Rocky Mount is an affordable, walkable small city on the river with a revitalized mill district, historic downtown, and a growing arts, dining and outdoor scene that makes multi-week stays feel comfortable and interesting rather than isolating.
You’re also about an hour from Raleigh for big-city museums, restaurants and an international airport, and roughly 40 minutes from Greenville’s lively college-town scene, so weekend escapes and major‑area amenities are easy to reach.