Pine Level is the type of small town that city-dwellers may dismiss as existing only in a Hallmark movie. “It’s one of the last towns in Johnston County to only have one streetlight,” says Linsey Dale, a team leader and broker with HTR Southern Properties who lived in the town for 12 years. “So many communities in this area have really blown up over the past five years, but Pine Level has kept that small-town feel – just good schools, good people, good small businesses.” According to the town’s website, they’re the “Best Little Town in North Carolina.”
Locally-owned charming shops and restaurants
The town’s downtown is lined with shops and businesses including Serving Spoon — a catering service that offers a monthly Sunday brunch with a menu of praline French toast and homemade gravy with freshly baked biscuits. Town Market grocery store sells fresh meat that’s cut and ground on-site, while Pine Level Hardware & Furniture provides residents with home goods. The Parkside Café dishes up classic country cooking like hamburgers and fried chicken in a friendly atmosphere. For bigger shopping trips, the Smithfield Outlet Mall features discounted goods from a variety of retailers, including Adidas, Brooks Brothers and Nike.
Ashlan Meadows is a small family farm providing fresh local produce.
Parkside Cafe features the finest food at affordable prices.
Pine Level Hardware & Furniture has been family owned and operated since 1913.
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Food trucks and live music
Most attractions require a drive to Smithfield or surrounding areas. “There’s always something to do, but it might not necessarily be in Pine Level,” Dale says. Hinnant Family Vineyards, less than a mile from the town center, hosts food trucks and live music on weekends, as well as tastings and tours. Julie Toy, a life-long North Carolina resident and realtor with Coldwell Banker Advantage says "Their scuppernongs grapes are found each year in local grocery stores and farmers markets and are delicious!" The Town of Pine Level also puts on community events like the annual Christmas parade on the second Sunday of each December. In nearby Smithfield, the Ava Gardner Museum features exhibits about the 1950s starlet, including costumes worn in her films, behind-the-scenes stories and artifacts from some of her roles and personal history.
Ranch homes and farmhouses on rural lots
The architecture in Pine Level is mostly traditional – brick ranch-style homes and farmhouses with prominent front porches. Homes spand from the 1920s to the 2020s, but even in areas where homes were built in the 2000s, the mature trees surrounding the lots lend the streets an established, settled feeling. Homes are aligned in neat rows, their simple lines suited to the splaying landscape. The average three-bedroom home will sell for around $200,000 to the low $300,000, but finding inventory may be a challenge since many of the homes are inhabited by families who have lived in the town for generations.
Older homes dominated the downtown area of Pine Level, NC.
Pine Level is a small town located 35 miles east of Raleigh.
Rolling hills and farmland surround the town of Pine Level, NC.
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Johnston County School District in the top four
Pine Level Elementary School, which has a B-plus rating from Niche, is rated the 4th best public elementary school in Johnston County. North Johnston Middle School, located in the nearby town of Micro five miles from Pine Level, has a B-minus rating from Niche and a 16-to-1 student-teacher ratio. North Johnston High School, which is located 8 miles outside of Pine Level, has a C-plus score. They offer the Academy of Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing to provide students the opportunity to gain employable, technical skills.
North Johnston High School is located in Johnston County, NC.
North Johnston Middle is located in Johnston County, NC.
Pine Level Elementary has around 350 students.
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Sam Godwin Park's playful landscape
Within the town itself, Sam Godwin Park provides a green space downtown with picnic areas and baseball courts. For indoor amenities, residents can travel 6 miles to the Smithfield Recreation & Aquatics Center, which features an eight-lane swimming pool, racquetball courts, an indoor track and a pottery studio. The SRAC also hosts community events like arts and crafts, fitness classes and summer camps. Residents can pay the $82 per month fee for a family membership, or pay $10 per person – $7 for kids – to use the facilities for the day. A round of golf can be played at Selma’s Cardinal Country Club.
Sam Godwin Park sits next to the Pine Level American Legion.
Sam Godwin Park includes 4 lighted baseball fields, basketball court and soccer fields.
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Interstate 95 access and the Johnston Regional Airport
As rural as Pine Level feels, its location right off Interstate 95 makes it convenient to get to Raleigh, which is 34 miles away. Residents who want to get out of town can head to the Selma-Smithfield Amtrak station, which is 2.5 miles from Pine Level, or the Johnston Regional Airport 11 miles away. UNC Health Johnston, located in downtown Smithfield 6 miles from Pine Level, is a full-service hospital that has served Johnston County residents since 1951. The town of Pine Level is built for a Main Street stroll, but the neighborhood becomes more rural and less pedestrian-friendly further from the town center.
Written By
Joyelle Ronan
Photography Contributed By
Bryan Regan
Video By
Benjamin Rose
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Sheryl Merritt,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Pine Level, NC sell after 33 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Pine Level, NC over the last 12 months is $275,000, down 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Move-In Ready! Welcome to the Maplewood! A beautifully designed 2-story home featuring 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, thoughtfully built by JSJ Builders in the charming new Emily Gardens community! Perfectly located in the heart of fast-growing Pine Level, you'll love being just minutes from I-95 and the future I-42 (Highway 70), making commuting to Raleigh or weekend trips to the coast quick and
Move-In Ready! Welcome to the Sunset Floor Plan by Ben Stout Construction, a beautiful split ranch design in the charming new Emily Gardens community! Perfectly located in the heart of fast-growing Pine Level, you're just minutes from I-95 and the future I-42 (Highway 70), making commuting to Raleigh or weekend trips to the coast quick and easy. Plus, with the brand-new Eastfield Crossing nearby,
Move-In Ready! Step into the Dogwood Floor Plan by Ben Stout Construction, a spacious and flexible 2-story home with 5 bedrooms and 2.5 baths in the charming new Emily Gardens community! Located in the heart of fast-growing Pine Level, you're just minutes from I-95 and the future I-42 (Highway 70), making it easy to commute to Raleigh, head to the coast, or enjoy smooth travel in every direction.
Welcome to this charming ranch home located in the heart of Selma without the higher Town of Selma taxes!This beautifully maintained property features a stunning accent wall in the living room, creating a warm and stylish focal point for everyday living and entertaining. The dining room showcases gorgeous floor-to-ceiling built-in bookcases, offering both character and functionality. The
Live the good life in Longleaf Village! This beautiful new ranch home on a large cul-de-sac lot offers an exceptional lifestyle. Enjoy an open, bright living layout with plenty of natural light, showcasing granite kitchen counters, an island, and a cozy fireplace. The main suite features a large walk in closet, dual sink vanity and 5ft shower. (Photos are of similar homes for representation only,
This new single-level home features a modern and low-maintenance layout. Two bedrooms and a full bathroom are conveniently located off the foyer, leading to an inviting open-concept living area. The owner’s suite is tucked into a private corner at the back of the home, offering access to a spa-inspired bathroom and generous walk-in closet.
Step into this gorgeously maintained 1915 home!! You will fall in love with the classic charm and rocking chair front porch as soon as you arrive!! A 4 bedroom and 3 full bath jaw dropping home boasting over 2800 sq ft! You enter into a perfect foyer with magazine featured living room!! Expansive owner's suite with original fireplace, custom closet and attached bath!! Entertain in style in the
Welcome to the Morgan by Lennar. This home offers a well-designed layout with 4 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, and an attached 2-car garage. The open-concept living area connects to a modern kitchen featuring ample storage and durable finishes. The primary suite includes a private bath and walk-in closet, while the additional bedrooms offer flexibility for a home office, guest space, or additional
You will love this beautiful new construction home, just minutes from downtown Pine Level! The open floor plan features a spacious dining room that flows seamlessly into a lovely kitchen with a large bar island and a living room with cozy fireplace. The primary suite exudes relaxation with a 5-ft shower and dual-sink vanity. This home boasts 3 spacious bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a loft, providing
Fall in love with this beautiful new ranch home in downtown Pine Level's desirable Longleaf Village community! This home features a bright, open-concept layout filled with natural light and timeless design touches. Enjoy a spacious kitchen with granite countertops and an oversized island, a cozy living room with fireplace and built in bookshelves, and a back patio/deck perfect for relaxing or
This new single-story home makes great use of the available space with an inviting open floorplan featuring a Great Room, dining area and modern kitchen. A covered porch for outdoor moments is easily accessible off the main living area. There is a total of four spacious bedrooms, including the tranquil owner’s suite with a private bathroom nestled into a private corner at the back of the home.
Move-In Ready! Welcome to the Gavin, a beautifully designed 2-story home offering 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, thoughtfully built by JSJ Builders in the charming new Emily Gardens community! Located in the heart of fast-growing Pine Level, you'll love being just minutes from I-95 and the future I-42 (Highway 70), making it easy to head to Raleigh, the coast, or anywhere in between. Plus, the
Move-In Ready! Welcome to the Maplewood! A beautifully designed 2-story home featuring 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, thoughtfully built by JSJ Builders in the charming new Emily Gardens community! Perfectly located in the heart of fast-growing Pine Level, you'll love being just minutes from I-95 and the future I-42 (Highway 70), making commuting to Raleigh or weekend trips to the coast quick and
Move-In Ready! Welcome to the Sunset Floor Plan by Ben Stout Construction, a beautiful split ranch design in the charming new Emily Gardens community! Perfectly located in the heart of fast-growing Pine Level, you're just minutes from I-95 and the future I-42 (Highway 70), making commuting to Raleigh or weekend trips to the coast quick and easy. Plus, with the brand-new Eastfield Crossing nearby,
Move-In Ready! Step into the Dogwood Floor Plan by Ben Stout Construction, a spacious and flexible 2-story home with 5 bedrooms and 2.5 baths in the charming new Emily Gardens community! Located in the heart of fast-growing Pine Level, you're just minutes from I-95 and the future I-42 (Highway 70), making it easy to commute to Raleigh, head to the coast, or enjoy smooth travel in every direction.
Property Id: 2389274Beautiful newer home located in a fast-growing area offering comfort, space, and convenience. Built in 2019, this well-maintained 3-bedroom, 2-bath home features an open living layout, modern finishes, a two-car garage, and a spacious yard perfect for relaxing or entertaining. Enjoy quiet neighborhood living while being just 5 minutes from a newly developed shopping
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