Eastover offers rural living close to historic Fayetteville
Fayetteville is a historic city and home to Fort Bragg, the largest military base in the world, which means things can feel a little crowded. Eastover is east of Fayetteville, with more breathing room between neighbors and the chance to own a brand-new home. “Eastover is more rural, but it’s five minutes from downtown Fayetteville,” says Tony de la Vega, a Realtor and broker at TIER One Real Estate Services who specializes in the Eastover area. “It’s really growing with new houses. With its projected growth, I think it will become a part of Fayetteville.” Like the rest of Cumberland County, Eastover’s housing market fluctuates as military members come and go, but anyone who decides to stay can get a blend of rural living and newer communities in Eastover.
Growing neighborhoods in a rural setting
Colonial Revivals, ranch-style homes and the occasional Cape Cod fill neighborhoods throughout Eastover. Communities closer to downtown Eastover have homes that are close together, while those in the surrounding areas have more space between neighbors. Homes built around 1990 to today often sell for $300,000 to $535,000, while older properties can range between $115,000 and $300,000. Rock Hill Manor and Baywood Preserve are two subdivisions that continue to grow with brand-new construction. Due to the rural setting, homes run on septic tanks but have access to public water.
While Eastover is about 20 miles from Fort Bragg, residents occasionally hear helicopters, explosions and gunfire from military training. The noise is particularly loud around April when Marines visit the base for training. Fort Bragg releases announcements through social media and news outlets for upcoming noise-creating events.
Driving to downtown Fayetteville or Fort Bragg
Interstate 95 cuts through Eastover, leading 7 miles to downtown Fayetteville and 60 miles up to Raleigh. Anyone who works on base has a roughly 20-mile trip to Fort Bragg using Interstate 295, which takes less than half an hour. U.S. Route 301 creates Eastover’s main street and flows north to Dunn, an area full of restaurants and shops. The residential streets are sidewalk-free, though that doesn’t stop cyclists and runners from exercising in the neighborhood. The area has many places of worship, primarily churches, like Salem Methodist Church and Covenant Love Church.
Well-rated public schools and Methodist University
Armstrong Elementary School gets a B-plus while Eastover Central Elementary School earns an A-minus. Both feed into the B-rated Mac Williams Middle School. Students move on to Cape Fear High School, which receives a B-plus. “Methodist University is out there, and it’s one of the leading physician assistant schools here,” de la Vega says. The university earns a C-plus and is building a facility for the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine, which is expected to open in July 2026.
Exploring Eastover parks or the nearby Cape Fear Botanical Garden
Eastover Community Park is a popular spot to practice on the baseball fields, play a round on the pickleball courts or cool off on the splash pad. The Eastover Recreation Center neighbors the elementary school and offers free community events, like quilting night and fitness classes for senior citizens. The nearby Baywood Golf Club has an 18-hole course for golfers who want a moderately challenging outing. When residents want to stroll through nature, they can visit the Cape Fear Botanical Garden just off Interstate 95. The 80-acre garden is open year-round and hosts fun annual events, like Halloween at the BOOtanical Garden and Holiday Lights in the Garden.
Concerts at Eastover Community Park and downtown Fayetteville events
Eastover hosts a summer concert series at the Eastover Community Park amphitheater, where residents order from food trucks or the concession stand before settling into their folding chairs for live music. Downtown Fayetteville gets especially busy for the grand Memorial Day parade and the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival every April.
Heading downtown for shopping and dining
When it comes to shopping and dining, Eastover has mostly locally owned shops and the Eastover IGA grocery store. Corner Grill is a popular spot to grab breakfast or lunch. De La Vega says downtown Fayetteville has busy restaurants along Hay Street. Antonella's Italian Ristorante is one of De la Vega’s favorites, and down the street is Rude Awakening, which is always busy in the morning with customers grabbing coffee and breakfast. Hay Street is also lined with boutiques, like Stevies on Hay, but Eastover is also about 30 minutes from the Cross Creek Mall.
