Pine Level and Princeton: Small-Town Johnston County, Up Close

These two towns sit close together in eastern Johnston County, each with its own character, but sharing the same draw: small-town scale, historic roots, and easy highway access to Raleigh, Goldsboro, and Smithfield.

Pine Level: One Streetlight, a Lot of Character

Pine Level is the smallest and quietest of the two — known locally for having just one streetlight.

It has a walkable little downtown with local shops like the Serving Spoon and Pine Level Hardware & Furniture, plus Sam Godwin Park for green space right in town.

Local favorites include:

• Heid's Restaurant, Parkside Café, and Pine Street Grind for coffee
• Serving Up Scoops — old-fashioned ice cream and milkshakes housed in the old post office
• Hannah's Bakery for cookies, cupcakes, and custom cakes

The town's grocery store, Town Market, still has bag boys carrying groceries out to your car — a small detail, but one that says a lot about the pace of life here.

The median sale price over the past year has run around $300,000.

Princeton: Historic Roots, Halfway Between Two Towns

Princeton was incorporated in 1861 and originally named Boon Hill. It sits on US-70 almost exactly between Smithfield and Goldsboro, giving it a genuinely central location for anyone splitting time between the two.

The town has its own small downtown, the Princeton Veterans Memorial park, and a mix of century-old bungalows alongside newer construction — a blend that gives buyers real variety within one small town.

Dining and local favorites include:

• El Paso, Eli & Ollie's, and Bread & Bottle — a particular favorite in town
• Woodard Drug Store, which isn't just for prescriptions — it's a local favorite for ice cream, milkshakes, and old-fashioned soda fountain drinks

Princeton also has Tippy Toes Dance Studio and the newly opened Kids Clubhouse, offering summer care and before- and after-school care — a nice bonus for families with young kids.

The median home price in Princeton runs around $320,000.

Schools: Same District, Different Boundaries

Both towns are served by Johnston County Schools, and each has its own elementary school. As always, I verify specific school assignments address-by-address before showing a property, since boundaries can shift over small distances — even within the same town.

Which One Fits You?

If you're weighing Pine Level or Princeton against each other — or against Clayton or Smithfield — the differences come down to walkable downtown character, lot size, and how close you want to be to Raleigh versus Goldsboro.

Pine Level leans quieter and more tucked away. Princeton offers a bit more variety in housing stock and a more central location between Smithfield and Goldsboro. Neither is a wrong choice — it's about which pace and location fits your life.

I can walk you through what each one actually looks like in person. Let's talk about which town fits what you're looking for.