Living in Pittsboro Contents

Nestled in the heart of North Carolina, just west of the state capital, Pittsboro offers a truly unique lifestyle, not really available in any other Triangle town. Pittsboro is artsy, quirky, outdoorsy and close knit. Pittsboro also offers upscale amenities that aren’t often found in small towns, as well as lakes and rivers for those who love the outdoors. 

You can take a look at videos of Pittsboro here, or check out Pittsboro homes for sale here.

History and Culture of Pittsboro

Pittsboro is becoming a study in contrasts. One one hand, there’s a strong sense of preservation in Pittsboro. Many of the historic buildings have been carefully maintained or restored. When the courthouse was severely damaged by fire in 2010, the community banded together to rebuild it.

The shops in the historic downtown are eclectic. There’s even an old fashioned Soda Shoppe. Sitting just south of Chapel Hill, Pittsboro has always had a “crunchy” and quirky southern vibe.

But things are changing.

Chatham Park is a MASSIVE development in Pittsboro that, when complete, will dwarf the town itself. Over 8,000 acres and over 20,000 residential units, coupled with office space, parks, and commercial development will transform this little town. In December of 2023 Disney announced that they would be building one of their communities in Chatham Park.

Two new mega sites nearby (one in Siler City and one just southwest of Pittsboro) are already beginning to change this once small community into a hotbed of development.

Living in Pittsboro: Small-Town Charm and Community Atmosphere

But for the time being, Pittsboro still retains its small-town charm.

One of the things I love about downtown Pittsboro is the really unique stores.

I could spend hours wandering through Screaming for Vintage and reliving my childhood. They have vintage clothes, some really incredible mid century furniture and a vintage record collection.

Circle City Books and Music is one of my favorite used bookstore in the Triangle. (If new books are your thing, McIntyre’s in nearby Fearrington Village is awesome!)

Downtown is often the location for town cultural events, like art walks, music festivals and holiday parades. The Pittsboro Street Fair takes place in downtown Pittsboro every October.

Neighborhoods and Housing Options

Pittsboro has a rural feel and homes on large lots or acreage aren’t uncommon.

There are a handful of popular neighborhoods in Pittsboro. Most notably, the master planned community of Chatham Park is creating a significant shift in the town culture and real estate options. Chatham Park began construction in 2018 and is zoned for 22,000 homes. In a town of only 4,000 people, this is a significant presence and a massive change to this small community. 

Also, it should be noted that almost 60% of properties sold in 2023 were new construction in Pittsboro.

Because Pittsboro is growing from a very small, rural town into a more dynamic suburb, there is a lot of variety of property types in Pittsboro. You can view all homes for sale in Pittsboro here. Or broaden your search and look for homes in all of Chatham County here.

Rural Properties: 

It’s not unusual to find homes in Pittsboro that are unrestricted on an acre or two, not located in a subdivision. Hobby farming is popular in Pittsboro. Many of these types of homes are smaller and older.

Rural executive properties: 

Because there is quite a bit of land for sale, you can often find new construction on larger lots as well. Some of these are in a subdivision and some are not. 

Planned Developments: 

There are a few planned developments that make up the majority of homes for sale in Pittsboro. These are:

Chatham Park: Master planned community on 8500 acres, designed around the philosophy of Live Work Play. When completed, the neighborhood will include 30 miles of trails, community parks, commercial development and access to the nearby Haw River and 46,000 acres of parkland.

Chapel Ridge: Chapel Ridge is a beautiful, upscale golf community in Pittsboro. This 800 acre community is really unique because, like the rest of the Triangle area, Pittsboro is in the Piedmont region.

Compared to where I came from in Florida, it’s downright hilly, but generally speaking, the Piedmont region is relatively flat with some very gently rolling hills.

However, Chapel Ridge (and a few other communities in this area) have some steep inclines and some startlingly beautiful views that you typically only see closer to the mountains.

There are sections of this neighborhood that feel more like they are in the mountains. At least to this Florida girl. Chapel Ridge is primarily a custom home neighborhood with a variety of high quality builders.

The Parks at Meadowview: The Parks at Meadowview is connected to Chapel Ridge on the opposite side of the country club. This is a more affordable alternative to Chapel Ridge. Homes are built by quality production builders rather than custom  builders. 

Living in Pittsboro: Education and Schools

Pittsboro is part of the Chatham County School District. Being a small town, pretty much everyone goes to the same schools. Public schools in Pittsboro are: 

Public Schools

• Pittsboro Elementary School
• Horton Middle School
• Northwood High School: The school also has a notable arts program, especially for its size, including visual arts, theater, and music.
• Chatham Central High School: While outside of Pittsboro, there are some Pittsboro addresses who are zoned to this high school. Chatham Central is known for its robust Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, offering students practical skills and pathways in various trades and professions.

Charter Schools

A charter school is a school run like a private school, with its own board and unique curriculum, but funded by public dollars.

• Woods Charter School: Woods Charter School is a highly rated K-12 charter school known for its rigorous academic standards, small class sizes, and their classical education curriculum.
• Central Carolina Community College: Central Carolina is a community college, but it has some unique programs. Chatham School of Science and Engineering at the Chatham Center for Innovation is located on the grounds of the college and provides a high school education culminating in a 2 year Associate’s degree.
• Central Carolina is also known for its sustainability initiatives and programs in sustainable agriculture, green building, and renewable energy.
• Willow Oak Montessori is a public charter school, enrolling grades K-8, using the Montessori Method. 

Private Schools

Thales Academy: Thales is a private school model popular in the area. They provide a non-religious, classical, college preparatory education for grades K-12. Thales is known for being much more affordable than most private schools. They use a single curriculum across all schools and use a direct instruction model.

Haw River Christian Academy: Haw River is a private, classical Christian school that emphasizes a rigorous, Christ-centered education, fostering academic excellence and character development in its students.

Living in Pittsboro: Attractions and Things to Do

Pittsboro is a small town but it’s a small, very unique and somewhat weird town.

Weird, in a good way.

Pittsboro is well known for its breweries, cideries and meaderies.

If you can ferment it and drink it, you can probably get it in Pittsboro.

There is an area a couple miles north of downtown, that I like to call the “fermentation district” although probably nobody else does. I think it’s actually called, The Plant, which makes no sense to me. Like most things in Pittsboro, it’s a little weird. You drive down what seems like an abandoned industrial road…and when you think you’ve hit Deliverance, keep going. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see folk art. Eventually you’ll run into Chatham Cider Works and in the same complex is BMC Brewing, Starlight Meadery, an art gallery, hemp clothing store and a few other things… all looking like they fell off the back of a truck heading quickly through town. 

The Carolina Tiger Rescue is just outside of Pittsboro. Like the name says, it is a large cat rescue that cares for lion, tigers, and other cats that have been abandoned or confiscated by authorities. Of course you can visit. Big cats aren’t necessarily my thing, but they are really amazing!

Living in Pittsboro: Dining and Shopping

Pittsboro is not where you’re going to find a lot of your standard chain restaurants.

Chatham Park is working hard to pull together a feel of Disney does Small Town with a few slick feeling “hometown” restaurants. But they’re not fooling most people.

For something uniquely Pittsboro with its truly homegrown charm, head to small cafe B & B. For something more upscale, try The Fearrington House. Fearrington is one of my favorite spots in Pittsboro because I’m a sucker for colorful livestock. They also have the best ice cream shop and bookstore in the Triangle, IMO. 

If you want a stroll down memory lane, head over to S&T’s Soda Shoppe in downtown and pretend you’re back in the “good ‘ole days.”

For any bigger shopping, you’re going to have to head to Apex, Cary or Chapel Hill. They’re all about the same distance and offer different types of stores.

Your closest big box stores will be at Beaver Creek in Apex. This offers all the basic Target, Homegoods, TJ Maxx, etc. But let’s be honest, if you’re truly a Pittsboro person, you’re not going to shop in these places, right?

The closest Whole Foods are just under 30 minutes and you can pick either Cary or Chapel Hill. They’re the same distance. Alternatively, you might try the grocery co-op, Chatham Marketplace, just outside of downtown Pittsboro. This place is incredibly cool and has a little cafe inside the store. They carry all your basic organic and natural items, although it’s not nearly as big as Whole Foods. 

Cost of Living in Pittsboro, NC

Cost of living is always relative. But for a small town Pittsboro is pretty pricey.

Housing is significantly higher, by about 40%, than the rest of the Triangle area as a whole.

Although there is a wide range of prices, this tends to be an area where a lot of executive homes are built on large lots, which impacts the overall cost. But you can still find less expensive homes. There are just fewer of them. But for that cost, Pittsboro definitely offers a lifestyle that you can’t get anywhere else. It’s truly unique.

Utilities, groceries, and healthcare, are also slightly higher than surrounding areas, but overall pretty reasonable. Taxes in Pittsboro are much lower than neighboring Chapel Hill, at 1.125% of your property value.

Job Market in Pittsboro, NC

Pittsboro is primarily a commuting town. Currently people in Pittsboro commute to points all over the Triangle, including Chapel Hill and Research Triangle Park.

However, there are a couple of developments in the works that will create future employment options much closer to home.

Just 10 minutes away is the new Triangle Innovation Point. This is a 450 acre Life Science and Advanced manufacturing park. Also, the Chatham Siler City Advanced Manufacturing is just 20 minutes west of Pittsboro. This 1800 acre site is currently recruiting advanced manufacturing businesses and could be home to future car manufacturers, biotechnology manufacturers, or aerospace and aviation manufacturers.

A couple of major employers have already committed to Chatham County: Wolfspeed semiconductor manufacturer and Vinfast electric vehicle manufacturer. 

Safety & Crime: Living in Pittsboro, NC

Safety is a key consideration for anyone moving to a new area, and Pittsboro is known for its low crime rates and safe neighborhoods. The town prides itself on its community-oriented approach, with local law enforcement actively engaged in community affairs. The small-town atmosphere contributes to a sense of security and mutual care among residents. Generally speaking, crime in Pittsboro is low. 

Weather in Pittsboro, NC

Pittsboro experiences a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid, perfect for enjoying the town’s lush green spaces and nearby lakes. Spring and fall are particularly pleasant, with mild temperatures and beautiful foliage. Winters are generally mild, with occasional cold snaps and rare snowfall. This varied climate allows residents to enjoy a range of outdoor activities year-round.

Outdoor Recreation and Natural Beauty

Pittsboro is uniquely situated next to Jordan Lake and the Haw River. Because of this, outdoor activities are very popular in Pittsboro. You can rent Kayaks and canoes at Haw River Canoe. You can store or rent motor boats at Crosswinds Boating Center. 

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area spans over 14,000 acres. It’s a popular spot for camping, hiking, fishing, boating, and swimming. Seaforth Beach is a really popular destination in the summer with its sand beach, picnic areas with grills, bathrooms, a playground and sand volleyball courts.

The park is also known for its abundant wildlife, including bald eagles. Important note: It is a federal crime to come within 660 feet of a bald eagle nest. 2022’s baby eagles died due to humans getting too close and scaring off the parents. 

Haw River The Haw River flows through several counties, including Chatham, offering scenic beauty and is a great place for kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and hiking along its banks. Rich in ecological diversity, the Haw River is also an important habitat for various wildlife species.

There an effort underway to expand the trail that runs alongside the Haw River. A portion of the trail is part of the Mountain to Sea Trail that stretches from Clingman’s Dome in the Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge on the NC Outer Banks (Although this part of the trail is not in Chatham County). But there is a trail that runs along the Haw just outside of Pittsboro.

City Parks. The city parks tend to get overlooked a bit by newcomers because of the beautiful natural areas in Pittsboro, but there are some really great city parks as well. Knights Farm Park is the newest. This 10-acre park contains a playground, water splash pad, dog park and sports field.

Local Services and Resources

Pittsboro has great medical care. The closest hospital is 25 minutes away at UNC Chapel Hill. And both UNC and Duke have medical practices within the town. 

If you’re looking for small town life, but need to be close to advanced medical care, Pittsboro just might be your place.

Pros and Cons of Living in Pittsboro

Living in Pittsboro is a fairly unique lifestyle in the Triangle.

While there are quite a few small towns in the Triangle, including Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon, Pittsboro offers a combination of rural feel with a more upscale lifestyle.

You can get a similar small town feel in Wendell and Zebulon, but you’re going to be far away from organic stores and the back-to-the-earth feeling restaurants and breweries that you find in Pittsboro. So the pros of Pittsboro are an incredible close knit community, while still having some of the finer things that often aren’t available in small towns. 

There are two cons that I can see. . .

One: everything is far.

If you’ve got to go to Costco, it’s far. Whole Foods, far. While there is lots of small town community theater and music, anything bigger like major concerts, is far.

And the other one is, maybe not a con for everyone, but Pittsboro is growing really quickly. It’s not going to be a small town for long. 

Conclusion

Pittsboro, NC, is really a unique lifestyle in the Triangle. Pittsboro is quirky, small towny, super creative and artistic and has incredible natural resources. 

FAQs:

Is Pittsboro, NC a safe place to live?

• Pittsboro is known for its low crime rates and safe neighborhoods, making it a secure place to live.

What is the cost of living in Pittsboro, NC compared to other cities in North Carolina?

• The cost of living in Pittsboro is generally comparable to other towns in the region, with housing costs slightly above the national average.

Are there good job opportunities in Pittsboro, NC?

• While Pittsboro is smaller, nearby cities like Raleigh and Durham offer a wider range of job opportunities, particularly in sectors like technology, education, and healthcare.

What are the local healthcare facilities available in Pittsboro, NC?

• Pittsboro has several healthcare facilities, including clinics and specialized medical services. Larger hospitals are also accessible in nearby cities.