Well there are a lot of surrounding area,however the area is vass. It is 500 THOUSAND ACRES. So there are several smaller towns the closer to ranger stations and public accessibility the higher the cost. Simply because of the tourist. Linville itself is a higher cost of living where as to 30 minutes south would be somewhat cheaper. That being from about center of the forest. South from there you're getting closer to Cherokee and north to Boone. Boone is a college town and is rather expensive! Blowing Rock village as well.
Brevard is definitely not the most affordable place. The counties that be the least affordable counties are probably Buncombe, Transylvania, Henderson, and Watauga. These places are more expensive because of Asheville, Brevard, Hendersonville, and Boone. I would avoid Buncombe county all together if you are looking for affordable. Any of the other counties should be exponentially more affordable because they are more rural, less touristy, and less developed. There are also two parts of Pisgah National Forest. One is in the Brevard/Asheville area and the other in the Linville/Boone area. The most affordable places with be the small rural towns in between those two ends. Places to live in those areas are plentiful such as newland, crossnore, marion, old fort, barnardville, bakersville, sylva, cherokee, etc. Your best best is again to look in WNC counties other than Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania, and Watauga.
Definitely Brevard
Brevard, many little communities. Ramshackle cabins to McMansions.
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