Southern suburb shakes off sleepy image amid spillover from nearby city and offers ultimate lakeside living

Daily Mail​

a day ago

As the population of North Carolina 's most popular city skyrockets, around 30 minutes north of Charlotte, a different city with the ultimate small–town charm is experiencing it's own boom.
Davidson, North Carolina, is located about 22 miles from Charlotte, making it an appealing option for those who want a quieter environment while still having access to city amenities.
With a population of over 16,000 in 2024 – up from 13,000 in 2019, Davidson has seen substantial growth since the pandemic.
The population of Charlotte – North Carolina's most populous city – has seen almost 56,000 new residents since 2019.
Charlotte became a trendy city to flock to during the pandemic because of its strong job market, relatively low cost of living compared to other major cities, pleasant climate and infamous Southern charm.
And Davidson has certainly felt the spillover effects of Charlotte's population boom.
Davidson combines the quintessential vibe of a Southern suburb with luxurious lakeside living and a bustling downtown to create the perfect multi–faceted city that offers something for everyone.
Rusty Knox, Mayor of Davidson, told the Daily Mail that he has lived there all his life – and that his father, the former mayor, was also born and raised in the North Carolina city.
'We offer folks that move here something that everybody brings with them when they come from some other place in the country, and that's the hometown value they had in small towns they grew up in,' the mayor said of Davidson.
Despite the population growing, Knox said Davidson is still a town of small businesses – with over 300 locally–run establishments, and only four large employers.
The sudden demand in both Charlotte and Davidson are creating a fierce housing market.
'With a strong labor market, Charlotte is an attractive housing market, and this benefits not only housing demand in the downtown but also in the suburbs,' Danielle Hale, senior economist at Realtor.com told Mansion Global.
'Davidson saw a surge in popularity during the pandemic,' said Hannah Jones, a senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com. 'The influx of demand created fierce competition in the market, which propped up record–high home prices.'
'In terms of price per square foot, home prices are more than 85 percent higher than pre–pandemic [in] Davidson,' Jones added.
As of April 2019, just 8.4 percent of homes for sale in Davidson were listed for over $1 million, according to data provided by Jones. By April 2025, the amount of $1 million–plus listings stretched to a whopping 29.8 percent of all homes for sale.
'Anybody that chooses to call Davidson home should have that ability to live here,' said Mayor Knox. 'So we've got a very vibrant, affordable housing program here,' adding that the median income in Davidson is about $98,000.
In terms of what Davidson has to offer residents, the list is endless.
For those looking for nature, Davidson sits on the stunning Lake Norman, making idyllic lakeside living a reality for locals.
'Lake Norman itself is a huge draw – 32,000 acres of freshwater beauty where residents spend weekends boating, paddleboarding or just catching the sunset from the dock,' said Marzia Mazzotti, a global adviser at Premier Sotheby's International Realty, who lives in the area.
Davidson is also known for being a pedestrian and bike–friendly neighborhood, with wide sidewalks and greenways, giving it even more of a small–town feel.
The town also has many parks and trails for hiking and biking.
'We've got over 17 miles of Greenways in town. We've got over 400 acres of passive parks, where you can go run your dog and throw a frisbee and ride mountain bikes. And we have an archery range,' Mayor Knox said.
Davidson boasts a lively downtown – with local shops, art galleries, restaurants and preserved historic buildings in Italianate, Greek Revival, and Gothic Revival styles.
With annual events such as Town Day, arts festivals in April and Concerts on the Green, the city is bustling with culture. There is also a farmers market held each Saturday from May to November which offers seasonal produce and live music.
Every year Davidson's downtown transforms into a magical holiday wonderland for Christmas celebrations, and there is an annual Halloween March for families to attend.
There is also Davidson College, a respected liberal arts institution, in the heart of the city. With a 14.5 percent acceptance rate and small student body of just under 2,000 undergrads, the college adds a positive youthful dynamic to the population.
'There are students at Davidson College from 40 different countries,' according to Mayor Know - who revealed that, last year, the school had kids from all 50 states.
'We've got a very vibrant downtown with a couple of bars, a great coffee shop, and the students hang out there regularly, even though they have a lot of that stuff on campus,' Mayor Knox said, adding that the students are 'really intertwined' in the community.
'We're also in one of the region's top–rated public school districts, and there are excellent private school options nearby,' Mazzotti noted.
Despite its tremendous growth over the last few years, Davidson maintains a close–knit and welcoming community.
'A lot of people from Charlotte, come here on the weekends to eat, and they fall in love with what it is, because it's safe, it's inviting, the sidewalks are brick, you can walk down the street, and people greet you,' Mayor Knox said of the city.