What it's like to live in Pinehurst
Pinehurst is a small city in North Carolina with county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Pinehurst deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Pinehurst compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Pinehurst
Based on Pinehurst's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,328
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $66,560 a year
- 54% of Pinehurst renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$95,320
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $47,660
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 18% above US
$1,664/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,664 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $476,600. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $476,600 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.4% county unemployment
Unemployment in Moore County is 3.4%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Moore County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 82% below US
59 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 283/100k · Pinehurst Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 23% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 32°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 69% above US
61% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
1 public school inside the boundary
There is 1 public school inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (68 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Pinehurst's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,664/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (23% of workers here already work from home).
See all the data for Pinehurst →·All North Carolina cities →
Other places near Pinehurst
All North Carolina guides →Moving to Southern Pines →
4 mi away · pop. 16,420
Rent $1,354/mo · Income $88,535
Compare with Pinehurst →Moving to Spout Springs →
24 mi away · pop. 11,242
Rent $2,010/mo · Income $92,402
Compare with Pinehurst →Moving to Spring Lake →
27 mi away · pop. 11,573
Rent $1,351/mo · Income $51,958
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