Small-town vibe south of Greenville
Ayden started out as a little railroad town in rural Pitt County, south of Greenville. Still tucked between flat farmland and groves of loblolly pines and Eastern redbuds and with active train tracks running through its central business district, Ayden retains its small-town Americana vibe. “It’s that hometown feel that draws folks,” says Brad Smith, a BHHS Prime Properties Realtor with nearly 30 years of experience. “Everybody knows everybody, but it’s close enough to Greenville to work and shop,” Smith says. Events like the annual Collard Festival, which has been held every September for more than 50 years, add to Ayden’s homey, rural atmosphere. "The Collard Festival is big. They have vendors, collard-eating contests, music, shows, all that. This is your standard front-porch-sitting, rural, Southern. little old railroad town,” says Smith
Competitively priced single-family homes
Early 20th-century Craftsmans and Minimal Traditional cottages, along with modest manufactured and classic midcentury ranch-style homes, are common. New Traditionals are prevalent on the outskirts of town in subdivisions such as Montevallo and Country Club Creek, near the public Ayden Golf & Country Club. Prices start under $100,000 and rise to about $440,000. “The prices are a lot better than Greenville, and that’s really what drives the market here,” Smith says . Swift Creek and others nearby are prone to flooding, especially during hurricane season.
Education from preschool to post-grad available in Pitt County
Students can attend Pitt County Schools, including Ayden Elementary, Ayden Middle and Ayden-Grifton High. The elementary school earns a B-minus and the middle school earns a B-plus from Niche. The high school, which gets a B-minus, offers advanced placement and dual enrollment courses in partnership with Pitt Community College. The college’s main campus is located in Winterville, within about 6 miles of most homes. East Carolina University, based in Greenville, is about 13 miles away. ECU offers more than 165 degree programs.
Indoor/outdoor recreation at Ayden town parks, rec center and more
Ayden has three town parks: J.J. Brown Park to the south, Ayden District Park to the north and Veterans’ Park in the middle. All three have reservable picnic shelters, and Ayden District Park features a playground, paved trails and a splash pad, as well as a fenced dog park. Ayden Arts & Recreation Center, a few blocks south of the downtown Ayden Library, hosts fitness classes and art workshops. Smiles and Frowns Playhouse performances are held there, too. The nonprofit children’s theater puts on two shows a year, in the spring and fall, with auditions open to actors in kindergarten through 12th grade. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Contentnea Creek, just over 5 miles southwest of central Ayden, has a visitor’s center with educational exhibits and a canteen, along with trails through the forests and swamps nearby. There’s also a digital planetarium and public observatory for stargazing.
Shopping and dining in downtown Ayden
Small businesses, retailers and restaurants fill Ayden’s historic central business district, clustered near the corner of Third and Lee Streets. There’s Coltrain Hardware & Garden Center, an old-fashioned home improvement store, and Tripp’s Tire Pros, a locally owned auto repair shop close to the Ayden Museum. Run by the Ayden Historical & Arts Society, the museum is a blend of history exhibits and fine art galleries. Dining options include Fryday Nite Fish, a seafood spot, and Andy’s Grill & Rec, a diner and pool hall. Bum’s Restaurant, a family-owned barbecue joint, has been around since the ‘60s. “Barbecue is big here,” Smith says. One of his favorite barbecue spots is Skylight Inn, on the south side of town. “It’s a good one, known across the whole state.” For groceries, there’s a Piggly Wiggly and a Food Lion at the intersection of State Roads 11 and 102, surrounded by gas stations, pharmacies and fast-food restaurants.
Quick commuting north to Greenville
Major regional employers in Greenville, including East Carolina University and ECU Health Medical Center, are within about 15 miles of most homes. Commutes usually take under 30 minutes with no north-bound traffic on State Roads 11 and 903. Pitt-Greenville Airport, which has daily flights to Charlotte, is about 20 miles north. Pitt Area Transit System provides public transportation to the area.
