The Village of Pinehurst’s story begins in 1895, when James Walker Tufts, a Boston philanthropist, sold his soda fountain company to build a health retreat in North Carolina’s Sandhills region. He thought the area’s dry climate and the faint yet pervasive smell of the native longleaf pines could cure breathing problems caused by the North’s harsher conditions. Today, Pinehurst is the premier destination in Moore County’s golf country; tourism, recreation and hospitality are primary industries. In 2024, the United States Golf Association moved its headquarters from New Jersey to the south side of town. Bridget Dineen-Carlson, a former Pinehurst resident, says life here revolves around golf, but the town is becoming multifaceted. Keller Williams Realtor Kelly Ward, who has several years of experience working with clients in the area, agrees. “It used to be predominantly retirees, looking to live on the golf courses, but now it’s a melting pot,” she adds, ascribing the change partly to the village’s proximity to Fort Bragg and partly to FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, both big regional employers. Ward: “We’ve gone from having very few families with kids growing up here to having a lot of kids here—because of the military community. And the nice, new hospital has brought in lots of doctors and residents with young families, so the town has certainly seen tons of growth in terms of shopping, restaurants, schools and things to do in the past 10 years.”
Large, luxurious homes selling for above the national median
Pinehurst’s median single-family home price, at almost $550,000, is well above the national median of $406,100. In private, gated communities like the ones surrounding Pinewild Country Club and the Country Club of North Carolina, homes tend to start at nearly $800,000 and can climb to more than $2 million. “You’re not going to find a lot of homes right in Pinehurst that sell for much less than $450,000,” Ward says, noting that the average price is getting higher and higher every year. She adds that CCNC, in particular, is one of the most expensive parts of town, but homes there tend to sell quickly regardless. “But the most expensive place to live right now is Olde Towne, right down by the village center. Most of the homes there are older, and while most have been renovated, it’s a labor of love to keep up with them. They have lots of wood, so they require painting, and they’re big. They look like old Southern plantations, with columns out front, and they’re just huge.” The average number of days homes in Pinehurst stay on the market before going under contract is 50, slightly over the national average of 44.
Pinehurst Resort is known as the “Cradle of American Golf”
“If you want to move here and play golf, you could play a different course every day and not get bored,” Ward says. With almost 40 courses in a 15-mile radius of the Pinehurst/Southern Pines/Aberdeen region, this swath of Moore County is called the “Home of American Golf.” The Pinehurst Resort is among the most famous of local courses. Already a four-time host of the U.S. Open, the “Cradle of American Golf” is set to host the championship another four times between 2029 and 2047. But golfing isn’t the only outdoor recreation available here. 11% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of amenities in at least one of the village’s four public parks, from the Arboretum and ice hockey rink at Rassie Wicker Park to the walking trails and castle-themed playground at Canon Park. James W. Pinehurst’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is held every March in the central village green, James W. Tufts Memorial Park. And over 7 miles of greenway trails are webbed through town, too, on which motorized vehicles (like golf carts) are not permitted.
Sophisticated small-town shopping and dining on Market Square and Chinquapin Road
The commercial district in the village center stretching between Market Square and Chinquapin Road is where residents and visitors head to shop and dine. “There are no chains allowed there. Pinehurst is trying to preserve that old-world feel with the brick sidewalks, the quaint boutiques and shops, restaurants and bars. I’d compare it to an old New England town,” Ward says. She adds that her favorite eatery is Lisi Italian, one of several businesses located in the historic Theatre building. The walkable district hosts Pinehurst’s annual Barbecue Festival, a three-day summer event with food vendors, whiskey tastings and grilling classes. Grocery stores and other chains are available in the Olmsted Village shopping center about a mile northwest of downtown.
Highly rated Moore County Public Schools and private schools
The Moore County Public Schools system, which earns a B-plus from Niche, serves Pinehurst kids with an average student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. The village is zoned for Pinehurst Elementary and West Pine Elementary, feeder schools for West Pine Middle and Pinecrest High. Dineen-Carlson notes that the Pinecrest athletic teams, especially golf, are strong. The Pinecrest Patriot’s men’s golf team are eight-time North Carolina High School Athletic Association state champs, winning their most recent title in 2024. While open enrollment is unavailable, Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaissance School and The Academy of Moore County public charter schools are available by application to all district students. STARS is unrated, but The Academy of Moore County gets an A-plus from Niche. Private schools in the region include the B-plus-rated Sandhills Classical Christian School and the A-rated O’Neal School, which Dineen-Carlson says is one of the most prestigious in the area.
Walkable, golf cartable and a quick commute to FirstHealth or Fort Bragg
“It’s a walkable area, especially if you live close to downtown,” Ward says, adding that most of the main roads have 35 mph speed limits, meaning golf carts are also a common mode of transportation. “You can easily take your golf cart from your house to the downtown area, have a bite to eat, grab drinks, walk around a bit, and then drive it home.” She also says one of the best things about Pinehurst is its location in central North Carolina. “We’re an hour from Raleigh and only 2 hours from Charlotte, so if you want big city amenities, you’re not that far away.” Both bigger cities are within about 100 miles of Pinehurst. Commuting to work at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, about 34 miles away, typically takes just 45 minutes. U.S. Routes 1 and 501, as well as North Carolina Routes 2 and 211 are all close by.
Low crime rates compared to the U.S. and North Carolina
According to the FBI, violent and property crime rates were well below the national and state rates between 2020 and 2024.
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