The higher you go, the higher it gets
. . . Elevation affects price

Why is it that land in Watauga, Ashe, and Avery counties may sell for $500, $750, and even $1,000 more per acre than land in Wilkes or Caldwell counties? The answer is elevation, elevation, and elevation.

The higher above sea level a property is located, the more spectacular the views. Also, temperatures drop 3° for every 1,000 feet of elevation. A property at 4,400 feet in Avery County could be as much as 9° cooler than one in Western Wilkes on the 4th of July.

High mountain streams tend to tumble over the rocks with more energy too, and the fresh summer breezes at higher elevations are enough to tickle the fancy of any flatlander. Air conditioning is rarely required above 3,000'.

In short, properties at higher elevations excite the interest of buyers, which in turn increases the demand for such tracts. The higher the demand, the higher the price buyers consider fair.

As a land buyer, you are competing with all other buyers for land at the higher elevations. This extra demand drives up prices which, even though considered to be "fair", are nevertheless higher than those below 3,000'.

While elevation is not the sole determining factor of price, it is a major factor. Other factors include streams, size of timber, lay of the land, and distance from town.