Stokes began with a single store, opened in 1892 by the community’s namesake, William Green Stokes. Over the years, the little general store was joined by a post office, a town hall and a collection of homes. Today, situated at the crossroads of North Carolina Highways 30 and 903, Stokes remains the principal center and post office for Carolina Township. It even has its own water service: the Stokes Regional Water Corporation. “It’s just a small, rural, North Carolina town,” says local Realtor Stan Cherry of BHHS Prime Properties. He says that a large part of the area’s appeal is that the cost of buying and maintaining a home here is lower than in Greenville, about 11 miles southwest. “The thing is, Stokes doesn’t have the city taxes. And in the last 20 years, there have been homes that have sold for more than $200,000 and a bunch of homes that have sold for below $100,000, so even from the get-go, the homes are cheaper than what they would be in Greenville.” One caveat? There aren’t a lot of employment opportunities in Stokes. “The only places that really employ people at the present time here are the Country Mart, the Dollar General, the post office and the water corporation. There are no longer any grocery stores or hardware stores like there were 50 years ago. But it only takes 20 minutes to get from Stokes to the center of Greenville. It’s a great commute. It gives you a chance to think about what you plan to cook for dinner or just relax from the stress of work on the way home.”
Competitive prices for 19th-century homes
Most homes here were built in the early to mid-20th century. Rustic farmhouses with Victorian-inspired wraparound porches are dotted between classic brick ranch-style homes and Craftsman bungalows. There’s even the occasional boxy American Foursquare and stately Colonial Revival. The historic Sheppard Mill Farm, a home farm built in 1890 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000, is known for its grand Greek Revival design. Prices start at around $156,000 and can climb to about $230,000. “In the last 15 years or so, homes have gone from selling for between 60 or 70 dollars a square foot to bringing in 135, 140 or more a square foot,” says Cherry. He adds that in the 1970s when the area experienced a housing boom, the brick ranch-style “farmers’ houses” that popped up sold for $23,500. “They called them 235s, but they’re selling quite a bit more these days.” Despite recent price increases, homes in Stokes tend to sell for less than the median in nearby Greenville, which hovers closer to $300,000.
Combined elementary and middle “Lighthouse School”
Stokes School serves kids between preschool and eighth grade from its campus near the heart of the community, off Wilson Street. It receives a B grade from Niche and is ranked No. 6 on Niche’s list of the best public middle schools in Pitt County. Stokes School’s culture model emphasizes the development of leadership and life skills in students by encouraging them to embody Stephen R. Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” This model earned the elementary/middle school the “Lighthouse School” distinction from FranklinCovey in 2018. Older students attend North Pitt High, in the nearby Bethel township about 8 miles northwest of home. The high school earns a B-minus from Niche.
Local playground and gathering space, equestrian offerings nearby
Kids can burn off a bit of their boundless energy on the playground or adjacent sports field at Stokes School. The Stokes/Carolina Township Community Building, just down the street, serves as a polling place for the area during election seasons as well as a gathering place for local meetings/small events. A few miles southeast of Stokes’ central crossroads, off Sheppard Mill Road, Heartland Estate offers horse boarding and youth equestrian programs. Horse lovers can also take training classes and visit the Arabian Horse Discovery Farm there.
Country convenience stores nearby, more robust retail in Greenville
Locals can pick up staples at the Country Mart or Dollar General near the community’s center. “There’s no shopping to speak of around here but the Country Mart and the Dollar General. Greenville is mainly where people go if they’re looking for a nice grocery store,” says Cherry. There’s a Publix in Greenville about 13 miles south of Stokes. It’s across the street from the Greenville Mall, which has a JCPenney and a Belk. The mall and surrounding shopping district have a robust array of retail options, from jewelry and electronics stores to clothing and shoe shops. There are also several popular dining spots, including Nino’s Cucina Italiana. The authentic Italian eatery is a personal favorite of Katherine Deal, a Greenville local and Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway. “There’s also A Tavola Market Café, which is great because it has a pretty varied menu,” she says. The eatery offers tapas, pizza, pasta and more on its diverse menu. Closer to home, JJ’s Country Store and Tavern is a popular spot for live music and after-work drinks.
At the intersection of two country roads
North Carolina Highways 30 and 903 cross through Stokes like an “X” marking the spot on a map. NC-30 runs northwest-southeast through the community, while NC-903 runs northeast-southwest. The nearly 11-mile drive southwest into downtown Greenville takes about 20 minutes via NC-903 to US Route 13. The Pitt-Greenville Airport is on the north side of Greenville, only about 9 miles away.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jennifer Brinson,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Transit
Airport
Pitt-Greenville
15 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Stokes
US
Homicide
3
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
1
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
2
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
50
Median Year Built
1980
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,777
Below the national average
1,935
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
24,393
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jennifer Brinson,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
278
Median Age
46
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
19.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
25.9%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$52,916
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$70,664
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
88.5%
College Graduates
23%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
8%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
67.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
54''
Average Winter Low Temperature
33°F
Average Summer High Temperature
90°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
26/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
11/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
