We'll rank all 21 communities, from Pinehurst Village to Lake Auman, and show your top choices right on the map.
Step 1 of 10
Tap any pin to read about that community. Your matches light up here.
Each community is rated on schools, year-round feel, rental rules and income, lake access, horse country, walkable town life, amenities, commute to Fort Bragg, commute toward Raleigh, parks and family recreation, hospital access, shopping, golf, dining and nightlife, and quiet and privacy, using October 2026 market research. Your answers decide which of those matter most to you.
The historic heart of Pinehurst: shaded lanes, cottages, shops and restaurants around the Village Center, steps from Pinehurst Resort, No. 2 and the Cradle. FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital is minutes away, and the U.S. Open returns in 2029.
Best for: Golfers, retirees and couples who want to walk to dinner.
Condos and townhomes in the only parts of Pinehurst where new short-term rentals are allowed. Lock-and-leave living near the resort, with golf-trip and tournament-week demand.
Best for: Rental investors and lock-and-leave second-home buyers.
Established year-round neighborhoods around Lake Pinehurst and the No. 6 course, a few minutes from the village, with Pinehurst Elementary and West Pine Middle among the county's top schools.
Best for: Families and full-time residents who want Pinehurst without resort prices.
Gated golf communities west and north of the village, with clubhouses, pools and fairway homes.
Best for: Golfers and retirees who want a gate and a club.
Pinehurst's top private clubs. The Country Club of North Carolina sits around Lake Dornoch, and Forest Creek offers two private courses and estate homes.
Best for: Luxury buyers and serious golfers.
The most walkable town in the county, built along the railroad on Broad Street, with independent restaurants, shops, breweries, the Sunrise Theater and the Amtrak station.
Best for: Couples, singles and families who want town life, and military families.
North Carolina's horse country: farms and riding estates around the protected Walthour-Moss Foundation land and the Weymouth Woods preserve, minutes from downtown Southern Pines.
Best for: Riders and buyers who want acreage and privacy.
The tree-lined road between Pinehurst and Southern Pines, with golf communities like Mid South Club and Talamore and quick access to both towns and the hospital.
Best for: Families and golfers who want to be in the middle of everything.
A historic railroad downtown plus the area's main shopping along US-1, with new-construction neighborhoods and Aberdeen Lake Park. A popular choice for Fort Bragg families.
Best for: Military families, first-time buyers and families.
A small, quiet town on US-1 south of Aberdeen with its own lake and Pinecrest schools at a lower price.
Best for: Value buyers and military families.
The Hoke County seat on Fort Bragg's western edge, with lots of new construction and some of the lowest prices in the area.
Best for: Military families and first-time buyers who want the shortest commute.
A village of lakes and golf north of Southern Pines, with lakefront homes, boating and a strong year-round community.
Best for: Families, retirees and anyone who wants a lake.
A gated community on Lake Auman, a large private lake with a beach and boating, about 15 minutes from Pinehurst.
Best for: Boaters, lake lovers and retirees.
Amenity communities with lakes, marinas, swimming spots, a pool, courts, horse stables, a community center and golf.
Best for: Families and retirees who want amenities for less.
A quiet golf village west of Pinehurst, with wooded lots and little traffic.
Best for: Retirees and golfers who want peace and quiet.
Rural Sandhills land with peach orchards, farms and McLendon Hills equestrian center, and room to spread out with no HOA.
Best for: Buyers who want land, horses or privacy.
The closest Moore County town to Fort Bragg. Woodlake offers golf, and its lake is set to refill once the rebuilt dam is finished.
Best for: Military families and value buyers.
A historic crossroads village surrounded by new construction on larger lots, with an easy run to Fort Bragg and US-1 toward Raleigh.
Best for: Military families and buyers who want a newer home on land.
Lee County's hub, with a historic downtown, plenty of shopping and services, and US-1 toward Raleigh. The most affordable larger town in the area.
Best for: Raleigh commuters and value buyers.
The county seat, a small town around its courthouse square, with Union Pines schools and lower prices than the towns to the south.
Best for: Families and value buyers who want a small-town feel.
Rural northern Moore County along the Deep River, with the most land for the money.
Best for: Buyers who want acreage and the lowest prices.
Typical values from Zillow and MLS data, mid-2026. Rental rules change often; confirm with the town and HOA before buying.
Your Pinehurst expert
Pinehurst Real Estate Expert · Brokerage Name
Agent bio goes here: years in the Pinehurst area, the communities they know best, and how they help buyers, military families, second-home owners and investors find the right fit.