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Tuesday marked one of the biggest days in literary history with the release of “Go Set a Watchman,” Harper Lee’s much anticipated sequel to (even if she actually wrote it before) the Pulitzer Prize–winning “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Lee doesn’t say much about Maycomb, the fictionalized version of her hometown, Monroeville, AL, in the first chapter, released earlier this week. She writes: “Home was Maycomb County, a gerrymander some seventy miles long and spreading thirty miles at its widest point, a wilderness dotted with tiny settlements the largest of which was Maycomb, the county seat.”
From our data, Monroeville—previously titled “The Literary Capital of Alabama”—has some serious attributes, including an 11-to-1 student-teacher ratio at the elementary school; the largest segment of the population is kids: ages 10 to 19. And the average listing price: $151,000. A majority of the folks are married, and high school graduates. This week, a local cafe is selling “Finch” fries and “Boo” burgers.
But: The murder rate is high, higher than that of Alabama, and the median household income at less than $29,000 is 9% lower than the county it’s in.
One thing Lee’s hometown does have going for it: a real old-fashioned independently owned bookstore, Ol’ Curiosities & Book Shoppe, where the proud citizens of Monroeville are lining up to buy the book.
If you want to join their ranks, here are some options:
315 Johnson Ave
Price: $144,900
A three-bedroom home with 2,760 square feet of living space, it has a living room with wood shutters and built-in bookcases, perfect for Tuesday’s event. It also has three fireplaces, a front porch, and a “dream kitchen.”
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22 Clairmont Ave, Monroeville, AL
Price: $156,975
A three-bedroom home with 2,337 square feet of living space, it has undergone a complete renovation, from a new roof and refinished wood floors to new light switches and outlets.
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25 Green Oaks Dr., Monroeville, AL
Price: $84,500
A mid-century home with three bedrooms and 1,710 square feet of living space, it has an open floor plan and a woodsy lot.
The post Living in Harper Lee’s Stomping Grounds—Homes in Monroeville appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.