Find Your Sense of Belonging in Greenville, NC
A quality lifestyle and excellent places to gather as a community are among the key draws to living in Greenville and Pitt County.
Residents and visitors alike can find much to enjoy in Greenville-Pitt County, from its strong sense of community to its abundant recreation opportunities. Health and wellness are a top priority for the Greenville Recreation and Parks Department, while affordable housing across the county makes the region an ideal location in which to settle. Here’s why people love living in Greenville, NC.
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Affordable Options for Living in Greenville
Compared to North Carolina’s larger cities, living in Greenville means high quality at a more affordable cost. The median home value in Greenville and Pitt County is around $230,000 (Zillow, September 2023) compared to $475,000 in nearby Wake County, making Pitt County a hidden gem.
“We have beautiful communities [in the Greenville suburbs] that really haven’t been discovered yet,” says Katie Holloman of Haystack Realty Group in Greenville.
Having grown up in the area, Holloman decided to put down roots in Greenville due to its growing sense of community and central location. Greenville is about two hours from North Carolina’s famous beaches and less than 90 minutes from Raleigh.
The area has something to offer everyone, whether residents prefer an urban lifestyle or a more rural setting in Pitt County’s outlying areas of Ayden or Farmville.
“A good portion of our buyers are out-of-state buyers moving this way,” Holloman says.
Health & Recreation Is a Major Focus
Greenville’s Recreation and Parks Department has been working hard since the pandemic to create more outdoor recreation opportunities for the community. Don Octigan, the department’s director, says his team puts on nearly 100 events a year, most of which are free to the public.
“We always focus on quality of life and making sure our programs are available to everyone,” Octigan says. “We try to remove as many barriers to participation as possible.”
Wildwood Park, which opened in 2021, has grown substantially since its founding. Featuring primitive trails, waterside recreation and youth education programs, Wildwood Park has become a beloved amenity for the community. “I think our parks and recreation department has done a phenomenal job,” Holloman says. “Wildwood kind of blew me away.”
Outdoor recreation has become an important tool for building community and bringing people out of isolation.
“Parks and rec is a great way to get out and meet people and learn about the community inside of Greenville and the surrounding areas.”
KaSheta Jackson
KaSheta Jackson, DNP, RN, vice president of health equity and social impact at ECU Health, acknowledges the importance of getting out to improve one’s well-being.
“Parks and rec is a great way to get out and meet people and learn about the community inside of Greenville and the surrounding areas,” Jackson says.
Jackson and ECU Health have developed programs to increase access to health care and improve quality of life across Pitt County. From training people in rural communities in CPR and using AED machines to increasing access to food and housing, Jackson emphasizes the importance of building a health care resource that people can trust.
“Health equity means that everyone should have the same resources no matter what,” Jackson says.
Plenty of Opportunities to Find Your Community
Part of what brings people to Greenville and keeps them in the area is a strong sense of community. From movies and concerts at the Town Common to youth outdoor education programs, the city continues to find ways to bring people together. The annual Little League Softball World Series has also made Greenville a hub for sports, inspiring people, especially youth, to get out and play.
With more people visiting and moving to the area, the opportunity arises for a diverse array of businesses, restaurants and relationships to form. “I love having more people moving here, offering different perspectives and creating more of a melting pot,” Holloman says.
As more opportunities arise for recreation and connection, Greenville welcomes people to get out and take advantage of the abundant resources it has to offer. “Greenville is growing, and there are a lot of great things happening in the city,” Octigan says.
Get Your Fill of Great Cuisine
Living in Greenville means plenty of great eating. With a variety of restaurants serving everything from world-class barbecue to award-winning ice cream in dining rooms that range from laid back to luxe, there’s something for everyone in Pitt County’s ever-expanding dining scene.
You can’t talk regional restaurants without mentioning whole-hog barbecue, a style unique to the Carolinas and Tennessee. There’s B’s Barbecue, which serves up meat in a bare-bones, takeout-only building conveniently located on B’s Barbecue Road in Greenville. Yes, they named the whole road after the restaurant, and you’d best line up by 6 a.m. to even have a shot at one of B’s legendary racks of ribs.
Winterville’s Sam Jones BBQ is run by Sam Jones, a third generation pitmaster and grandson of ’cue icon Pete Jones, who established the James Beard Award-winning Skylight Inn BBQ in Ayden 76 years ago.
Sup Dogs in Greenville is another local favorite. It was named the Best College Bar in America in 2019, 2020 and 2022, yet it’s also the perfect place for young professionals and families to grab a bite. Its menu features creative takes on classic hot dogs, hamburgers and American-style dishes.
Another casual spot is Marabella Old World Pizza, which has locations in Greenville and Winterville. Both spots fire up a trio of pizza styles (Old World, New York and pan). Marabella owner Massimo Mannino also helms Nino’s Cucina Italiana in Greenville, where customers can enjoy dishes like cacio e pepe pasta tossed in a giant wheel of Parmesan cheese next to the table and a sizeable wine list in a more upscale – but still comfortable – atmosphere.
One more step up in ambiance is Native Fine Diner, with its perfect blend of stylish retro diner flair and elevated “greasy spoon classics,” such as fried oysters and chicken cutlet sandwiches. Mexican eatery Amante Tacos & Spirits sets itself apart by serving tacos in its unique dining room: Every seat in the house is a patio seat. The hip, outdoor eating space – cooled in the summer and heated in the winter – evokes a resort vibe, so diners can enjoy a mini-vacation without ever leaving their home base.
Finally, hit up Simply Natural Creamery in Ayden or Greenville for dessert. USA Today named it one of best indie ice cream shops in the country this year!
– Writer Amy Antonation contributed to this article.
Get to Know Greenville-Pitt County
Want to learn more about living and working in Greenville, NC? Check out the latest edition of Livability Greenville-Pitt County, North Carolina.
