Lenoir, NC Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Lenoir, NC: What You Need to Know

Lenoir is a city nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina. It’s called the Furniture Capital of the South for its heritage as a furniture manufacturing hub.

Shopping in Town

Serious furniture shoppers won’t be able to resist the stretch of U.S. Highway 321 between Lenoir and Hickory known as "20 Miles of Furniture." Numerous shops, including outlets offering deep discounts, are located in the area. You’ll find furniture by top manufacturers such as Bernhardt, Broyhill, Fairfield Chair, Hammary, and Kincaid. For regional and national retailers, Cross Roads Shopping Center and North Hill Plaza are the primary destinations in Lenoir.

Things to Do in Lenoir

Outdoor recreation is popular here with lots of places to hike and bike. The 20-acre T.H. Broyhill Walking Park offers a paved loop that goes around a pretty lake. For indoor recreation, visit the Edgar Allan Poe House for its historic significance and the curiosity factor. Lenoir’s Edgar Allan Poe was a former mayor and a prominent businessman who happened to have the same name as the famous poet. The Dutch Colonial Revival house, circa1905, is listed on the National Register. It has 12-foot ceilings, 14 rooms, and a carved staircase. 

The Cost of Living in Lenoir

Lenoir (population: 17,913) is a lot smaller than Asheville, but it’s also more affordable and no less beautiful. Lenoir’s cost of living rate and housing costs are 1.5% and 36.5% lower than the national average, respectively. However, food cost is 11.1% higher than the national average. Lenoir’s median gross rent is $606. The Tar Heel State collects a flat rate of 5.25% in income tax. It levies 4.75% in statewide sales tax, plus counties charge extra sales tax.

Know Your Neighborhoods

The perks of living in Lenoir include a beautiful foothills landscape, access to the multistate Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail that winds through downtown, and the weekly Caldwell County farmers’ market. If you prefer to live outside the city, nearby Hudson is the kind of small community where residents feel safe enough to leave their doors unlocked. Granite Falls is within commuting distance of Lenoir and close to Rhodhiss Lake. Both suburbs have great public schools.

Weather and Climate

In Lenoir, you’ll experience four distinct but mild seasons. The city gets 48 inches of rain annually versus the U.S. average of 38 inches, and only four inches of snow per year. You can expect bright blue skies as Lenoir typically enjoys 210 sunny days per year versus the national average of 205 sunny days.