The Town FilesPine Level, North Carolina
Town in Johnston County · population 2,046 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $221,000
- Household income
- $75,263
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 38.7
Pine Level is a town of 2,046 people in Johnston County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $221,000, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 99% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 82% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of North Carolina towns.
How Pine Level ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Pine Level is worth $221,000, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $75,263, which is more affordable than 82% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $804 a month. 80.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pine Level | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $221,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $804 | $969 |
| Median household income | $75,263 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 80.8% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Pine Level
| People | Pine Level | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Pine Level
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 31.4°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pine Level since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 23, 1992 about 4.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 81 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 5, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 25, 2014.
Severe weather in Johnston County since 1996
Johnston County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Johnston County
Johnston County had 61,005 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,305 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Pine Level itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Pine Level
1 public school with 337 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Level Elementary | PK-5 | 337 | 10.5 |
Towns near Pine Level
- Selma, NC2.7 mi · 6,317 people · home $171,600
- Smithfield, NC5.3 mi · 11,292 people · home $242,500
- Princeton, NC6.2 mi · 1,315 people · home $215,400
- Wilson's Mills, NC7.8 mi · 2,534 people · home $241,800
- Kenly, NC9.6 mi · 1,491 people · home $205,200
- Four Oaks, NC9.9 mi · 2,158 people · home $253,700
- Archer Lodge, NC13.4 mi · 4,797 people · home $324,500
- Clayton, NC14.6 mi · 26,307 people · home $329,600
Pine Level questions
Is Pine Level, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pine Level scores better for retirees than 66% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 60%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Pine Level?
The median owner-occupied home in Pine Level is valued at $221,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,263, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $804 a month.
What is the weather like in Pine Level?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 31.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Pine Level get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pine Level since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 23, 1992. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)