Country living in Grimesland, outside Greenville
Stretches of country roads dotted with churches, sweeping plots of farmland, and a town center with little more than a Dollar General and clusters of houses create the small-town atmosphere of Grimesland. Located 12 miles from Greenville and south of the Tar River, this quiet town has diverse homebuying options within a 20-minute drive of East Carolina University and ECU Health Medical Center. “Most of the houses are on their own plots of land. I think that appeals to people,” says Kristy Askew, a Realtor serving the area at BHHS Prime Properties. “It’s a small population, and people feel like it’s family-oriented.”
Operating farms, new subdivisions and a handful of mansions
Recently built subdivisions in Grimesland have new traditional homes with two-car garages and Craftsman-inspired details priced between $350,000 and $600,000. Older homes built in the mid- to late-twentieth century include ranch-style properties priced between $200,000 and $300,000. Grimesland also has several operating farms and a handful of estate-style properties on acres of land. “There are definitely some bigger homes in Grimesland,” Askew says. Autumn Lakes is one such development, with most homes spanning over 4,000 square feet and priced over $1 million. Grimesland’s CAP Index crime score is 2, below the national average of 4.
Pitt County Schools serve Grimesland
Public school students may begin at the G.R. Whitfield School, a K-8 institution with an A-minus from Niche. Older students continue to B-plus-rated D.H. Conley High School. Students at D.H. Conley High School can take courses through the dual enrollment program with Pitt Community College. The high school also has over 30 clubs, including the Future Business Leaders of America, Book Wars, and a dozen different honor societies.
Grocery stores, restaurants and more in Washington and Greenville
Pitt Street has a handful of businesses in Grimesland, including a Dollar General and La Potosina, an international convenience store selling Latino groceries, tacos, Mexican street corn and more. The town also has about a dozen churches. For more essentials, Walmart and Aldi are about 10 minutes down the road in Greenville. The town of Washington, sometimes referred to as Little Washington, has a quaint waterfront downtown just 10 miles east. “People like Grimesland because it’s near Washington, and Greenville is only 10 or 15 minutes away, so it’s just as easy," Askew says. Downtown Washington has restaurants overlooking the Pamlico River, like The Mulberry House, as well as museums, art galleries and boutiques.
Recreation at Grimesland Community Park and the town’s fishing area
Grimesland’s northern boundary, the Tar River, connects to other waterways leading down the coast. “There are some boat ramps in Greenville where you can put your boat into the Tar River. It feeds into Washington, where you put your boat in [the Pamlico River] and go down to the Intracoastal Waterway,” Askew says. In 2024, a public fishing area opened off North Grimesland Bridge Road. The area has several ponds where visitors can throw a line or launch a kayak. Grimesland Community Park, next to the town hall, has a playground, paved walking path and a picnic shelter.
Locals attend events like Greenville’s concert series nearby
Surrounding towns like Grifton, Farmville, Winterville and Ayden each hold annual town festivals, but “Grimesland is so small, it doesn’t have one,” Askew says. Still, Grimesland locals aren’t far from events like Greenville’s Sunday in the Park and Thursday Concert on the Commons concert series. Each summer, locals gather on the Town Common, overlooking the Tar River, and set up their lawn chairs to listen to local bands. Both of these concert series are free to attend.
Grimesland locals drive to Greenville on N.C. Highway 33
Most residents will need a car to get around. Greenville, about 12 miles west, has major area employers like East Carolina University and ECU Health Medical Center. Drivers can get to Greenville on N.C. Highway 33. The Pitt-Greenville Airport, 15 miles away, has flights to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the largest airport in North Carolina.
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Faith Wakefield
