutions. 

Extended education opportunities are available at three local institutions.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College offers two-year degrees in a range of programs. In total, it awards 49 degrees, 31 diplomas, and 99 professional certificates. Primary programs are for college transfer, health care, education, information technology, construction, liberal arts, engineering, business, and automotive studies. There are campuses in Kannapolis, Concord, and Salisbury. 

In the US News & World Report, Catawba College ranked among the Top 10 Best Colleges in the south in 2022 for the sixth consecutive year. Princeton Review has also noted it as one of the nation’s best colleges. Although a small college with about 1,300 students, it offers over 70 fields of study for professional certifications, undergraduate programs, and graduate programs. Catawba athletes play in NCAA Division II across 23 sports. 

Livingstone College is a private historically black college (HBCU) and a Christian college. Students select from 23 major programs of study in sciences, business, social work, education, and technology. Athletics is through the CIAA Decision 2. 

Rowan County Health Care 

Most health care is driven by integrated healthcare systems with hospitals and outpatient clinics. 

Novant Health Rowan Medical Center operates the largest system. This not-for-profit provider has a range of medical services. It offers emergency, maternity, surgery, cancer, rehabilitation, and other specialty care. The hospital is a major medical campus with 268 beds. It is nationally accredited by the Joint Commission.

Campbell University’s Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine is affiliated with Novant as a teaching hospital. It trains residents in family medicine, general surgery, OB/GYN, pediatrics, psychiatry, and other critical services. 

WG Bill Hefner VA Medical Center services a 21-county area’s veterans and military personnel. This facility is a teaching hospital with a full range of patient care services. The hospital has 438 beds and an Extended Care Community Living Center. It affiliates with Wake Forest University School of Medicine for resident training in primary care, dermatology, rehabilitation, ophthalmology, and psychiatry. 

Atrium Health also operates several specialty care facilities in Rowan County. These include, but are not limited to, internal medicine, dermatology, cancer care, urgent care, family medicine, and diabetes care. 

Rowan County also operates a Health Department with some low-cost family health services. Operations include prenatal services, immunizations, a post-overdose response team, and women, infants & children programs. 

Rowan County Things to Do

Rowan County has a spirit of individualism that has fueled its arts and culture scene. It has a musical tradition supported by various performance venues and festivals. The E.H. Montgomery General Store Bluegrass Jam is a Gold Hill tradition taking place every Friday evening all year. 

Music on the Mountain hosted each fall celebrates the Southern music tradition. The Autumn Jubilee usually draws around 50,000 people to Dan Nicholas Park for a weekend of arts and crafts, live music, and food. 

Residents appreciate the beautiful outdoors surrounding Rowan County. A small taste of country life is accessible through the Millbridge Scenic Byway. The Byway winds through the countryside by pick-your-own fruit orchards, historic communities, and the rolling hills. Historic tours are available, such as the African American Heritage Tour and the Salisbury Heritage Walking tour. 

You can choose to hike, bike, or paddle. High Rock Lake, North Carolina’s second-largest lake, is the perfect place for boating and fishing. The lake has hosted the Bassmaster Classic three times. The Eagle Point Nature Preserve is alongside the lake, a 200-acre natural area with three miles of trails and wildlife observation points.

The county also has a 226-mile bicycling trail that links the different cities, towns, and points of interest. 

Birders should check out Dunn’s Mountain Park, where you can spot migratory and residential species. 

Agritourism is a popular activity. With rich agricultural land, enjoy great places to eat. Stop at a roadside stand or one of the pick-your-own farms for the freshest produce. The strawberries from Patterson Farm are renowned for being especially tasty. 

Golfers can play on six different courses. TravelGolf.com rated Clear Revival Golf Course at the Crescent in Salisbury as one of the 10 Best Values for Charlotte golfing. The course has since been revitalized. Warrior Golf Club and Corbin Hills Golf Course are both semi-private. 

History is abundant here in Rowan County. Many towns have historic homes and, in some cases, an entire district recognized for its historical value. Tour historic homes at different times of the year. At Sloan Park, the standing Kerr Mill provided flour and cornmeal for Western Rowan County and dates to the early 1800s. Other historic sites include the prisoner-of-war cemetery from the Civil War.

Rowan County Local Attractions

The North Carolina Transportation Museum was once home to Southern Railway’s largest steam locomotive repair facility. Today it is a museum showcasing all types of transportation history, including automotive and aviation. Historic structures include the Barber Junction Depot. The Bob Julian Roundhouse is the largest remaining roundhouse in North America. The back shop has antique automobiles, fire trucks, and a restored Potomac Pacemaker DC-3.

Lazy 5 Ranch is a privately owned animal drive-through park with a 3.5-mile safari. See over 750 animals from six different continents. Animal residents include ostriches and giraffes. Observe these animals from the safety of your own car, or you can reserve a horse-drawn wagon. 

Patterson Farm is one of the largest agritourism growers in the area. It has 200 acres of tomatoes, 45 acres of strawberries, and 200 acres that grow peppers, muscadines, and poinsettias. Their facilities also include seasonal events, a petting zoo, pick-your-own strawberries or pumpkins. 

Lee Street Theater was named in 2013 the North Carolina Theater Conference Community Theater of the year. It offers a diverse style of programming that includes Off-Broadway style musicals and reviews, dance performances, comedy, live music, and one-act play festivals. 

Meroney Theater is the home of the Piedmont Players Theater Mainstage season.

Gold Hill Mines Historic Park is a 70-acre historical theme park in Gold Hill. The property here was among the richest mining properties east of the Mississippi and was home to the first gold rush. Today you can explore several miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. There are park facilities available for rental.

Millbridge Speedway continues the greater area’s racing tradition. The Outlaw Kart racing here is fast and family-friendly. The speedway has hosted two televised races in recent years. 

The Rowan Museum is inside an 1854-built courthouse that survived General Stoneman’s raid during the American Civil War. The exhibits reflect the life and history of Rowan County. It preserves the second-floor courtrooms and gathering place. 

Rowan County Dining 

Rowan County has over 60 unique local restaurants for those who like to shop and dine local. It’s also home to award-winning wineries and has a craft brewing presence. A taste of what Rowan County has on its plate:

• Capriano’s Pizzeria, Italian cuisine in Salisbury
• La Cava Restaurant, fine fusion dining in an old church
• City Tavern, located in historic Salisbury, serves a spin on tavern food and craft cocktails
• Morgan Ridge Vineyard has scenic views and has been serving dishes since 2007
• New Sarum Brewing Company has uniquely infused craft beers

Get a taste of all the craft brewing by visiting Rowan County in September for the Salisbury Sip. The annual downtown festival in Salisbury features a tasting crawl. 

Rowan County Shopping

Explore Rowan County, and you will find flourishing arts and crafts galleries, places perfect for antiquing and thriving main streets and downtowns. These Main Street USA shopping areas have one-of-a-kind retail stores. You can find some unique boutiques in places like:

• Downtown Salisbury which is home to 3 Jems Boutique and AnnaCraig Boutique, perfect for fashion and one-of-kind styling. The unique Grievous Gallery is where you can smash glassware and turn it into framed artwork.
• The Salisbury Emporium is a collection of over 80 shops located in the 100-year-old restored Fricks Sawmill building. Inside its walls, you will find over 1,500 sqft of gifts, home accessories, furniture, antiques, artwork, and much more. This building is on the National Registry of Historic Places.
• Gold Hill, where you can find gifts at Back Home, Montgomery General Store, and Baskery, Baskets & Gifts.
• China Grove, where you visit the Farmer’s Market, Bare Furniture Co, and Coleman Music. Coleman specializes in vintage guitars and amps.

Find a full list of shopping options in Rowan County. 

Living in Rowan County

Life in Rowan County is rich with things to do. Residents have an affordable cost of living with ample access to jobs, health care, and education. You can find lakeside living, small-town communities, and new developments. Outdoor recreation is plentiful, and your dining is rich with farm-to-table opportunities. If this appeals to you, Rowan County might be the right place for you to live in North Carolina.