Maxton is a tight-knit community near parks and amenities
Maxton, about 40 miles from Fayetteville, is a Robeson County town with rural charm and a modest downtown. “It’s a small, small town,” says Felicia Antonela, clerk with the town of Maxton. Home prices here are generally lower than in other areas, which makes the town popular with first-time homebuyers. “It’s a nice place to raise a family and start off,” Antonela says. A few parks and small businesses are in town, but Interstate 74 provides convenient access to larger communities with more amenities, like Laurinburg, 7 miles away, and Lumberton, 26 miles away. “It’s tight-knit,” Antonela says. “Everybody knows everybody; they grew up together.”
Lower housing prices than in Lumberton
Maxton’s single-family homes are generally late 20th-century ranch-style, but there are a handful of 21st-century versions and early 20th-century cottages. “There are a few little neighborhoods that are very suburban,” Antonela says. Set along narrow streets without sidewalks, most homes have covered porches, patios and attached carports; traditional mailboxes and mature pines and oaks dot their lawns. “The houses are beautiful, especially during Halloween and Christmas when they’re decorated,” Antonela says. Residents are split evenly between owners and renters. Single-family homes range from about $50,000 to $250,000, depending on a home’s size and features. The median sale price in Maxton is about $140,000.The median price in Lumberton is $230,000.
Maxton residents have easy access to I-74
I-74 passes through Maxton, providing a direct route to Lumberton. Residents generally drive to get around, but South Patterson Street is a sidewalk-lined thoroughfare through the middle of town. “There aren’t any buses or anything,” Antonela says. “People walk, but mostly you’ll have your own personal vehicle.” The Maxton Medical Center is open during the week, and UNC Health Southeastern, 26 miles away, is open 24 hours. Fayetteville Regional Airport is a 36-mile drive.
Walking and playing at Beacham Park
While the Maxton area is lush with trees, there are only a few planned green spaces in town. Beacham Park is the largest, popular for a walk around its quarter-mile paved trail or playing fetch with furry friends. “The kids have a playground there, and there’s also a basketball court,” Antonela says. Nearby, anglers can cast their lines in Maxton Pond for largemouth bass and blue catfish. Closer to the center of town, pocket-sized Elizabeth Cole Park is a good spot for a picnic.
Groceries and fast-casual bites
Shopping and dining are limited, but Maxton has the basics. “For groceries, there’s a Food Lion and a Piggly Wiggly, but for dining, you’ll go out of town,” Antonela says. Most of the town’s small businesses are set along Patterson Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Maxton Pizza is the spot for a quick slice or Italian eats, like chicken parmesan and fettuccine alfredo, while Bill’s Place offers classic burgers and fries. There’s also King Chef, which has Chinese takeout favorites like pineapple fried rice and Kung Pao chicken. For more shopping and dining options, Laurinburg offers cafes, bars and more.
Christmas and the Collard Green Festival
Every year, Santa Claus makes an appearance at the Maxton Christmas Parade, which proceeds through downtown with firetrucks, decorated floats and marching bands from nearby high schools. The route leads to Elizabeth Cole Park, where the annual tree-lighting ceremony takes place. In November, the Collard Green Festival is held at Beacham Park, with collard competitions, live music and plenty of fried food and collard creations, like collard quiche and wraps.
Career and technical education at Purnell Swett High
Maxton is part of the Public Schools of Robeson County, which serves over 21,000 students and earns a C-plus overall from Niche. Kids in kindergarten through Grade 8 may attend the town’s C-minus-rated Prospect Elementary before moving to the C-rated Purnell Swett High. At the latter, students can follow their passions in career and technical education courses like health science, agriculture and computer science.
